Townsville (Qld)
- Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00
TRACK - GOOD
RAIL - IN TRUE POSITION
RACE 1: THREE-YEAR-OLD CLASS 4 HANDICAP - 1200 METRES
SIT HERE DEAR and HANNAH'S GOLD brushed at the start.
FAULTY FUSE and REAL ASSET were slow to get into stride.
When questioned about the performance of REAL ASSET Jockey K. Mahoney stated that after the gelding was slow to get into stride he attempted to ride his mount along to obtain a forward position but was caught wide. He said that nevertheless the performance of REAL ASSET was extremely disappointing, bearing in mind that the horse had worked well in the lead-up to today's event. A post-race veterinary examination of REAL ASSET did not reveal any abnormalities.
RACE 2: MAIDEN HANDICAP - 1000 METRES
After beginning awkwardly EDUCATOR was hampered by ZONIK, which jumped inwards at the start.
At the 800 metres BIKINI BOTTOM, which was racing greenly, shifted in and took DEPATRO in onto TOPEKO. In consequence, IMPERIAL AGENT had to be momentarily steadied when taken inside the line of the running rail on the course proper.
From the 600 metres MS HAVOC (K. Mahoney) ran wide, obliging MISS JAMES to race extremely wide. K. Mahoney advised that the saddle on MS HAVOC had shifted shortly after the start, placing him at a disadvantage.
Near the 700 metres ZONIC was severely checked by MISS WILLO, which hung out badly. Trainer Mr R. Fleming was advised that MISS WILLO will be required to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards before being permitted to race again.
RACE 3: CLASS 1 HANDICAP - 1400 METRES
TASTY DROP was slow to begin. On jumping BIKINI LOVE shifted out and contacted TOOBANNA. NUBRICK (L. Critoph) jumped inwards at the start, obliging IRAN BELLE and THE OUTBACK RAT to race in restricted room. L. Critoph was advised that in similar circumstances in future he must make a much greater effort to relieve tightening.
Approaching the first turn WOBBO TOBY shifted in and THE OUTBACK RAT, which was racing to its inside, in turn shifted in and away from WOBBO TOBY resulting in SUJECT being tightened onto the running rail. Near the 850 metres SUJECT again had to be eased off the heels of THE OUTBACK RAT.
At the 600 metres SUJECT and THE OUTBACK RAT were momentarily hampered by PADDY'S SISTER, which shifted in.
On straightening WOBBO TOBY became unbalanced and struck the running rail.
At the 250 metres TASTY DROP was momentarily steadied when crossed by TOOBANNA.
After the race stable foreperson Mr D. Crouch advised that Jockey K. Mahoney reported that BIKINI LOVE had sucked air through the rear passage during the event.
RACE 4: CLASS 3 PLATE - 1630 METRES
Making the first turn HALCYON SEAS got its head up when being restrained and then overraced for some distance.
Approaching the 1000 metres SAWMILL ROAD commenced to overrace and had to be checked off heels.
After the 900 metres QUICK HELLO began to hang out.
Making the home turn MOLLIE and MOUNTAIN AIR brushed.
Near the 50 metres CARBONIZE hung out and had to be steadied off the heels of MOLLIE.
Jockey C. Murphy reported that in her opinion QUICK HELLO had been reluctant to stretch out. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant abnormality, apart from a long-term hoof problem.
RACE 5: CLASS 6 PLATE - 1000 METRES
When the gates opened CINO shifted out and bumped ENSIGN.
Shortly after the start EL ALAMADOR (S. Watkin), which began awkwardly, shifted in and severely crowded FLYING ASCOT, METROPALIS, and JESTARELLA BOY. S. Watkin was severely reprimanded for failing to make sufficient effort to relieve the tightening. Approaching the 850 metres S. Watkin was obliged to stop riding and straighten EL ALAMADOR when the gelding shifted in again and hampered FLYING ASCOT. A short distance later FLYING ASCOT (P. Cullen) shifted out and checked EL ALAMADOR. P. Cullen was severely reprimanded for shifting ground when not sufficiently clear. In assessing the matter stewards took into account some mitigating circumstances in the incident.
