Stewards Report Muswellbrook Race Club Skellatar Park RACECOURSE Sunday 27 th March 2016 Weather: Fine Track: Good (3) Rail: True Stewards: S Cullen (Chairman), J Penfold, D Greer & J Schultz. Riding Changes: Race 1: Maiden Plate 1200m Cool Habits raced greenly in the early stages, and hung out rounding the home turn. Stable representative Mr. S Perry was advised that a warning for hanging out would be placed on the geldings racing record. Dad s Girl was held up momentarily passing the 150m. Divine Day slow to begin then over raced during the middle stages. Baroque Girl slow to begin, then hung in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Tacit Rhema began awkwardly. When questioned in relation to his ride, L Grace explained that he had been instructed to have his mount in a forward position; however after beginning awkwardly he could not achieve this. He said that despite this the filly travelled well during the race and after being held up behind a weakening runner from the entrance to the 200m where he was forced to shift considerably wider to obtain clear running, it responded well to his urgings and ran to the finish strongly. Stable representative Ms. E McMahon confirmed the instructions and said after consultation with the trainer Mr. J Sargent it was intended to increase the distance of Tacit Rhema s races and instruct whoever rode it to settle behind midfield early taking into account the manner which the filly raced today.
Race 2: Maiden Plate 1000m Gone Viral raced in restricted room inside the 200m. Burkina Boy was crowded shortly after the start, over raced during the middle stages, then was awkwardly placed and became unbalanced rounding the home turn. Gary s Boy began awkwardly and shifted out abruptly. Pa s Joy slow to begin. S wonderful began awkwardly and was bumped shortly after the start, then over raced during the middle stages. Uber On Wings was crowded at the start. Tremplin hung in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Yarrenlea began very awkwardly and raced intractably during the early and middle stages. Trainer Ms. N Down was advised that a warning for racing manners and poor performance would be placed on the mare s racing record. Race 3: Benchmark 60 Handicap 1750m No report. Race 4: Class 1 Handicap 1450m (Div 1) Akumandi stood flatfooted at the start and lost ground (4L), then failed to respond to its rider s urgings at any stage. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Stable representative Mr. R Kumar said that the filly would be spelled. Regardless, he was advised that prior to racing again Akumandi would be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. The Rider M Bell was fined $200 for applying the whip on 8 occasions (3 more than allowed) prior to the 100m. Exitozo raced fiercely during the early stages. Emo Girl slow to begin, then hung in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Loyal Toast was crowded and carried wider at the entrance to the home straight when Ramla Bay shifted into its path. A Gibbons (Ramla Bay) was subsequently reprimanded (AR137a) for allowing his mount to shift out when not clear.
Race 5: Benchmark 60 Handicap 1450m Zigamore Post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Montrer Dame slow to begin. Slippery Eel The rider R Murray was fined $100 (AR137A (5) (ii)) for applying the whip on 8 occasions (3 more than allowed) prior to the 100m. Caldane when questioned in relation to his ride in the early stages, A Sewell explained that he had been instructed to have his mount positioned just behind the lead in the early stages. He said that after the start he rode forward to achieve this and felt that he would obtain a position outside Bench Star, however when Cottonwood Grove held its position on the rails approaching the 1000m turn, he was trapped 3 wide and his mount was reluctant to ease to obtain cover at this point. He said that he was forced to continue forward and covered extra ground until he was able to race outside the leader passing the 800m. he added that after placing his mount under pressure at the entrance to the home straight it weakened more quickly than he expected, which he attributed to the circumstances leading up to the 800m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displayed a poor recovery rate. Settle The Future hung in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Race 6: Open Handicap 1280m Belannoro post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Trainer Mr. G Bennett subsequently reported (28/3/16) that despite the mare recovering well, he would consult the connections before a decision was made as to whether the racing preparation would continue. Danish Twist when questioned in relation to her ride inside the 700m, S Clenton explained that her mount settled surprisingly well in the early stages given the change of tactics adopted. She said that passing the 700m she was racing behind So You Know with the option of improving around that runner, however given that included in her instructions was the explicit condition that she maintain cover for as long as possible, she elected to shift to the inside of that runner approaching the home turn. She said that Danish Twist travelled well rounding the home turn and at the entrance to the home straight she attempted to secure a run between Faith n Courage and Lucky Ima Cugat, but could not accelerate quickly enough to prevent Lucky Ima Cugat from assuming that position. She said that after this she immediately shifted her mount inwards in search of clear
running and after being momentarily held up passing the 200m, she obtained a run between Tableaux and Strangerinparadise and when placed under full pressure Danish Twist responded well and ran to the finish strongly. She conceded that the option was available to her to take her mount to the outside of So You Know passing the 600m, but felt that covering excessive ground was not only contrary to her instructions but would have been detrimental to the mares finishing effort. Race 7: Class 5 Plate 1280m Chrysolaus hung in when placed under pressure inside the 300m. Three Sheets raced in restricted room for some distance between the 250m and the 150m. Invienna post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Shutter Bug when questioned in relation to the performance J Collet explained that his mount which felt uncomfortable in its action throughout, over raced for some distance during the middle stages. He said that when placed under pressure in the home straight Shutter Bug did not respond and was disappointing in its finishing effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Trainer Mr. D Williams subsequently reported (28/3/16) that the mare would be returned to its Goulburn stable and freshened up before a decision was made on its racing program if it were to continue. Race 8: Class 2 Handicap 1000m Hay Presto slow to begin, then crowded passing the 700m. Murranji was hampered approaching the winning post. Seven Ten Split post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Tommy Two Toes slow to begin. Tisritz hung out and ran wide rounding the home turn. Trainer Mr. T Willan was advised that a warning for hanging out would be placed on the filly s racing record. Run Sally Run hung in during the middle stages.
Zippy Hippy hung out under pressure inside the 250m and ran very wide. Lasszou after being withdrawn from its engagement at Newcastle 26/3/16 with a slightly elevated temperature, was inspected by the clubs veterinary officer who reported that the gelding s temperature was normal and its condition satisfactory. Was crowded, became unbalanced and struck the running rail passing the 700m. Swabs: Swab samples were taken from all winners & the following runners: Diamont Noir, Coutainville (pre & post-race), Mr. Smart, Sambora, Em Double You Bee, Kyogle Town, Rose Of Man & Chrysolaus (pre-race). SUMMARY Fines Suspensions Reprimands Warnings Trials Cautions Falls and Injury Certificates Follow Up Change Of Tactics Race 4: M Bell $200 (AR137A (5) (ii)) 8 strikes Race 5: R Murray $100 (AR137A (5) (ii)) 8 strikes Race 4: A Gibbons (AR137a) Race 1: Cool Habits hung out. Race 2: Yarrenlea intractable early stages and poor performance. Race 8: Tisritz hung out Race 4: Akumandi stood flatfooted. Race 7: Shutter Bug racing program Race 3: Caribbean Concert to be ridden forward settled behind the speed. Race 4: Exitozo to be ridden back settled midfield racing fiercely. Race 6: Danish Twist to be ridden back settled behind midfield.