Stewards' Reports

Casterton Racing Club Inc.

Riding Changes / Jockey Information

Must produce Medical Certificate prior to riding again: Tom Ryan

Other Comments / Explanations: Due to a shortage of riders for today’s event Stewards accepted the explanations of Trainers Neil Dyer (Race 1), John Smerdon (Race 1) and Paul Jones (Race 2) regarding their late declaration of riders.

Race 1 – JP DARCY LIVESTOCK MAIDEN PLATE - 1000 metres:  Trainer, Mr Peter Young, advised prior to the horses leaving the mounting enclosure that it was their intention to have KEEP SWEET ridden further back in today’s event.  KEEP SWEET was ridden accordingly.

NANNY McPHEE commenced awkwardly.

CELTIC JAZZ commenced awkwardly and as a result lost ground (2L).

OUR LEGEND over raced in the early stages getting its head in the air on several occasions.

When racing ungenerously in the early stages FIERCE STORM shifted outwards abruptly away from the heels of NANNY McPHEE also getting its head in the air.  As a result FIERCE STORM took WHYMOL out off its course.

ELIBOW raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.

WHYMOL hung inwards considerably in the straight proving difficult to ride over the final 200 metres.  Trainer, Ms Rhonda Handyside, was advised that a warning will be placed on the mare’s record and should it offend in a similar manner further action may be taken.  A post race veterinary examination of WHYMOL revealed an irregular heart beat.  Ms Handyside was advised that prior to racing again the mare would require a Veterinary Certificate of Clearance which should include the satisfactory results of an ECG following a 1000 metre gallop.

In the early stages of the straight and again near the 200 metres CELTIC JAZZ which was inclined to lay inwards brushed the running rail.

Race 2 – COXONS HOLDEN MAIDEN PLATE - 1400 metres:  Prior to the start being affected ZARA’S BALCONY broke through the front of its barrier stall before being quickly restrained by its rider.  On return back behind the barrier ZARA’S BALCONY under went a veterinary examination which passed it fit to start.

MASTER OF MAGIC was slow to begin.

COUNTTHEPINEAPPLES raced keenly in the early and middle stages getting its head in the air.

Trainer, Mr Stephen Lenehan, was questioned in regards to MILENSNAKE leading in today’s event which was in contract to its most previous start where it settled further back.  Mr. Lenehan reported that it had been their intention to settle in a forward position at its most previous start, however the gelding suffered interference shortly after the start and as a result settled further back than intended.  Stewards noted Mr Lenehan’s explanation.

Both OTYLIA and REVEL IN THE CHAOS raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.

Near the 500 metres BIANBOBBY shifted out to improve around the heels of MASTER OF MAGIC and in doing so made contact with ARIZONA TUESDAY.

When questioned regarding him having to ease COUNTTHEPINEAPPLES approaching the 400 metres Josh Cartwright, its rider, stated that his position between CHICAGO MISS and OTYLIA had become tight when CHICAGO MISS shifted outwards slightly in anticipation of becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of SOLACE. J. Cartwright further added that his mount was not travelling well enough to hold his position at that stage and elected to ease COUNTTHEPINEAPPLES.

SPANISH VIXEN was inclined to lay inwards under pressure in the straight.

Apprentice B Hussey (Revel In The Chaos) was questioned regarding her mount racing wide in the early stages and shifting wider from the 600m when there were appeared to be several opportunities to settle closer to the rail. After hearing her evidence and viewing the patrol field stewards referred Apprentice Hussey to the Apprentice Review Panel.

Race 3 – mOREDUN HILL STEEPLECHASE - 3800 metres: Due to an error the gear application for blinkers to be applied to HIGHLY SPIRITED (NZ) was omitted.  The gear was placed on the gelding behind the barriers and an announcement was made to this effect.

On jumping the first fence BOOM TIMES landed extremely awkwardly dislodging its rider, Lee Horner.  L. Horner was examined and passed fit to fulfil his remaining engagements.

ROYAL LADDIE fell after jumping the fourth fence and as a result dislodged its rider, Tom Ryan.  T. Ryan was stood down, following a medical examination following the event, for his remaining rides. Whilst T. Ryan did not require any further medical treatment he was nonetheless advised to produce a medical certificate of clearance prior to riding again.

ROYAL LADDIE and BOOM TIMES underwent veterinary examinations following the event which revealed no abnormalities.  Both those runners will be referred to the Jumps Review Panel.

A post race veterinary examination of DIEGO DE LA VEGA (NZ) revealed a laceration to its off fore leg.  Further the gelding returned having cast its near fore plate.

Race 4 – CASTERTON ELECTRICS 0 – 58 HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP - 2000 metres:  As THE WILD THING had started at Naracoorte after acceptances were taken the details of the race and its finishing position which did not appear in all publications were announced.

Trainer, Terry O’Sullivan, advised that it was their intention to have BELLS OF BROOKLYN ridden further back than at its most previous start.  BELLS OF BROOKLYN settled in a mid field position.  When questioned Martin Kelly, rider of BELLS OF BROOKLYN, reported that passing the 1200 metres he elected to improve to a three wide position as the pace in the early and middle stages had been quite slow he did not wish to be caught behind runners when placing his mount under pressure in the latter stages.  His comments were noted.

