Victorian Appointments To Appeal Panels
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 13:19
Appointments to Victoria’s peak tribunal and the establishment of new appeals boards for harness and greyhound racing have boosted the racing industry’s integrity, Victorian Acting Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls said on Thursday.
A current County Court Judge and two former judges have been appointed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to hear racing appeals in line with the Racing Legislation Amendment (Racing Integrity Assurance) Act 2009.
“This marks a new era for Victoria’s racing industry and means we have now addressed all 63 recommendations in Judge Gordon Lewis’s 2008 report into integrity assurance,” Mr Hulls said.
Mr Hulls said the legislation created new Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) boards for Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) and Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV), abolished the Racing Appeals Tribunal and transferred responsibility for hearing racing appeals to VCAT.
He announced Judge John Nixon, Roland Williams and Frank Dyett as the new VCAT appointees to hear racing related appeals and said they were all exceptionally qualified for their roles with vast legal experience, including having sat on the former Racing Appeals Tribunal.
“Judge Nixon is currently an Acting Judge of the County Court and was a County Court Judge from 1981 to 2007, before which he practised as a barrister for 22 years,” Mr Hulls said.
“Mr Williams was a County Court Judge from 1994 to 2008 and practised as a barrister for 25 years, while Mr Dyett was a County Court Judge from 1978 to 2005, and a barrister from 1958 to 1978.”
Mr Hulls also announced appointments to GRV and HRV’s newly established RAD boards, which will hear and determine appeals against racing stewards’ charges and penalties laid in relation to serious matters.
He announced former GRV board member John Wardle as chair and Terry O’Connor as deputy chair of GRV’s RAD board for three years.
“Both Mr Wardle and Mr O’Connor have illustrious legal careers that qualify them for these roles,” Mr Hulls said.
He also announced Brian Collis QC as chairman of HRV’s RAD board and Anthony Burns as deputy chairman for three years.
“Mr Collis is a barrister who has held a number of positions on sports boards and tribunals, including the Australian Football League Appeal Board, while Mr Burns has a legal background and has been on the Harness Racing Appeals Board,” Mr Hulls said.
“The appointment of these seven outstanding candidates from the legal fraternity is another example of our desire to make Victoria’s racing industry not only the best on the track, but the best off the track too.”
Day Of Ups And Downs For Hill
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 09:39
The partnership of Jack Hill and leviathan owner Lloyd Williams is still very much in its infancy, but that hasn’t prevented the combination from landing two winners in May from as many rides.
Over a fortnight ago, Hill rode Module to victory in a 0-82 Handicap at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside by over three lengths.
At the same venue this afternoon, the flourishing partnership celebrated the win of Base in the $30,000 Manhattan Rain at Arrowfield Stud 0-72 Handicap (1400m) for three-year-olds.
“It’s great to get on a good horse, especially for Mr. Williams,” Hill said upon returning to scale.
Base was restrained at the start from his inside alley to settle in a midfield position before the three-kilo claiming apprentice hugged the rails to find an opening at the top of the straight.
“Just coming around the corner, I wanted to get off the fence into the better part of the going but he was handling it well,” Hill said.
“If I had of come off (the fence) I would have been losing ground rather then making ground.”
The long striding Zabeel gelding was slightly reluctant to take the gap along the fence however under Hill’s encouragement, Base quickened over the concluding stages to win in a head-bobbing finish.
Base ($5-$6) defeated Belgietto ($2.80-$3.60 fav) by a nose.
Feliciano ($20-$31-$11) finished a further half head away in third with Far To Go ($8.50) finishing strongly for fourth down the outside.
“He is a tough little bugger, he put his head out when it was close to the line,” Hill added.
When asked if he thought he had won, Hill replied, “I didn’t know, I was just hoping.”
Belgietto was a victim of circumstances, racing three wide the entire trip, with Nathan Rose keen to keep his mount balanced before allowing the Peter Gelagotis-trained galloper to quicken at the 300 metre mark.
Appearing to stop slightly when left alone in front, Belgietto rallied when challenged on the inside but was edged out on the line.
Gelagotis could not fault Rose’s ride saying, “It was a good ride, he just couldn’t get in.”
By Zabeel, Base is out of Carnegie dam Tall Story making it a half-brother to winners Blarney and Elusive Star.
