QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
BIRDSVILLE RACE CLUB INC
FRIDAY – 6TH SEPTEMBER 2024
WEATHER – Fine TRACK RATING – Good RAIL – True
OFFICIALS
Stewards – S. Coulthard (chair), R. Hanson, A. Schofield
Race 1: BIRDSVILLE RACES ROADIES BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 800 Metres
ATLANTIC RIDGE – Underwent a veterinary check on arrival at the barriers after being fractious entering the mounting enclosure and contacting a fence, and was cleared to start.
PALACE KEYS – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Laid out rounding the home turn. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have bled from the right-side nostril. Trainer G. Bignell was advised that PALACE KEYS must gallop over 1000m in the presence of a Steward prior to racing again.
KARATEMISS – Slow to begin.
MR EVANS – Raced wide throughout.
CHICA HOTTIE – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Shortly after the start, raced greenly when the mare overreacted to the kickback. Raced wide throughout. Approaching the 200m, restrained from heels when laying in.
RHUMBADU – As apprentice S. McCann was unable to claim her full allowance, she was replaced by apprentice D. Gillett. Under the provisions of AR132(14)(a), apprentice McCann was fined $100.
Race 2: NOT JUST HARDWARE CLASS 3 PLATE 1400 Metres
BENEVENTO – Raced wide throughout. When asked to comment on the performance apprentice C. Lowe reported that the gelding began well and when put under pressure BENEVENTO felt flat and proved disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities.
Race 3: BIRDSVILLE HOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200 Metres
STROMA ASTER – Momentarily hampered approaching the 300m.
TERAMBI – Slow to begin. Raced wide during the early stages. Momentarily held up for clear running on entering the home straight. Approaching the 300m, shifted out under pressure momentarily hampering STROMA ASTER, before being corrected by its rider. Continued to lay out under pressure for the remainder.
LORD FENRIR – Fractious in the barriers. Began awkwardly and lost ground. Trainer P. Cole was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s barrier manners.
Race 4: LYNDHURST STUD OPEN HANDICAP 1200 Metres
STAR MAGNUM – Began awkwardly. Apprentice D. Gillett pled guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii) in that she used her whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m (14 in totality) and was fined $500.
POMPEII EMPIRE – Slow to begin.
Race 5: RFDS QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1200 Metres
DESERT SAFARI – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice D. Gillett dropped her whip near the 100m. Apprentice D. Gillett was reprimanded under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using her whip on 8 occasions prior to the 100m.
MISTER – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. When asked to comment on the improved performance, trainer G. Bignell reported that the gelding is relatively new to the stable and had improved in its work between each start and was suited by today’s track conditions. He added that MISTER had also recovered from a recent minor injury and the stable were not surprised by today’s forward showing.
Race 6: TAB CLASS 5 HANDICAP 1200 Metres
WITHOUT SHAME – Began awkwardly.
LOTTO FIGHT – Blundered on jumping.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
Race 5. Apprentice D. Gillett – use of whip on 8 occasions prior to the 100m – reprimand.
Fines
Race 1. Apprentice S. McCann – unable to claim full allowance – AR143(14)(a) - $100.
Race 4. Apprentice D. Gillett – use of whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m – AR132(7)(a)(ii) - $500.
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
ATLANTIC RIDGE, AWEN, STROMA ASTER, POMPEII EMPIRE, GOIN’ SKITZ, LOTTO FIGHT.
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 3. LORD FENRIR – fractious in barriers – warning on barrier manners.
Bleeders
Race 1. PALACE KEYS – bled one nostril – gallop 1000m in the presence of a Steward.
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1. 6. RHUMBADU – App. D. Gillett (replacing S. McCann)
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.