QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
AQUIS PARK GOLD COAST TURF CLUB – SYNTHETIC
 
Saturday 1 February 2025
 
 
WEATHER – Overcast
TRACK RATING – Synthetic
RAIL – True Entire
 
OFFICIALS
 
Stewards – D. McMahon (Chair); B. Wright, A. Schofield; L. De Witt – Rowson (Asst. Stew); P. Gore (Cadet)
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweight allowance at today’s meeting:
Race 1: CAPITAL GRENADE – D. Turner +0.5kg (56.5kg)
 
Stewards accepted the explanation tendered by Trainer A. Campton for failing to scratch dual acceptor KAREEM (Race 6) by the prescribed time.
 
Race 1: TAB WE'RE ON MAIDEN PLATE (4YO & UP) 1050M
 
DINOSPHERE – Laid in rounding the home turn and when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
HER EX – Began awkwardly. Hung out from the 800m.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils for the first time and to have cardiac arrhythmia. Trainer B. Mair was advised HER EX would be stood down from racing pursuant to AR 79(4) for 3 months. Further, the gelding would require veterinary clearance inclusive with the results of an ECG and would be required to gallop 1000m to the satisfaction of the Stewards and undergo a cardiac auscultation post-gallop prior to resuming racing.
 
JUSTICE SERVED – When asked to comment on the performance, Apprentice F. Sandkuhl stated the gelding failed to muster speed in the early stages and may not have appreciated racing on the synthetic surface.
 
CAPITAL GRENADE – As Jockey D. Turner was overweight, Stewards permitted jockey Turner to ride CAPITAL GRENADE 0.5kg over at 56.5kg due to no suitable rider being available. Jockey D. Turner was fined $300 pursuant to AR190(3) for accepting a ride when overweight. Slow to begin. Jockey D. Turner was reminded of his obligations to ride his mount out fully to the finish line.
 
Race 2:AMALGAMATED GROUP QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1050M
 
CALL SIGN – Laid out approaching and rounding the home turn. Raced wide for the majority. Jockey R. Jamieson reported the gelding would be better suited racing over further distances than that of today’s event.
 
HEAVY REIGN – Began awkwardly, bumped with LEUCAENA and lost ground. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Raced wide throughout.
 
LEUCAENA – Bumped with HEAVY REIGN at the start. Cast its off-hind plate in running.
 
RANCOUR – Slow to begin. Apprentice F. Sandkuhl reported the filly may not have appreciated racing on the synthetic surface.
 
SPOT BOLT – Approaching the 200m, obliged to alter course to secure clear running.
 
Race 3:REVAMP GC MAIDEN PLATE 1540M
 
FLYING ASTERN (NZ) – Jockey E. Chaves was reminded of his obligations in relation to raising his whip arm in an action above shoulder height.
 
CLEAN SHAVEN – Slow to begin. When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey S. Sheargold stated the gelding which was having its first start today, raced greenly and may have not appreciated racing on the synthetic surface.
 
MAKEMINEMILO – Tightened for room at the start. 
 
WOD (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Weakened from the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer B. Robinson was advised the gelding would be restricted to racing at country venues until its form improves.
 
SUPER SWEET – Bumped shortly after the start.  Laid in under pressure in the home straight. 
 
TANGO SPIRIT (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Raced wide until the 1000m.
 
THUNDER SHANGHAI – Began awkwardly and shifted in. Apprentice C. Sutherland reported the mare may be better suited to racing over further distances than that of today’s event and may not have appreciated the synthetic surface.
 
LIP SMACKER – Began awkwardly.
 
Race 4:AMALGAMATED GROUP BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1900M
 
KAREEM – Approaching the 1000m, improved onto heels and had to be steadied. When asked to comment on the performance, Apprentice J. McMurray stated with the blinkers back on today, the gelding raced keenly and may be better suited to shorter distances than that of today’s event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
WATERMELON – Held up from the 400m until the 300m. When questioned regarding her ride, in particular between the 600m and 300m, Apprentice S. Champkin advised her instructions today were to be in a forward position, however the gelding failed to muster early speed, so she elected to settle at the rear of the field. She added that near the 500m, she elected to ride for luck and stay on the fence instead of being forced to a wide position on the track rounding the home turn. After viewing the films, Apprentice Champkin conceded that she should have placed the gelding under more pressure from the 600m to be in a more competitive spot and could have shifted to a one-off position near the 500m, which would have afforded her clear running rounding the home turn. Stewards noted her comments and decided to take the matter no further.
 
EL ASTEROID (NZ) – Began awkwardly.
 
TUQIRI – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Raced wide for the majority.
 
GUTHO – Approaching the first turn, commenced to race keenly and laid out.

