QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB

TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2025

WEATHER – Overcast
TRACK RATING –  Soft 5. Upgraded to Good 4 after race 2.
RAIL – +1m Entire
PENETROMETER – 5.69

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – H Gillett
Stewards – S Larkins, E Suli & S Stehbens
 
GENERAL
Stewards permitted overweights as per the race day summary.
 
 
Race 1: LONG RUN BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP         1600M

FINSCEAL – Slow to begin and unable to muster early speed. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance. Jockey R Wiggins advised that the gelding may not have backed up from racing 10 days prior at Townsville and had never travelled well at any stage. Trainer T Button was unable to offer any tangible explanation for the performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
PREPOTENT – Raced wide in the early stages before obtaining the lead near the 1100m. Inclined to lay out under pressure in the home straight. When questioned regarding his mount leading for the majority of the race and the seemingly improved performance, jockey C McIver advised that he was instructed to settle off the pace, however the gelding began well after attempting to obtain a one-off position he was trapped wide and consequently allowed PREPOTENT to then stride forward and obtain the lead. The rider attributed the improved performance to a step up in distance, improved fitness from recent racing and the gelding had been working well in the lead up to today. The rider further added that PREPOTENT was beaten narrowly at its most recent start when fitness gave out over the final stages.
 
ENTERPRISE PHOENIX – Fractious in the barriers. Began awkwardly. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice A Graham pleaded guilty to a charge under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for applying the whip to her mount on 10 occasions prior to the 100m. In accordance with the Whip Penalty Template and considering the riders prior offence record, the license to ride in races of apprentice Graham was suspended for 8 days to commence midnight 25 March 2025 and conclude midnight 2 April 2025.
 

 
 
Race 2: KENO - TOGETHER WE PLAY BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1050M

 I AM VOODOO – Knuckled on jumping.
 
DRAGON'S SNIP – Shifted out shortly after jumping impeding JUST SUPER. Raced keenly during the middle stages. Laid out under pressure in the home straight. When asked to comment on the performance, apprentice N Olzard advised that her mount was inclined to hang during the run and in hindsight she may have been better served by setting a stronger tempo throughout.
 
JUST SUPER – Began awkwardly and was slow to begin as a result. Impeded shortly after the start when DRAGON’S SNIP shifted outwards. Held up for clear running until a point near the 200m.
 
BAYERISCHE – Held up for clear running until a point approaching the 200m.
 
LIEUTENANT – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
LAST DITCH EFFORT – Marginally held up for clear running entering the home straight. Inclined to lay in on occasions in the home straight when under pressure. Cast the left fore shoe in running.
 
Following the running of this race the track was upgraded to a Good 4.
 
 
 

Race 3: TAB VENUE MODE QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1100M

Correct weight was delayed when connections of second placed BITTER SPIRIT (R Silvera Olivera) lodged a protest against the winner, SARAQAEL (R Wiggins) alleging interference near the 200m. After hearing submissions on behalf of the connections of both runners, acting on their own observations and viewing the available replays it was established that for a distance leaving the 250m, BITTER SPIRIT attempted to shift to the outside of SARAQAEL, however was inclined to lay in behind that runner. Soon after when able to shift to the outside of the heels of SARAQAEL, BITTER SPIRIT was tightened for room and checked when SARAQAEL shifted out under hard riding. When considering the degree of interference and the manner in which both runners finished the race off, stewards could not be satisfied to the required standard that the degree of interference outweighed the margin of one length between the two runners at the finish and therefore dismissed the protest.
 
SARAQAEL – Shifted out under pressure for some distance leaving the 250m.
 
BITTER SPIRIT – Began awkwardly and contacted the outside barrier partition and was slow to begin as a result. Over raced in the early and middle stages.  Hung in under pressure in the home straight. Held up for clear racing room until approaching the 200m. Tightened and checked near the 200m. Jockey R Wiggins pleaded guilty to a charge under AR131(a) for careless riding by allowing his mount to shift out leaving the 200m which resulted in BITTER SPIRIT being tightened and checked. The license to ride in races of Mr Wiggins was suspended for 7 days to commence midnight 1 April 2025 and conclude midnight 8 April 2025. In assessing penalty, stewards were mindful of the QRIC Careless Riding Template, the riders guilty plea, his overall good record and the frequency that Mr Wiggins rides.
 
POWER CHIC – Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay in under pressure in the home straight.
 
READY AND BETTA – Began awkwardly.
 
REDNA – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Restrained to obtain a position closer the rail near the 800m. Inclined to lay out in the home straight when under pressure.
 
 
 

Race 4: IGT AUSTRALIA FIRE DRAGON MAIDEN PLATE 1400 M

ORA LAD – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Jockey C McIver reported that his mount raced greenly throughout.
 
SUPER TALON – Held up for clear running until a point near the 300m. Laid in under pressure over the final 300m.
 
DILIGENTE – Held up for clear running until a point leaving the 400m. Inclined to lay out under pressure over the final 400m.
 
SEND THE MONEY – Began awkwardly and was slow into stride. Improved onto the heels of SUPER TALON and had to be retrained on a number of occasions when over racing in the early stages. Marginally held up for a clear run entering the home straight.
 