Earlier in the day, Hill found himself in hot water for lying to stewards over possession of his mobile phone.
Upon arrival, Hill made a false declaration by signing the ‘Riders Attendance Sheet’ and then remarking that his phone was in his car.
Stewards then asked Hill whether he had possession of his phone in the jockey’s room which he answered, “No”.
A subsequent search of Hill’s gear in the jockey’s room found he had the phone in his jockey’s room.
Raceday stewards laid three charges against the rider, with the matter to be heard at the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Gelagotis Praises ‘Gusty’ Savquaw
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 04:18
Rising six-year-old gelding Savquaw lived up to his excellent last start effort behind Nine Tales by winning the $30,000 Ellerslie 0-89 Handicap (1600m) at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday.
Racing close to the speed for the entire trip, Savquaw fought out the finish with Red Buttons in a pulsating finish up the straight.
Savquaw ($2.80-$3.30-$3.40 eq fav) defeated Red Buttons ($12-$8-$7.50) by a head with multiple Sandown winner Sanrio ($4-$3.50-$3.40 eq fav) a further one and three-quarter lengths away in third.
Dane The Rave ($21) hit the line with some vigour to finish fourth.
Despite the uneasy nature of his victory, trainer Peter Gelagotis was surprised with the starting price of his horse.
“They (the tipsters) didn’t even consider him and I thought he was the best horse in the race by a long way,” Gelagotis said.
“These are his best conditions and he is a Moe Cup winner for crying out loud.
“His last start was enormous in better grade and back to midweek class with the claim, it just looked like a lay down misere on paper but you’ve still got to go out there and win.
“It was a great win, gusty and at this stage of his career he is probably looking for the 2000 metres.
“He finished that race out real strong,” he added
Winning rider Nathan Rose suggested the win could have been easier had Savquaw attacked the line truly.
“He gets there and just drops the bit,” Rose said.
“He has a tendency to sort of wait for them and that’s when you see his best attribute is when he finds the line.”
Gelagotis revealed post-race that Savquaw will be aimed at securing his second consecutive Moe Cup (2050m) in mid-October.
Savquaw won last year’s Moe Cup at Cranbourne after the meeting was transferred due to the state of the Moe track.
Boasting a record of seven wins and 13 placings from 37 starts, Savquaw has accumulated over $225,000 in prizemoney.
Gelagotis paid $28,000 for Savquaw at the 2006 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Mustang Chasing Brisbane Trip
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 07:45
Trainer Tony Noonan will give Midnight Mustang the chance to prove he is up to a Brisbane campaign when he kicks off a delayed preparation at Caulfield on Saturday.
Noonan had hoped the six-year-old would win last week's Listed The Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington for the second year in a row but shelved race plans when Midnight Mustang didn't come on as well as he expected.
"He just wasn't conditioned enough to run a solid 1200 metres first-up," Noonan said.
Craig Newitt will ride Midnight Mustang in Saturday's Undue Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield after the gelding easily won a Cranbourne barrier trial on May 3.
"The 1000 metres will suit him better," Noonan said.
"He is still a little bit big in himself but he might go up to Queensland after Saturday if he runs well enough.
"We will just see how he comes through it but there are some nice stakes races up there for him.
"He's a Listed and Group Three winner and you wouldn't think he would be too far away in those sorts of races in Brisbane."
Midnight Mustang's only run this year was in February when he resumed with an eighth to Huxssen in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington.
On that occasion jockey Brad Rawiller excused the run, telling stewards that Midnight Mustang raced on a bad section of track.
The gelding has won eight of his 23 starts and has twice won first-up.
His best win was the Group Three Spring Gully Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in August last year.
In light of his record he will carry 58.5kg on Saturday with only Commanding Hope (59kg) assigned more weight.
Rawiller will ride Commanding Hope while other early riding engagements are Steven Arnold on Grand Duels, Glen Boss on Royal Charades and Stephen Baster on Galbraith.
Picture: Colin Bull
Senchel Remains Unbeaten
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 03:29
Sheikh Mohammed looks to have another handy two-year-old in his keeping after Senchel won the $30,000 Cardinia Super VOBIS Handicap (1200m) for fillies at Betfair Park Sandown Lakeside this afternoon.
The win ensures Senchel is unbeaten from two starts.
