Darwin (NT)

Thursday, 19 February 2004 00:00

WEATHER: FINE
TRACK: GOOD

STEWARDS: L.Lane (Chairman), R.Hamilton, J.Hamilton, R Merritt

BOOKMAKERS:  4

VETERINARY SURGEON:   J Farebrother

Number of Races:  7                         Stakes Paid: $ 62,000

Number of Runners: 66

RACE ONE           CLASS OPEN HCP – 12OO M

As D Bates was to be overweight the following riders changes were permitted;

Race 1................. GUNNEL....... P Crich

Race 2................. STUBBS....... T Huish

Race 3................. AMBER STYLE................. L Schmidt

Race 5................. XHAFERS ROLL................. S Brown

Race 6................. ITALIC (NZ)................. T Perry

Race 7................. NASH STREET................. S Brown

W Orbell, rider of CATHALOOK dropped his whip near the 400 metres.

The clubs veterinary surgeon inspected ROMANZA subsequent to the event and reported that the gelding had pulled up lame in the off foreleg.

1^st             GUNNEL       2^nd             CARL THE BULL             3^rd             SWAMP THING

RACE TWO        CLASS 6 HCP – 13OO M

When the gates opened TAWNY PULSE was slow into stride.

Near the 500 metres VIDAL, which had a tendency to lay in had to be eased off the heels of STUBBS which rolled out.

Rounding the turn ARINNA had a tendency to lay out and on the home turn shifted out and bumped WILD MOMENT.

Stewards questioned Ms L Williams, trainer of ARINNA which displayed an improved performance today in comparison to its last start.  Ms Williams stated that the mare was caught very wide at its previous start and weakened in the straight whereas today had the run of the race on the fence behind the leaders and ran on in the straight.

1^st             ARINNA       2^nd             STUBBS       3^rd             VIDAL

RACE THREE        CLASS 5 HCP – 1OOO M

P Denton, rider of GENERAL SWAMP was found guilty of a charge of careless riding AR137 (a).  The careless riding being that near the 800 metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of FREEDOM FUNDS taking that gelding in onto AMBER STYLE.  As a result FREEDOM FUNDS and AMBER STYLE were hampered and HEFTY which was following, was inconvenienced.  P Denton was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire at midnight on Thursday 4 March, 2004.

The clubs veterinary surgeon inspected HEFTY subsequent to the event and reported that the gelding had suffered a laceration to the knee. Mr L Houldsworth trainer of SYLVAN GREEN was fined $50 for presenting that gelding with wrong gear (AR140(a)).

1^st             GENERAL SWAMP             2^nd             HEFTY          3^rd             AMBER STYLE

RACE FOUR        CLASS 1 HCP – 12OO M

As apprentice B Grimston was to be overweight, stewards permitted D Oakford to replace him as the rider of SPECTOR.  Stewards severely reprimanded B Grimston (a) who has been penalised recently for being overweight and notified him that if he was unable to ride at his declared MRW in the near future he would be penalised.

Shortly after the start ALTO EGO shifted in and tightened ROYAL RAPIDASH in onto BLUES LEGEND and GRAND BEAVER.

Near the 900 metres CHANGE YOUR TUNE had to be eased when taken in by SPECTOR.

1^st        ALTO EGO    2^nd             DESAMO (USA)             3^rd             SPECTOR

RACE FIVE       CLASS B HCP – 1OOO M

After being placed in the barriers TOP SQUIRE broke through the front gated and galloped for a considerable distance.  Stewards ordered the withdrawal of TOP SQUIRE at 5.18pm.

Subsequent to the event stewards ordered all monies wagered on TOP SQUIRE to be refunded and the following betting deductions.  All monies wagered prior to the withdrawal of TOP SQUIRE to be paid as follows:- for the win, face value of the ticket less 10 cents in the dollar. For the place, face value of the ticket less 10 cents in the dollar.

Near the 800 metres BORDERLINE BLUE was taken in and hampered by CLASSIC RAINBOW (P Denton) which shifted in.  P Denton was reprimanded for shifting in when not sufficiently clear.

Near the 600 metres BORDERLINE BLUE began to race ungenerously and lost ground.  BRIGHT BEAD, which was following, had to be checked off BORDERLINE BLUE’s heels and shifted out abruptly taking CALABRIA wide on the track.  Also near the 600 metres HADRIAN had to be eased off the heels of FOR RORY which rolled out.

Near the 300 metres FOR RORY, which was disappointed for a run on the inside of GOING STAG shifted out to obtain a clear run.

1^st        FOR RORY 2^nd             GOING STAG                       3^rd             SANCAY

RACE SIX        CLASS 3 HCP – 15OO M

Rounding the first turn near the 1200 metres SIR GLISK had to be eased.

Prior to correct weight being declared, the connections of second placegetter ZAMBO (NZ) and fourth placegetter KOSSI PRINCE requested to view the official image of the finish.

Subsequent to the event the clubs veterinary surgeon inspected LATENT which performed poorly and reported that he could find no apparent abnormality.

1^st             ORIGIN WARRIOR              2^nd             ZAMBO (NZ) 3^rd             KISSING DOWN

RACE SEVEN  3YO CLASS 1 HCP – 11OO M

Stewards deemed BLUES CONNECTION to be a non-runner as its barrier failed to open when the start was affected.  Subsequent to the event stewards ordered all monies wagered on BLUES CONNECTION to be refunded with no other alteration to betting.

On the home turn HUZZAH (B Grimston (a)) shifted out to obtain a run and in doing so bumped LAVA FLOW.  B Grimston (a) was reprimanded for shifting in when not sufficiently clear.

Near the 300 metres HUZZAH had to be checked off the heels of AWASH which was being eased down.  In doing so HUZZAH shifted out and cannoned into LAVA FLOW.

Over the concluding stages NOT THIS TIME (NZ) had a tendency to lay in which necessitated its rider S Leckey (a) to stop riding and straighten his mount on a number of occasions.

T Huish, rider of AWASH stated that he eased the gelding up over the concluding stages as AWASH had got its tongue over the bit and began to make a gasping noise.   For this reason he felt it prudent to ease the gelding down.

P Crich, rider of BEANIE stated that in the early and middle stage of the race the gelding did not appreciate the sand coming back and raced very ungenerously.

1^st             PRINTERS BOUNTY                     2^nd             NASH STREET             3^rd             AZARIS

All winners were swabbed today

Mr S Clarke was fined $50 for having a dog in the stable area, which was not under effective control as per the Committee Policy.