STEWARDS REPORT Port Macquarie Race Club PORT MACQUARIE RACECOURSE Friday 12 January 2018 Weather: Fine Track: Soft (5) upgraded to Good (4) at 1.30pm prior to Race 1. Rail: 3m entire. STEWARDS: D. R. Smith (Chairman), T. D. North, M. A. Holloway, J. Dunn Late Riding Changes: When stewards were advised M. Toms (a), A. McPherson (a) and K. Stanley were unable to fulfil their engagements the following substitutions were approved. Race 3: Race 4: Race 5: Race 6: O. Pickering (a) on Super Saturday C. Ings (a) on Artistic Queen J. Kehoe on Aslan s Mojo C. Ings (a) on Suggestapartner RACE 1: Benchmark 73 Handicap 1506m: I m Danny- When questioned regarding the disappointing performance, O. Pickering (a) could offer no explanation other than the gelding raced flat throughout, and in her opinion had come to the end of its preparation. A post race veterinary examination did not detect any abnormities. Trainer Mr N. Tynan advised stewards the gelding would now be spelled. Acting on that assurance no action was taken against the gelding. Phrases- Post race veterinary examination of the gelding did not detect any abnormalities. Hippy High Ho- When questioned regarding the gelding settling in a midfield position, B. Hodder stated she was instructed to ride the gelding in a forward position, but be mindful of a number of other on speed horses in the event. B. Hodder added after beginning only fairly the gelding failed to muster speed, and as the pace of the race was strong she obtained a midfield position. B. Hodder s explanation was accepted. RACE 2: Maiden Plate 1812m: Lights of Como- Began awkwardly. Hampered and carried wider rounding the turn at the 1500m. Albert of Monaco- Slightly slow to begin and shortly after was crowded losing ground. Hi Caliber- Hampered and carried wider rounding the turn at the 1500m. King of Monaco- Held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Talks the Talk- Trainer Mr V. Jones was advised prior to racing again the gelding would be required to prove competitive in an official trial after it weakened badly over the final 600m and was beaten 47 lengths.
RACE 3: Entires & Geldings Maiden Plate 1206m: Super Saturday- Slow to begin (2L). Scorching- Hung in when placed under pressure in the straight. Septango- When questioned regarding his riding of the gelding during the early stages, J. Oliver stated he was instructed to ride the gelding neutral out of the barriers as the horse was racing in blinkers for the first occasion and has previously shown a tendency to overrace. J. Oliver added the gelding began well and he immediately dropped his hands to comply with his instructions. J. Oliver further added passing the 1100m he was crossed by Wallaman and despite then commencing to ride the gelding along it settled behind midfield. Stable representative Mr C. Hull confirmed the instructions issued, but stated disappointment in how far back the gelding had become during the early stages in particular after beginning so well. J. Oliver was advised in future whilst he should always endeavour to ride to instructions on this occasion he had erred after beginning so well by not immediately crossing Super Saturday and settling a pair closer to the speed. Overraced during the middle stages and passing the 700m was checked from heels. RACE 4: Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate 1206m: Smokin Suzy- Slow to begin. Passing the 150m was bumped heavily and became unbalanced. Anareign- Slow to begin. Advalady- Passing the 250m was bumped heavily and taken in. Jessie Prevails- Began awkwardly. Overraced during the early stages. Raced wide without cover throughout. Hung in when placed under pressure in the straight proving difficult to ride, and near the 200m shifted in and bumped Advalady. A post race veterinary examination of the filly did not detect any abnormalities. Bloom in Spring- Hung in when placed under pressure in the straight. Valley Crossing- A post race veterinary examination of the mare which failed to run on in the straight did not detect any abnormalities. RACE 5: Class 1 Handicap 1206m: Nashian- When stewards were advised K. Matheson was overweight and no other senior rider was available permission was granted for him to ride the filly half a kilogram overweight. K. Matheson was subsequently fined $200 (AR 120b). Passing the 200m was checked when crowded for room by Firing Line, which shifted in when not clear. At a subsequent inquiry S. Traecey (Firing Line) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding (AR 137a), and his license to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence on 15 January 2018, and to expire on Friday 26 January 2018, on which day he may ride. Brandy Balloon- When stewards were advised J. Oliver was overweight and no other senior rider was available permission was granted for him to ride the gelding half a kilogram overweight. J. Oliver was subsequently fined $100 AR 120b. When assessing penalty stewards considered J. Oliver s good record in relation to this rule. Passing the 200m was bumped heavily and became unbalanced. Lucciola Belle- Slow to begin. Passing the 500m was eased after improving onto the heels of Something Shocking. Approaching the 100m was eased when disappointed for a run, and had to be shifted out to continue into clear running.