Due to T. Ryan, listed rider of WEST HO, becoming indisposed Stewards ordered the withdrawal of the gelding due to no other suitable rider being available. WEST HO was withdrawn at 2.25pm.  All monies bet for a win and/or place and concession betting on the late scratching to be refunded.  All successful bets on horses prior to time of withdrawal are subject to the following deductions in the dollar from the face value of the ticket: Win bets: 4 cents Place bets (for winner): 7 cents Place bets (for 2): 8 cents  Place bets (for 3):  10 cents.  All monies bet after the Stewards declaration of withdrawal to be paid at face value of ticket.

KING OF DENDY was slow to begin. 

Passing the 150 metres LINKA (NZ) shifted in resulting in KING OF DENDY which had obtained a run to its inside being hampered. Then over the concluding stages LINKA (NZ) shifted out under pressure taking KING OF DENDY out onto MICKIEM.  Tommy Logan, rider of LINKA (NZ), was reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift ground when not sufficiently clear.

Shane Jackson, rider of KING OF DENDY, was questioned regarding his decision to allow the gelding to stride forward near the 1200 metres and race half a length in front of the previous leader, LINKA (NZ), when there appeared to be an option to settle his mount at that gelding’s girth.  S. Jackson stated that his mount pulled hard in the early stages and therefore he elected to allow it to stride forward in anticipation of leading the field outright.  He stated however that as soon as KING OF DENDY headed LINKA (NZ) it dropped the bit and as it would have taken some urging to continue forward and obtain the lead S. Jackson elected to maintain his position outside of LINKA (NZ).  Stewards noted his comments.

An inquiry was adjourned into the whip use A. Lynch.

Race 5 – WC & AC MILLER BM72 HANDICAp - 1400 metres: 

For some distance approaching the first turn MELETE was bumped on several occasions by HIPHOPOPOTAMUS (NZ) which raced tightly to its outside.  Shane Jackson, the rider of HIPHOPOPOTAMUS (NZ) was cautioned in relation to having runners to his inside unduly tight. 

Rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight SINGLE WARRIOR was held up for clear running. When questioned its rider, Ryan Maloney, stated that prior to rounding the home turn he had angled his mount out to improve around RAMSOM WILLY however was unable to obtain clear running in the early stages of the straight.  R. Maloney agreed in hindsight it may have been a better option to improve to the inside of RANSOM WILLY as the field fanned wider rounding the home turn however as he had committed to the outside of that gelding he was unable to do so.

Jacob Rule, rider of RANSOM WILLY, which performed below market expectations, stated he could offer no explanation for the performance, and Trainer Terry Kelly’s representative advised that in her opinion the gelding was not comfortable when racing inside other runners.  A post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Race 6 – ALBION HOTEL MOTEL F&M 0 – 62 HANDICAP - 1400 metres:  Shortly after the start when being restrained MY HARMONICA threw its head in the air.

TEQUILA QUEEN raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.

Approaching the 1000 metres CONSOLIDATED GIRL had to be restrained out away from the heels of PEPPY KOALA which shifted out resulting in CONSOLIDATED GIRL making contact with VERTIGO, from this point on VERTIGO over raced for some distance.

Both Ryan Maloney, rider of CONSOLIDATED GIRL, and Dean Yendall, rider of DON’T WORRY TOFF, could offer no explanation for their respective mounts poor performances.

Holly McKechnie, rider of POPPY’S POND, was questioned regarding the tactics she adopted aboard the mare where she maintained a three wide position whilst leading with no runners to her inside.  H. McKechnie reported that she had been instructed to settle in this position due to the mare’s inclination in the past to race unruly when racing close to the rail.  H. McKechnie further reported that her mount also had a tendency to lay outwards.  Trainer, Mr Allen Peterson, confirmed these instructions and advised that POPPY’S POND was a difficult horse and had shown at its last start at Geelong that when racing near the rail it would race unruly therefore he instructed its rider to ride the mare in this manner which was similar to how it raced when it won at Donald two starts ago.  Mr. Peterson further advised that he will continue to attempt to improve the mare’s racing manners by experimenting with gear changes. His comments were noted.

Race 7 – MCCLURE EARTHMOVING 0 – 62 HANDICAP - 1200 metres:  MANAROLA MAGIC shifted out after the straight inconveniencing ILLUSIONARY STAR.

IMMINENT DANGER commenced awkwardly and as a result lost ground.

LAST OUTLAW pulled hard in the early stages.

LECONI raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.

DAZZIKI raced extremely wide from the 800 metres.

ILLUSIONARY STAR had some difficulty in obtaining clear running rounding the home turn and again over the final 75 metres.

Swab Samples

Pre-race blood for post-race analysis: Race 2- MILENSNAKE, NIMMO Race 3- HIGHLY SPIRITED (NZ) Race 4- THE WILD THING  Race 5- RESOLVERE Race 6- VERTIGO Race 7- ILLUSIONARY STAR

Post race samples from following horses: ALL WINNERS; Race 1- SILKEN GOWN Race 2- MILENSNAKE Race 3- HALF MOON RISING Race 4- STREETS APART Race 5- FEELING INVINCIBLE Race 6- PEPPY KOALA Race 7- MANAROLA MAGIC

Raceday Summary