Jumping cleanly from the inside barrier, Senchel was positioned by Mark Zahra to race in the one-one shortly after the start.
Favourite Enzed Girl was tardy out of the stalls and was pushed out by apprentice Jack Hill to obtain the lead passing the 800 metre mark.
Enzed Girl was allowed to get a much needed breather in the middle stages of the race and shortly after straightening Hill asked for her supreme effort.
Leading at the furlong pole, Enzed Girl was unable to burn the candle at both ends with the Sheikh Mohammed pair of Senchel and Pintle overhauling her over the concluding stages.
The cosier run in transit told in the end as Senchel ($4.60-$5-$5.50) defeated Pintle ($15-$16) by a long neck with Michelle Payne’s only ride of the day Guns Up ($7-$5-$4.60) finishing third a further half length away in third.
Enzed Girl ($3.20-$2.90-$3 fav) weakened into fourth place, 1.7 lengths from the winner.
Senchel is trained by Peter Snowden with his son and Melbourne stable foreman, Paul Snowden, indicating the stable have high hopes of the filly.
“We took her on purpose (to Kyneton on debut) because it was sort of an educational experience for her to get her away from home and ride her on the speed,” Snowden said.
“She’s been a filly dad had a little bit of an opinion of but she’s wanted to overdo it a bit within herself.
“We were going to put her out for a spell after her win but dad said to wait a week to ten days just to see if she’d had enough or gone the other way and she’s definitely gone on.
“It was good to draw an inside barrier on the day and she got cover and did everything right,” he added.
Winning rider Mark Zahra was impressed by her performance.
“She tracked into it really well and showed a bit of fight at the finish,” Zahra said before adding, “She’s learning all the time.”
By Tiger Hill, Senchel is the third foal out of the dam Miaow who has produced winners My Summer Rose and San Leon.
Last year's corresponding fixture was won by the Lee Freedman-trained Gibraltar Moon who in doing so won her third consecutive race.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Hill Up On Mobile Phone Charges
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 06:45
Apprentice Jack Hill will front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after Racing Victoria stewards charged him with mobile phone-related offences at Sandown.
Hill was charged with being in possession of a mobile phone and twice charged for false and misleading statements in that he signed a declaration that his mobile phone was in his car and told steward Dion Villella before the third race that he didn't have a mobile phone in the jockeys' room.
He finished fourth in the first race on favourite Enzed Girl for his master Robert Smerdon on Wednesday and on the well-fancied Very Fast in the second race.
Hill was not asked to enter a plea to any charges and the matter will be heard at a date to be fixed.
Picture: Colin Bull
June Date For Nikolic Hearing
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 00:36
Danny Nikolic will front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board next month over nine charges laid by stewards last week.
Racing Victoria notified media outlets this morning that Nikolic’s hearing has been scheduled for Monday, June 21 at 10:30am.
To view the nine charges stewards issued Nikolic, click here.
Picture: Sportpix
Stewards Accept Maskiell's Explanation
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 06:45
Racing Victoria stewards have accepted an explanation from leading apprentice Jason Maskiell over his ride on Zacroona after the Lee Freedman stable took exception to his handling of the gelding at Sandown.
Freedman's racing manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon said the stable was unhappy that Maskiell pushed forward three-wide on the five-year-old from the start when there appeared to be an opportunity to be one off the fence outside the winner Black And Bent in Wednesday's Paris Handicap (2400m).
Stewards took evidence from Maskiell who argued he would have been three-wide anyway had he decided to ease back.
He said he became aware from Zacroona's past jockeys that the horse had a breathing issue and was concerned that restraining him would have caused him to choke down.
Maskiell, who is a clear second on the Melbourne jockeys' premiership behind Luke Nolen, said Zacroona was relaxed as he went forward to challenge for the lead out of the straight and had "his ears pricked the whole time".
Zacroona was under the whip before the home turn and a beaten horse early in the home straight, fading to finish second last.
Pritchard-Gordon said Maskiell only looked across just once to find a position before the turn out of the straight and that the horse was left without cover.
Stewards' chairman Mark Hill said that Maskiell had continually mentioned the horse's breathing issues and the panel was satisfied to accept that it was "very much utmost in his mind".