SHEZ LETHAL – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages and was restrained from heels on a number of occasions.
 
LUSTROUS SINS – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SHEEZA FLING – Raced wide throughout. Apprentice N Olzard reported that her mount hung out in the home straight.
 
 
 

Race 5: XXXX ULTRA BY LION QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1200M

HEAD HONCHO – Reluctant to load. Began awkwardly and shifted outwards, bumping AMBERINGER on a number of occasions. Jockey R Wiggins when asked to comment on the performance, advised that the gelding settled further back than anticipated after beginning awkwardly and due to the solid tempo, he was not overly disappointed with the performance of his mount. Connections were advised that a warning has been placed on the gelding’s barrier loading manners
 
POWER OF KATIE – Jockey J Stanley reported that his mount was inclined to hang in throughout and most notably over the final 400m when placed under pressure.
 
AMBERINGER – Buffeted at the start between HEAD HONCHO and SOUTHAVEN. Had difficulty obtaining clear running until a point approaching the 100m and was then shifted wider on the track. Jockey J Murphy was queried regarding his decision to switch back inwards near the 400m after being unable to secure clear running wider on the track and then soon after shifting back towards his originally vacated position. Mr Murphy explained that after shifting inwards near the 400m he was unable to obtain clear running so therefore shifted back out, however soon after committing to this move, POWER OF KATIE, shifted outwards under pressure resulting in a run becoming available to the inside of that runner. When considering the circumstances and the tactics adopted by Mr Murphy, stewards could not be satisfied that his actions were unreasonable in the circumstance to a degree where action should be taken against his license.
 
ACEDROD – Blundered at the start resulting in jockey C McIver becoming unbalanced for some distance.
 
SOUTHAVEN – Blundered on jumping and bumped with AMBERINGER on a number of occasions.
 
MORE STYLISH – Inclined to lay inwards over the final 200m. Briefly inconvenienced near the 100m when ABERINGER shifted out to improve.
 
QUERIDA – Began awkwardly. Held up for clear racing room until a point near the 400m.
 
BETTER ACRES – Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. Hung in under pressure over the final 200m.
 
GOTTA HERO – Began awkwardly and shifted out on jumping. Gave ground noticeably over the final 200m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer N Vagg was queried in relation to information he provided to the attending veterinarian during a post-race examination regarding GOTTA HERO having been diagnosed with a respiratory issue that requires surgery for dorsal displacement following an examination by Dr Brad Johnstone on Monday 17 March 2025. Trainer Vagg was found guilty of a charge under AR105(1)(b) for failing to report to stewards a condition which may affect a horses performance in a race. Mr Vagg was subsequently fined $400. In assessing penalty stewards took into account the trainers not guilty plea, the serious nature of the trainers failure, his clear record over a long period, the Thoroughbred Penalty Guidelines and the strict liability placed upon trainers in such circumstances. Trainer Vagg was advised that GOTTA HERO has been stood down pending a satisfactory endoscopic report post operation.
 
 

Race 6: THE IBA - BOTTLE-O CLASS 2 HANDICAP         1200 M

 PARADE GROUND – Began awkwardly. Held up for clear racing room until a point leaving the 300m.
 
OUR TURN NOW (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Unable to obtain clear running until a point near the 200m. Laid in under pressure over the final stages. Apprentice L O’Donnell explained that she did not want to expose her mount wide on the track in the early stages of the home straight and after being impeded near the 200m, when improving into a tight run between LOVE MY LOUIS and ME TIME, she then switched wide and as a result OUR TURN NOW (NZ) was able to finish off well.
 
RYLOV – slow to muster early speed. Held up for a clear run until the 300m.
 
TYPICAL YOU – Slow to begin. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
QUARTERSHARE – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages.
 
VICTORY'S GHOST – Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room until a point near the 100m.
 
GREYLIST – Knuckled on jumping. Jockey J Murphy explained that his mount proved disappointing and, in his view, did not fully stretch out. Trainer T Smith will be contacted in the coming days in regard to the gelding’s post-race recovery
 
ME TIME – Raced wide throughout.
 
LOVE MY LOUIS – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. Laid out under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
 

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Overweights
Race 5 – Jockey S Cormack (QUERIDA) +0.5kg

Fines
Race 5 - Trainer Neil Vagg – $400 - AR105(1)(b) – Fail to report a condition which may affect a horse performance.
 
Suspensions
Race 1 - Apprentice Amy Graham – AR132(7)(a)(ii) - whip use prior to 100m. Suspended 8 days. M/n 25/03/2025 to M/n 02/04/2025.
Race 3 - Jockey Ryan Wiggins – AR131(a) Careless riding. Suspended 7 days. M/n 01/04/2025 to M/n 08/04/2025.
 

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race blood
I AM VOODOO, BAYERISCHE, SARAQAEL, SHEZ LETHAL, POWER OF KATIE, PARADE GROUND & GREYLIST
 
Horses swabbed pre-race urine
FINSCEAL
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 5 HEAD HONCHO - Warning loading manners.
Race 5 GOTTA HERO – Stood down satisfactory endoscopic examination report post operation.
 
Protests
Race 3 Second vs first – Dismissed.


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.