QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
 
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2024
 
WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Soft 5 – Upgraded to Good 4 prior to Race 1
RAIL – +6m 1000m-W/P, +2m Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.62
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – R. Neal
Stewards – D. Griffiths, P. Warren, S. Nosworthy (Cadet) (exc. R7)
 
GENERAL
 
1.          Stewards approved the following overweights:
                  Race 6. Denicious Smith (HEAD BEE) +1.0kg
                  Race 6. Chelsea Jokic (THREDO) +0.5kg
 
2.          A medical clearance was provided by jockey Chelsea Jokic.
 
 
Race 1: ERROL SEWELL - HONORARY LIFE MEMBER QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP  1200 M
 
NOT WORTH IT – inconvenienced shortly after leaving the barriers.
 
CHOCMINT – blundered shortly after the start, however recovered quickly: lost its near front shoe during the running:  Jockey Nathan Thomas reported that the gelding had proved difficult to control throughout.
 
COOL MACAW – very fractious at the barriers proving difficult to load. Trainer Mr Stephen Bush was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s barrier manners: jumped out at the start bumping with THE GENERAL TALKS which was dictated outward resulting in TURN IT UP ROSIE being hampered.
 
BELMONT PARK – slow to begin.
 
THE GENERAL TALKS – bumped on jumping then shifted out hampering TURN IT UP ROSIE.
 
PARDON THE PURR – Jockey Pietro Romeo was reminded of his obligations with respect to the use of the whip on a horse not in contention.
 
TURN IT UP ROSIE – hampered at the start: travelled wide in the early stages: held up for clear running from passing the 200 metres and was unable to be fully tested over the concluding stages.
 

Race 2: EXPLORE PROPERTY MUNRO & CO RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 HANDICAP  1609 M
 
PRINCE AKEEM – bounded on jumping: bumped with PRIVATE CHEETAH shortly after entering the final straight.
 
PRIVATE CHEETAH – bumped with PRINCE AKEEM near the 400 metres.
 
BARMERA – pulled hard in the lead proving difficult to restrain.

DICKIN MEDAL – blundered on jumping.
 
 
Race 3: LADBROKE IT! BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP  1609 M
 
MEDAL (NZ) – travelled three-wide without cover throughout.
 
HIGHER LOVE – over-raced in the middle stages.
 
TAVISTEEL (NZ) – improved onto heels passing the 1,400 metres and had to be steadied.
 
 
Race 4: COWBOYS LEAGUES CLUB CLASS 1 PLATE  1400 M
 
DEER HUNTER – taken inwards by TAMBOS’S JUSTICE onto ULTIMATE; travelled three-wide throughout.
 
GINGER MICK – gave ground from the 600 metres and finished back. Jockey Carl Spry reported that after travelling fairly in the running, the gelding compounded and failed to respond to his riding when pressured. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
TAMBO'S JUSTICE – Contacted the barriers on jumping, then shifted in abruptly onto DEER HUNTER which in turn was taken in onto ULTIMATE, which was bumped heavily and lost several lengths.
 
ULTIMATE – Bumped heavily shortly after leaving the barriers losing several lengths. When questioned, Jockey Nathan Day reported that after being contacted by DEER HUNTER, ULTIMATE had become unbalanced and went off stride and added that in his opinion the gelding had over-reacted when placed in restricted room. Jockey Day dropped his whip passing the 200 metres.
 
PRIDE AN' JOY – Slow to begin.
 
 
Race 5: HYGAIN CLASS 3 PLATE  1000 M
 
HEAD HONCHO – Began fairly then tightened for room between SO ODELIA and LAST LAUGH and lost ground. Travelled three-wide without cover throughout. Stewards questioned the Jockey Michael McDonald regarding his riding of HEAD HONCHO throughout the event.
In explanation jockey McDonald stated that after the interference suffered at the start, and having to settle back, he had allowed the gelding to balance up before commencing to improve. Jockey McDonald then stated that being conscious of HEAD HONCHO's historical tractability issues when amongst other runners, he had elected to improve wider on the track to avoid any potential issues which may arise, rather than settle one-off.  Jockey McDonald then added that passing the 600 metres he realised the race leaders had established a margin on him and so he then commenced to ride HEAD HONCHO along to improve his position, however the gelding only responded fairly to his urgings, making some ground over the concluding stages.
 
In assessing the ride, Stewards advised jockey McDonald, that whilst they did not consider his riding of HEAD HONCHO to be so unreasonable in the circumstances as to be culpable, it was nonetheless their opinion he had erred in his judgement by not pursuing HEAD HONCHO sooner than he did, and after the race leaders were a distance in front of him in the middle stages. Jockey McDonald was told that in future his riding must leave nothing to query or question.
 
Jockey McDonald pled guilty to a charge under AR131(b), in that he did fail to take all measures in riding his mount out to the finish after relaxing his ride approaching the post, being narrowly beaten for third placing. In determining penalty Jockey McDonald’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 13 days from midnight Friday 6th December 2024 up to and including racing on Thursday 19th December 2024.
 
