QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
MACKAY TURF CLUB
MONDAY 14 APRIL 2025
 
 
WEATHER – FINE
TRACK RATING – SOFT 5
RAIL – +2M 1100M TO W/POST; TRUE REMAINDER
PENETROMETER – 5.52
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – H Gillett
Stewards – R Neal & E Suli
 
GENERAL
 
Following a track inspection prior to the running of Race 1, the track was upgraded to a SOFT 5.
 
Stewards permitted overweights as per the race day summary.
 
 
RACE 1: BOOK EVENT CENTRE FOR FUNCTIONS MAIDEN HANDICAP (1560 METRES)
 
IMPERIAL BLOSSOM – Began awkwardly. Laid out when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
NAORO – Over raced in the early stages. Raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
DIAMOND DEGREE – Began awkwardly and shifted outwards, contacting the outside barrier partition.
 
COOL MAN SHOW – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Jockey T Townsend pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using her whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m, 14 times in total. Jockey Townsend’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 days, with the suspension to commence midnight 21st April 2025 and to conclude midnight 28th April 2025. In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration jockey Townsend’s guilty plea and the QRIC whip penalty guidelines. Shortly after the winning post, jockey T Townsend became unbalanced and was dislodged. Jockey Townsend was assessed by the on-course QAS Officers under the Racing Queensland Concussion Protocol and was cleared of any signs of a concussion or other injury. Jockey Townsend was advised that if any delayed symptoms arise to advise stewards immediately.
 
 
RACE 2:LADBROKES FORM GENIUS OPEN HANDICAP (1560 METRES)
 
CAFFREY (IRE) – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SIR GRACE (NZ) – Bounded on jumping. Raced keenly throughout. Inclined to lay out approaching the 100m and had to be corrected by its rider.
 
JOHNNY DASH – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after having competed at the Rockhampton meeting on the 12th of April and was cleared to start.
 
RELEASE LE MISSILE – Slow to begin. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 3:BOOK FOR AMATEUR CUP SATURDAY 24TH MAY QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP (1050 METRES)

HONOURBEFORE GLORY – Was fractious in the barriers prior to jumping. Began awkwardly and contacted the outside barrier partition before shifting in abruptly shortly after. When asked for a comment on the performance, jockey A Butler stated that he was disappointed in the gelding’s performance, adding that HONOURBEFORE GLORY travelled well throughout the early stages, however when asked to quicken passing the 800m the gelding failed to respond and went to the line in a disappointing manner. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer C Taylor was advised to report to stewards on the gelding’s condition in the coming days.
 
KRACKACAN – Proved difficult to load. Began awkwardly and contacted the inside barrier partition. Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure in the home straight and had to be corrected by its rider. Trainer D Johnston was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record for being difficult to load.
 
BITTER SPIRIT – Over raced throughout the event. Upon returning to scale, jockey J Stanley reported that his mount was inclined to hang in the home straight, which resulted in the gelding proving difficult to be fully tested out over the final stages.
 
WHISKEY RIVER – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure in the home straight and had to be corrected by its rider.
 
FABULEAN – Began awkwardly. Elected to shift inwards in an attempt to obtain clear running near the 200m.
 
SENSEI'S SURPRISE – Slow into stride.
 
THE KOBAY TRAIN – Slow to begin.
 
 
RACE 4:LADBROKES ODDS SURGE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

THE HACKNEYDIAMOND – Inclined to hang out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MAGIC TYLA – Over raced in the early stages and had to steady to avoid the heels of THE HACKNEYDIAMOND which shifted in marginally near the 1050m when not fully clear. Jockey W Satherley was reprimanded under the provisions of AR131(a).
 
FIRE SPHERE – Began awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Raced wide in the early stages. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
MISHANI AMORE – Had to steady when racing onto the heels of THE HACKNEYDIAMOND passing the 800m.
 
POLLY HOFFA – Began awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Raced wide in the early stages. Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 5: SAFE AND HAPPY EASTER FROM MTC BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1050 METRES)
 
CABALO ESCURO – Began awkwardly and shifted inwards, bumping BEPPE. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the home straight until a point near the 100m.
 
MR TANGLES – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
BOOMING LAD – Held up for clear running in the home straight until a point passing the 200m.
 
STAR GAMBLE – Began awkwardly. Had to shift outwards to avoid the heels of BOOMING LAD near the 900m whilst over racing and continued thereafter. Upon returning to scale, jockey W Satherley reported that STAR GAMBLE was inclined to over race throughout the event and had difficulty in being able to fully test his mount. Trainer G Bell advised stewards that connections would consider the gelding’s immediate racing future within the stable.
 
BEPPE – Bumped on jumping by CABALO ESCURO which shifted inwards.
 
MISHANI MAVERICK – Began awkwardly. Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
TOW THE LINE – Was carried wider by STAR GAMBLE which shifted outwards to avoid heels of another runner near the 900m and race wide thereafter for the remainder of the event. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 6: RACING AGAIN THURSDAY 1ST MAY BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
 
REPLACE THE ACE – Raced wide in the early stages until obtaining a position in the lead near the 1600m. Over raced in the early and middle stages. When asked for a comment on the performance, jockey A Butler stated REPLACE THE ACE travelled keenly throughout the event and failed to let down at any stage. Jockey Butler further added that this was the gelding’s first race start over the distance and that in his opinion REPLACE THE ACE would derive significant benefit from the run moving forward.
 
KINGS CASTLE (FR) – Elected to shift wider near the 1100m in an attempt to improve. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ALL POWERED UP – Raced keenly in the early stages. Held up in the early stages of the home straight.
 
NINE CARATS – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after having competed at the Rockhampton meeting on the 11th of April and was cleared to start. Began awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
SECRET ENCRYPTION – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after having competed at the Rockhampton meeting on the 12th of April and was cleared to start.
 
LUMIERE – Began awkwardly.
 
DIVINE HUNTER – As jockey W Satherley was unable to ride the mare due to transportation arrangements, DIVINE HUNTER was subsequently declared a late scratching at 10:13am due to no suitable rider being available
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Overweights
Race 6.         Justin Stanley – +0.5kg
 
Reprimands
Race 4.         Jockey Warwick Satherley – AR131(a) – Careless Riding

Suspensions
Race 1.         Jockey Tessa Townsend – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of the whip – 7 Day Suspension – m/night 21/04/2025 to m/night 28/04/2025
 
 
Race day injuries/illness.
Race 1.         Jockey Tessa Townsend – Dislodged shortly after winning post – Checked by on-course QAS Officers and cleared
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race.
IMPERIAL BLOSSOM, SIR GRACE (NZ), BITTER SPIRIT, THE HACKNEYDIAMOND, BOOMING LAD, REPLACE THE ACE
 
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 2.         KRACKACAN – Difficult to load – Warning
 
 
Late scratchings
Race 7.         DIVINE HUNTER – Late scratching @ 10:13am – No suitable rider available
 
 
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.