ACES UP – Jockey M. Cahill could over no excuse for the disappointing performance.
 
NO MORE RED – Caught wide in the early stages and was permitted to stride forward to take up a position outside the leader leaving the 1200m.
 
Race 5: SIMPLE JACK'S RACEDAY BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP    1050M
 
I AM VOODOO – Approaching the 600m, improved onto heels and had to be steadied.
 
CLOVER'S PRINCE – Raced wide for the majority.
 
GARRUCHA – Raced wide for the majority. Apprentice C. Sutherland dropped his whip near the 250m.
 
BARONESSA – Raced wide for the majority. Jockey A. Thompson was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer M. Wilson reported the mare would now be leaving his stable.
 
MY DOG DIESEL – Began awkwardly. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
WHISKEY DANCER – Slow to begin. Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
PLATINUM LIES – Laid out rounding the home turn. Cast its near hind plate in running.
 
Race 6: QUEENSLAND JEWEL RACEDAY 8TH MARCH BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1540M
 
STEP ON FIRE – Declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 3:35pm after becoming fractious in the tie-up stalls. A veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the near-foreleg and to have sustained a laceration to its mouth. Trainer G. Sitek was advised the gelding would require a veterinary clearance prior to resuming racing.
 
MINIMAL – Leaving the 200m, bumped with PARCHEMIN.
 
KOZANI – Tightened for room at the start and lost ground. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. 
 
GREGARIOUS – Raced wide until the 1100m.
 
THE WELLIAN – Slow to begin.
 
OUTWITTED – Raced wide for the majority. Near the 50m, tightened for room and steadied between KOZANI and BENEDICT ARNOLD (R. Jamieson) which shifted out. Jockey R. Jamieson was advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances.
 
AIMA SUN – Bumped at the start and became unbalanced. Raced wide until the 1100m.
 
ZASCEED – Apprentice R. Thorburn reported that the gelding held its breath during the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  
 
JULIETA – Slow to begin. Near the 200m, held up for clear running before shifting wider.
 
BENEDICT ARNOLD – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
PARCHEMIN – Raced wide for the majority. Leaving the 200m, bumped with MINIMAL.  Approaching the 100m, tightened for room between MINIMAL and KOZANI (C. Sutherland) which was laying in. Apprentice C. Sutherland was advised to stop riding and straighten his mounts in similar circumstances.
 
Race 7: OFFICIATING AT AQUIS BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1200M
 
VIADELAMORE (IRE) – Stewards permitted the gelding to race without the near side bubble cheeker. When asked to comment on the performance, Apprentice C. Sutherland stated the gelding which was first up today, failed to muster speed in the early stages and when placed under pressure in the home straight, made good ground indicating it would be better suited to races over a further distance.
 
EXPOSITION – Raced wide for the majority. Near the 50m, brushed with SINGULAR.
 
SINGULAR – Near the 50m, brushed with EXPOSITION.
 
EPIC FLASH – Jockey A. Allen reported the gelding was disappointing when placed under pressure. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a laceration to the near-hind leg, consistent with being galloped on.
 
ROCK LOBSTER – Near the 400m, became awkwardly placed on the heels of EPIC FLASH, clipped that runner’s heels and blundered.  Held up for clear running from the 250m to the 200m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
SNOWY FINN – Began awkwardly, tightened for room and lost ground. Raced wide for the majority.
 
BIRMINGHAM – Inconvenienced near the 400m. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
PROMETIO MAS – Raced wide for the majority.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Fines
Race 1: CAPITAL GRENADE – D. Turner – AR190(3) – $300 – Accepted a ride when overweight.
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses sampled pre-race.
Race 3: FLYING ASTERN (NZ)
Race 4: ACES UP (NZ), ARCHERS REIGN
Race 6: KOZANI, THE WELLIAN
Race 7: VIADELAMORE (IRE)
 
Horses sampled post-race.
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 1: HER EX – Cardiac arrhythmia – Veterinary clearance with ECG + 1000m gallop
Race 3: WOD (NZ) – Restricted to racing at country venues – Poor performance.
Race 6: STEP ON FIRE – Lame near fore + laceration to mouth - Veterinary clearance required.
 
Bleeders
Race 1: HER EX – AR 79(4) – bled both nostrils – stood down from racing for 3 months + 1000m gallop or trial prior to resuming.
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 6: 13e STEP ON FIRE – D. Smith
Race 6: 15e PARCHEMIN – D. Turner
Race 7: 18e PROMETIO MAS – R. Jamieson
Race 7: 19e LORD VADER – C. Baker
 
Late scratchings
Race 6: 13 STEP ON FIRE (Vets @ 3:35pm)
 
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.