"Clearly looking at the film he could have perhaps sat back outside Black And Bent ... but how that would have panned out we do not know," Hill said.
He said Maskiell was given free rein with regard to instructions that if there was no pace he could go forward.
"To the naked eye it may not look like the best ride we have ever seen but we can understand the situation Jason found himself in," Hill said.
Last-start Galleywood Hurdle winner Black And Bent was sensationally backed from $9 to $4.60 favouritism and, ridden by Nolen, unwound a powerful finish from near last to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Searing Heights ($5.50) with Celtic Empire ($8) a half-head away third.
"Last year when he was racing over jumps he didn't have the stamina to do that sort of thing," trainer Robert Smerdon said.
"He has come ahead in leaps and bounds."
Smerdon said Black And Bent would have his next start in the Winterset Hurdle on June 2 leading up to the Australian Hurdle and the Grand National Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Black And Bent's half-brother, star jumper Some Are Bent, will school at Cranbourne next Monday after he fell in the Grand Annual Steeplechase earlier this month.
Some Are Bent won the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool two days before the Grand Annual and is again targeting the feature steeplechase races this season.
Pictures: Colin Bull
Distances Changes At Colac
- Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:06
The distances for four races scheduled for Colac this Friday have been altered.
The Colac Turf Club have advised Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) and Racing Information Services Australia (RISA) that they are unable to hold races from their 1200 metre chute.
As a result the following distance changes have been made to the program:
- 2YO Maiden Plate 1100m (was 1200m) $13,000
- 3YO Maiden Plate 1100m (was 1200m) $13,000
- Maiden Plate 1100m (was 1200m) $13,000
- 0 – 68 Handicap 1100m (was 1200m) $13,000
Former Bleeder Connemara Bay Wins Fresh
- Wednesday, 19 May 2010 05:16
A three month lay-off following a bleeding attack proved just the tonic today with Connemara Bay winning the $30,000 Betfair Handicap (1200m) at Betfair Park.
Connemara Bay ($21) was ridden positively from the gates by Glen Boss on a track that had been favouring horses on the pace.
Approaching the long run home it looked clear that very little was making ground and Boss was able to grind away on the rails to defeat Miss Inform ($10,$11,$10) by just over a length on the line with Madam Prosecutor ($26,$31) a further two and a half lengths away third.
It was clear many had written the ultra-consistent filly off in the betting ring with the $21 not fitting for the first up city winner formerly trained by Barry Barnes but now in the hands of experienced horseman Pat Hyland.
Hyland was more confident than the punters that the daughter of Lion Heart would return to her best following a bleeding imposed ban but admitted its still a matter of crossing your fingers.
"Really you just show them a lot of love and then hope they come back," said Hyland with a smile from ear to ear.
"But I haven't had her for long and she was going nicely for Barry before he retired and that's how I came about getting her."
Hyland observed that the bleeding attack may have been a blessing in disguise for the three-year-old giving her the freshen up she needed.
"The bleeding attack might have helped her because she had to have a long break and she looks to have found a bit for it," said Hyland.
It was the second leg of a riding double for Boss who, whilst aware the track was favouring leaders, highlighted the filly's lack of condition.
"She needed the run today," said Boss.
"Pat and I spoke about her being a bit big in the yard so she will improve on that you would think."
Photos by Sportpix
Vasil Fined By RVL Stewards
- Tuesday, 18 May 2010 08:50
Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stewards today resumed an inquiry into a report from Queensland Racing (QR) stewards regarding a bleeding attack suffered by the three-year-old filly Elviine prior to her sale in December 2009.
The inquiry was opened by RVL stewards on 11 May, 2010 where evidence was taken from Tony Vasil, the licensed trainer of Elviine prior to her sale, regarding the circumstances surrounding the bleeding attack.
Upon its resumption today, stewards took further evidence from Mr Vasil and evidence from his veterinary surgeon, Dr Michael Tweedie.
Following the evidence tendered, stewards determined that Elviine bled from both nostrils at Caulfield on 1 December, 2009 and would now suffer the disabilities under AR53A.
Mr Vasil was found guilty of a charge under AR8(e) in that he, as the trainer of Elviine, failed to fulfil his obligations under AR53A(2) to inform the stewards that Elviine bled from both nostrils.
Mr Vasil was fined the sum of $1500.
Picture: Quentin Lang