NORTHERNONTAP – Travelled greenly in the middle stages. Treated post-race for bruising to the near-side eye.
 
THE WALLET – Jockey Ryan Wiggins reported that his saddle shifted back shortly after the start placing him at a disadvantage for the balance of the race. Notwithstanding the disability caused by his saddle shifting, Jockey Wiggins was firmly reminded of his obligations to ride fully to the line when circumstances permit after easing his riding approaching the post.
 
 
Race 6: SMART RENTALS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT QTIS MAIDEN HANDICAP  1000 M
 
KEEPTHEWOLVESAWAY – severely buffeted on jumping losing ground. Failed to make the turn near the 600 metres and ran wide, losing all chance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Trainer Ms Sharlee Hoffman was advised that the gelding must perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards prior to next racing.
 
TAKE A DIVE – jumped out and bumped with OHMIKKIUSOFINE.
 
PRIDEOFTHEBIGFISH – lost its near-side hind plate in running: travelled wide throughout.
 
REEMYYA (NZ) – trainer Janelle Ryan was fined $100.00 pursuant AR106(1) after presenting REEMYYA without blinkers. 
 
WHATA BOBBI DAZZLA – hampered shortly after the start: travelled wide throughout: held up for clear running from rounding the home turn until passing the 200 metres.
 
RAFFY'S GIRL – taken in on jumping by RISING PROPHET hampering KEEPTHEWOLVESAWAY.
 
LITTLE IFFY – travelled wide throughout.
 
OHMIKKIUSOFINE – bumped on jumping: held up for clear running passing the 300 metres before shifting to the inside of SUPERSTITIONS passing the 200 metres to continue to improve.
 
RISING PROPHET – shifted in abruptly on jumping bumping with RAFFY’S GIRL, which was taken in onto KEEPTHEWOLVESAWAY, which was severely buffeted losing ground. Laid in over the concluding stages.
 
HEAD BEE – Shifted in abruptly on jumping hampering THREDBO.
 
THREDBO – Bumped on jumping.
 
 
Race 7: LADBROKES MATES MODE BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP  1200 M
 
CASTILE – Underwent a pre-race veterinary inspection and was passed fit to start.
 
JOHN JOSEPH – crowed wider rounding the final turn when outside TO LOVE SOMEBODY shifted out. When questioned regarding the performance of JOHN JOSEPH, Jockey Ashley Butler reported that the gelding had travelled only fairly during the running and when placed under pressure passing the 500 metres had failed to respond to his riding and finished the race off fairly. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
HALLSIDE HAMMER – was not persevered with over the concluding stages and finished well back. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
MISS TAMBO – buffeted shortly after the start.
 
TO LOVE SOMEBODY – hampered shortly after the start: held up passing the 500 metres; directed wider entering the final straight taking JOHN JOSEPH wider on the track. Jockey Denicious Smith was reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for shifting ground when not clear.
 
SWAHILI MAI – shifted in shortly after the start contacting TO LOVE SOMEBODY, which was taken in onto MISS TAMBO.
 
 
Race 8: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 HANDICAP  1200 M
 
 
BOOMING FAST – laid in over the concluding stages.
 
GAMADALE NIP – slow to begin.
 
SILVER GLITTER – slow to begin: Stewards questioned Apprentice Jockey G. Semmens on the performance of SILVER GLITTER which finished back. In explanation, Ms Semmens stated that after beginning awkwardly and getting back in the field the filly had taken some time to recover the ground lost. Ms Semmens added that after being taken wide in the final straight SILVER GLITTER had only finished the race off fairly. Ms Semmens added that the application of the tongue tie may have proven detrimental to SILVER GLITTER’s chances today. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
PUSS BOOTS – slow into stride: on returning to scale, Apprentice Jockey Tyler Leslight reported that after racing prominently, the mare had yielded ground quickly passing the 200 metres and was of the view that something may have been amiss with the mare’s action. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
TENNAGAIN – Slow into stride.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 7. Jockey D. Smith – AR 131(a) – Shifting ground when not clear.
 
Fines
Race 6: Trainer J. Ryan– $100 fine – Presented to the mounting yard without blinkers – AR 106(1)      
 
Suspensions
Race 5. Jockey M McDonald – AR 131(b) – failed to ride his mount out to the line – suspended from 7th to 19th December - (inclusive)
 
Race day injuries/illness.
Jockey L. Morrison – Reported soreness in right elbow – Cleared by QAS.
 
Absent jockeys
Nil
 
Adjourned inquiries         
Nil
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race.
WISE DRAGON, DEER HUNTER, REEMYA (NZ), GAMDALE NIP
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 1. COOL MACAW – Pre-Race and Barrier Manners – Warning
Race 6. KEEPTHEWOLVESAWAY – satisfactory Stewards trial.          `
Bleeders
Nil
Falls
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
 
Protests
Nil
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Nil
 
Late scratchings
Nil
 
 
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews, and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its website.
 
This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.