QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

TOWNSVILLE RACE CLUB – THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2025

WEATHER – OVERCAST           TRACK RATING – GOOD (4) RAIL – + 4 METRES 1000 METRES TO THE WINNING POST        PENETROMETER – 5.43
 
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – D. Griffiths
Stewards – P. Gillard, P. Warren, A. Holzhauser

Race 1: LADBROKES FORM GENIUS BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP – 1400 M

ACCLIMATISE – Began awkwardly throwing its head in the air and was tightened for room. Tendency to over race in the early stages. Laid out rounding the home turn. Crowded for room near the 200 metres and was steadied. Rider M. McDonald was questioned regarding his vigor on ACCLIMATISE from leaving the 180 metres until approaching the winning the post. At a subsequent inquiry jockey McDonald pleaded guilty to a charge under the specifics of AR 131(b) in that he failed to ride his horse out to the end of the race and or approaching the end of the race from the 180 metres until approaching the winning the post. Stewards were of the opinion his actions had caused ACCLIMATISE to be beaten for 3rd place. Jockey McDonalds license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 14 days to commence midnight 27/02/2025 and expire midnight 13/03/2025. In considering penalty stewards noted his guilty plea and his recent poor record regarding this rule. Jockey McDonald was advised of his appeal rights. A post-race veterinary examination of ACCLIMATISE revealed no abnormalities.

FANG IT (NZ) – Tightened for room on jumping.

JOE'S GIGGLE – Shifted out at the start tightening runners to its outside. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
DECRYPTING GOLD – Shifted in at the start tightening runners to its inside. Laid in under pressure near the 200 metres crowding ACCLIMATISE. Rider A. Buttler was advised to exercise greater care.
 
ELLEVES – Over-raced in the early and middle stages. Lost both hind plates during running.  

Race 2: LADBROKES BLACKBOOK MAIDEN PLATE – 1200 Metres
 
THE KAMIKAZE (NZ) – Slow to begin. Over-raced in the early stages.
 
BINGHAMTON – Over-raced in the early stages. Laid in near the 150 metres having to be corrected.
 
OUR FOLLY – Laid in under pressure in the home straight and shifted in approaching the winning post.
 
SNEAKY TAY – Lost its off-front plate during the race.
 
ONE PERCENT – A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Trainer B. Thomson advised she would be experimenting with a further gear change prior to its next start and would report any abnormalities that may come to light in the near future.    
 
Race 3: LADBROKES BET TICKER QTIS JEWEL QUALIFIER 3YO PLATE – 1200 Metres

MARGOT BARBIE – On returning to scale jockey J. Stanley advised the filly anticipated the start becoming very awkward as the start was effected and put its head down resulting in him being dislodged and landing on his feet. Jockey Stanley declared himself free of any injury.
 
BETTER THAN WORDS – Slow to begin.
 
I'LLTELLYOUSO – Began awkwardly. Jockey J. Murphy was found guilty of a charge under AR 131(a) in that he shifted in when insufficiently clear of OUR IMPACT which had to be restrained and shift inwards crowding POLITICAL POWER near the 1000 metres. Jockey J. Murphy’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 11 days to commence midnight 01/ 03/2025 and expire midnight 12/03/2025. Jockey Murphy was advised of his appeal rights.  
 
ELECTRIC BRAE – Bumped on jumping.
 
POLITICAL POWER – Threw its head in the air near the 1000 metres when racing ungenerously and being crowded for room.

OUR IMPACT – Began awkwardly and shifted out bumping ELECTRIC BRAE. Placed in restricted room near the 1000 metres and shifted in crowding POLITICAL POWER.  
 
Race 4: LADBROKES ODDS SURGE CLASS 6 HANDICAP – 1200 Metres

MR METRICS – Fractious in the barriers prior to the start. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the presence blood in its mouth from a small laceration in its gum. 
 
SIR MAXIMUS – Slow to begin.    
 
MUTAFIQ – Over-raced in the early stages.
 
DELUXE LEGEND – Shifted out near the 200 metres brushing with NO LOVE LOST.
 
NO LOVE LOST – Brushed near the 200 metres.
 
Race 5: HYGAIN CLASS 3 PLATE – 1000 Metres

HARROW (IRE) – Began awkwardly. Raced three wide without cover for the majority of the race.
 
Race 6: MITAVITE RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP – 1000 Metres

FAST MISSILE – Slow to begin.  Jockey A. Butler reported that the gelding began awkwardly and was not able to match the early pace in the race despite his efforts to urge FAST MISSILE forward in the early stages. In his opinion FAST MISSILE would be better suited over a longer distance than that of today’s race.  
 
LET'S RIDE – Raced wide with cover.
 
SPINELESS – Slow to begin.
 
EXSENSIBLE – Raced three wide with cover.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Suspensions
Race 1, Michale McDonald (Jockey) – 14 days midnight 27/02/2025 and expire midnight 13/03/2025. Failing to ride mount to finish AR 131(b).   
Race 3, Jackson Murphy (Jockey) – 11 Days midnight 01/03/2025 and expire midnight 12/03/2025. Careless riding.  

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
Decrypting Gold, Electric Brae, Deluxe Legend, Nolan, Fast Missile  
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Falls
Race 3, Justin Stanley – Dislodged on jumping – Landed on feet declaring free of injury.   
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 Race 6, Exsensible – Denicious Smith   

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.