At the 850 metres LUK KAI LUK had to be steadied off the heels of EBONY ARK (M. Young), which shifted in. RAINCOATS was hampered in consequence. M. Young was reprimanded for failing to allow a full two-lengths clearance when crossing.
Near the 400 metres LUK KAI LUK became unbalanced and hit the running rail.
RACE 6: CLASS 5 HANDICAP - 1400 METRES
TROJAN WAR and ARJAYE were slow to begin.
From the 800 metres DEVICE commenced to hang out.
Approaching the 200 metres MARTIAL AIR was taken in and crowded for room by BEATING THE BLUES. WILD AFFAIR, which was racing to the inside of MARTIAL AIR, was also hampered in the incident.
Jockey M. Cullen (WILD AFFAIR) was found guilty of a charge of improper riding under AR.137(a) in that approaching the finishing line he deliberately struck D. Bradbery (MARTIAL AIR) with his whip. After taking evidence from both parties stewards fined M. Cullen $500.
Approaching the finishing line ABBOTT HOUSE shifted out and attempted to savage PASSER PASSION. Trainer Mr E. Sewell was advised that a warning had been placed on the racing manners of ABBOTT HOUSE.
When questioned Jockey A. Cox explained that TROJAN WAR had raced disappointingly throughout and he had eased the gelding down over the concluding stages as he was of the opinion that it was not stretching out fully. A post-race veterinary examination of TROJAN WAR did not reveal any abnormalities.
RACE 7: OPEN HANDICAP - 1630 METRES
As K. Rockett was ill, S. Simon was substituted as the rider of RUFUS EM. K. Rockett will be required to furnish a medical certificate verifying his illness.
Passing the 800 metres OSCA ERIC commenced to hang out badly, and continued to hang out for the remainder of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of OSCA ERIC did not reveal any abnormalities. Trainer Mr G. Farrell was advised that OSCA ERIC will be required to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards before being permitted to race again.
RACE 8: CLASS 3 PLATE - 1200 METRES
As D. Canny was unable to fulfil his engagement for personal reasons, I. Toward was substituted as the rider of RED PYRAMID.
MISREAL was slow to begin. STOP THE WORLD began awkwardly, shifted out and made contact with KAHAYLA. COOLANGATTA was slow to get into stride.
At the 200 metres G. Kliese had to stop riding DOCTOR SILVESTER when he accidentally dropped his offside rein, momentarily placing him at a disadvantage.
Over the final 50 metres RED PYRAMID was unable to obtain clear running.
K. Mahoney (CREDIT LIMIT) returned to scale with a broken whip.
Mr G. Hansen, trainer of Stop The World, reported that the horse had been galloped on and sustained lacerations to both hind legs.
GENERAL:
Mr B. Condon, trainer of DELTA GLOW, was fined $50 for nominating that mare for Race 1, the Three-Year-Old Class 4 handicap, for which it was ineligible (AR.64).
ADJOURNED INQUIRY:
RACE 6: TOWNSVILLE CUP - Saturday, 27th July 2002:
Stewards resumed the inquiry opened on 27th July 2002 into a report from the steward
supervising the scales that a towel had been added to the saddle of NATIONAL BID after
Jockey S. Watkin had weighed out. After interviewing Jockey S. Watkin, trainer Mr G.
Dickson, and stablehand Mr J. Cullen, stewards accepted in full the evidence of the scales
steward that S. Watkin had not declared a towel when weighing out, however they could not
be fully satisfied as to who had added the towel to the gear, and accordingly no charge
was laid. Both parties were reminded of the provisions of AR.118A, which deals with the
addition, removal or changing of equipment with which a rider has been weighed out.
ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.