Waiheke Island- Passing the 900m was steadied when crowded for room by Lucy in Disguise, which after initially being carried in slightly by Baradine Bound, then shifted in away from that gelding. Eight Field- For some distance passing the 900m raced in restricted room when crowded by Nashian, and near the 800m was steadied to avoid the heels of Nashian which shifted in when not clear. At a subsequent inquiry K. Matheson (Nashian) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding (AR 137a), and his license to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence on Tuesday 16 January 2018, and to expire on Monday 22 January 2018 on which day he may ride. When assessing penalty stewards considered K. Matheson s good record in relation to this rule. Aslan s Mojo- Began awkwardly and shifted out. Overraced during the middle stages and passing the 800m was steadied from heels. Unable to obtain fully clear running at any stage over the final 200m and as a result went to the line without being fully tested. Firing Line- Bumped on jumping. Raced wide without cover throughout. Hung in when placed under pressure in the straight proving difficult to ride out. Harada Lass- Overraced during the early and middle stages. The Outcast- Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight. Over the final stages was steadied after improving onto the heels of Something Shocking. RACE 6: Benchmark 55 Handicap 2012m: Soolaimon- Late scratching at 5.57pm by order of stewards after the gelding took charge of its rider during the preliminary and crashed through the inside running rail near the 50m. Subsequently stewards ordered all monies invested on the gelding be refunded, and all successful bets with bookmakers made prior to 5.57pm be paid less the following deductions on the face value of the ticket- 1 st ) Rage Against- 9c win and 10c place. 2 nd ) Suggestapartner- 10c place. 3 rd ) Stately Lady- 9c place. Trainer Mr P. Perry was advised prior to racing again the gelding would be required to compete satisfactorily in an official trial. The start of this race was subsequently delayed 15 minutes to allow repairs to the section of running rail damaged by Soolaimon. B. McDougall (a) was not injured in the incident. Stately Lady- Slightly slow to begin and shortly after shifted in bumping the hindquarters of Golden Words. Golden Words- Bumped on jumping. Dew Drop- Passing the 500m was momentarily steadied to avoid the heels of Southern Delight. A post race veterinary examination of the gelding which weakened badly over the final 300m did not detect any abnormalities. Trainer Mr J. Sprague advised stewards in his opinion the gelding failed to run the 2012m of today s event, and it was now the intention to drop the gelding back in distance, and add blinkers to its racing gear. RACE 7: Benchmark 53 Handicap 1506m: Funky Monkey- J. Worley replaced K. Matheson (Overweight) as the rider of the gelding. The Zoff- Passing the 1200m was checked to avoid the heels of Stanzza, which was carried in by La Biere Choisie, which shifted in when not clear. At a subsequent inquiry J. Oliver (La Biere Choisie) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding (AR 137a), and his license to ride
in races was suspended for a period to commence on Sunday 21 January 2018, and to expire on Monday 29 January 2018, on which day he may ride. A post race veterinary examination of the gelding found it was lame (3/5) in the near foreleg. Trainer Mr. P. Ball was advised prior to racing again the gelding would require a veterinary clearance. Solicitation- Passing the 1200m was steadied to avoid the heels of Stanzza, which was carried in by La Biere Choisie, which shifted in when not clear. Commandatore- Passing the 150m rider B. Looker dropped his offside reign placing him at a slight disadvantage for a short distance. RACE 8: Class 2 Handicap 1006m: Magic Arli- Slow to begin. Sepae- Jumped awkwardly outwards and made heavy contact with the barrier stalls, resulting in rider C. Baker (a) becoming badly unbalanced, and as a result the gelding lost ground (2L). Overraced during the early stages and passing the 800m was steadied from heels. Hung out rounding the turn at the 700m. Dunrunin- Slow to begin. Mother s Presence- Overraced during the early stages and passing the 800m was steadied from heels. Super Tonic- Bumped and carried out passing the 750m. Rocket Monkey- Overraced during the early and middle stages and for some distance approaching and passing the 650m was checked from heels. Little Moots- Passing the 200m was eased after improving onto the heels of Lots of Diamonds, and had to be shifted out into clear running. General: Swab samples were taken from all winners and Phrases. Trainer Mrs J. Lynch was fined $200 under AR 175 (k) for breaching the Kempsey track regulations on the morning of 5 January 2018. Fines: Reprimands: Suspensions: Warnings: Bleeders: Trials: Certificates: Falls/Injuries: Tactic Changes: SUMMARY General- J. Lynch- $200 AR 175 (k)- Breach track regulations. Race 5- J. Oliver- $100 AR 120b- Overweight. Race 5- K. Matheson- $200 AR 120b- Overweight. Race 5- K. Matheson- Careless riding (AR 137a). Race 5- S. Traecey- Careless riding (AR 137a). Race 7- J. Oliver- Careless riding (AR 137a). Race 2- Talks the Talk- Uncompetitive. Race 6- Soolaimon- Pre-race behaviour. Race 7- The Zoff- Lame near foreleg. Race 2- Ticket to Fly- To be ridden further back- Settled back. Race 7- Thundering Heart- To be ridden more forward- Settled midfield.