QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2025
 
 

WEATHER – Fine  
TRACK RATING –  Soft (5) upgraded to Good (4) at 11:15am
RAIL – +6m 1000m-W/P, +2m Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.51

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – R. Neal
Stewards – P. Gillard, P. Warren, K. Dean, S. Nosworthy (Cadet)

GENERAL
 
1.    Due to the travel disruptions resulting from Cyclone Alfred, all Brisbane based riders advised the Stewards early Wednesday morning (5th March 2025) that would be unable to attend today’s meeting. Given the totality of the unavailability’s the Stewards permitted trainers to make changes necessary to secure services a rider. These changes were completed and published by noon yesterday.
 
2.    Stewards permitted the following overweight’s:
Race 1. C. Meehan (THE KOBAY TRAIN) - +0.5kg
Race 1. K. Quilty (CASCIA) - +0.5kg
Race 3. C. Meehan (UNDER THE LIMIT) - +0.5kg
Race 6. D. Smith (SPRING’S GIFT) - +1.0kg
Race 7. G. Kliese (CRAICARO) - +1.0kg
 
3.    Prior to the running of Race 1, the track was upgraded to a Good 4.
 
Race 1: LADBROKES FORM GENIUS QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1200 M
 
THE KOBAY TRAIN – slow to begin.
 
CASCIA – slow into strid; raced greenly in the early stages; laid out under pressure in the final straight.
 
 
Race 2: LADBROKES RACING CLUB BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP 1000M

WIN AND TONIC – lost its off-front plate during the running; checked at the winning post;
 
ROTH 'N' BUBBLE – slow into stride. Apprentice Jockey McKenzie Apel reported at scale ROTH ‘N’ BUBBLE had a tendency to lay in over the concluding stages; attended by the on-course veterinarian upon returning to the tie-ups after displaying a poor race recovery.
 
KITEMA – slow into stride; raced keenly in the middle stages; shifted ground inward near the winning post resulting in WIN AND TONIC being checked; rider Chris Meehan was found guilty of a resultant breach of AR131(a), with the particulars being that he permitted KITEMA to shift in when not clear; after consideration of penalty Mr. Meehan’s licence to ride in races was suspended from the close of racing on Saturday 8th March 2025, up to and including racing on Sunday 16th March 2025 (8 days)
 
LADY DAMUS – held up momentarily on entering the home straight.
 

Race 3: LADBROKES BLACKBOOK OPEN HANDICAP 1000M

GO GETABOY – slow to begin.
 
FAMILY STAR – restrained off heels passing the 400 metres; had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the final straight, until approaching the 200 metres.
 

Race 4: LADBROKES PUNTER ASSIST BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1609M

OLYMPIC KORCHNOI (BRZ) – slow to begin; Stewards noted rider Chris Meehan exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100m (+1) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use, no further action was taken.
 
MYSTERY 'N' MAGIC – slow to begin. Inclined to over-race in the early stages before being ridden forward to obtain a position one off the rail; shifted wider to improve passing the 800 metres.
 
STRATHCONA – fractious in the barriers prior to the start.
 
FINSCEAL – slow to begin.
 
 
Race 5: HYGAIN QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1000M
 
BRAVE EDDY – shifted out and bumped with OUTBID on jumping; travelled wide without cover throughout; returned to the enclosure displaying signs of heat-stress and was attended to immediately by the on-course veterinarian. Trainer Mr. Roy Chillemi was advised a veterinary clearance would be required prior to BRAVE EDDY racing again.
 
OUTBID – bumped with BRAVE EDDY on jumping; over-raced in the early stages.
 
MISS COMANECI – Apprentice Jockey Nikki Olzard reported at scale that her saddle shifted back shortly after the start placing her at a disadvantage in the early stages and this resulting in her not being able to ride the filly with vigour over the first 400 metres; Ms. Olzard adding that once she had ascertained that the saddle had not shifted further, she then rode MISS COMANECI along and gained ground thereafter.
 
SEABEE – held up for clear running rounding the final turn.
 
SHEEZ BRUTAFUL – raced keenly in the middle stages; inclined to lay in under pressure in the final straight.
 
 
Race 6: MITAVITE MAIDEN HANDICAP 1200M
 
BINGHAMTON – Over-raced in the early stages; travelled 3-wide without cover in the early and middle stages.
 
MAJESTIC BLAZE – laid in passing the 900 metres, becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of OUR FOLLY and had to be steadied in consequence; raced greenly throughout the final straight.
 
OUR FOLLY – laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
SHE'S A MISSION – raced keenly in the early stages and had to be restrained passing the 1,000 metres; improved onto heels passing the 600 metres and had to be steadied.
 
SNEAKY TAY – raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
SPRING'S GIFT – slow to begin; crowded for room passing the 900 metres and had to be restrained; held up rounding the home turn and had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the early part of the home straight.
 
WHATA BOBBI DAZZLA – slow to begin; hampered passing the 900 metres resulting in WHATA BOBBI DAZZLA shifting wider; raced wide with cover from the 800 metres.

 
Race 7: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY @ CLUDEN PARK BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP 1400M
 
ILZOOMYA – shifted in marginally passing the 1,000 metres resulting in crowding to ACCLIMATISE which had to steady.
 
ACCLIMATISE – had to be steadied when racing in restricted room to the inside of ILZOOMYA near the 1,000 metres; after consideration of all factors no further action was taken.
 
SIR MAXIMUS – raced wide with cover throughout.

BARMERA – began very awkwardly.
 
KIDSTON – raced in restricted room for a short distance when awkwardly placed at the heels of ELLEVES which was tiring near the 900 metres.
 
DECRYPTING GOLD – laid in approaching the 900 metres crowding ELLEVES; travelled wide without cover throughout; gave ground from the 500 metres and finished well back; a post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
READ 'EM AND WEEP – travelled wide with cover throughout; laid in under pressure in the final straight resulting in Apprentice McKenzie Apel having to stop riding and straighten her mount on two separate occasions.
 
CRAICARO – slow to begin; held up for clear running rounding the home turn and had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the early part of the straight.
 
ELLEVES – raced in restricted room passing the 900 metres when inside DECRYPTING GOLD, which laid in.
 
 
Race 8: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1000M
 
MISHANI MAVERICK – bumped passing the 800 metres and briefly went off stride.
 
SNITZAROO – bounded in the air on jumping; held up rounding the final turn.
 
THE HAIRDRESSER – declared a late scratching at 12:47pm on veterinary advice after sustaining an injury when being transported to the meeting. Trainer Mr. Tom Button was advised that a veterinary clearance was required prior to THE HAIRDRESSER racing next.
 
THREEBROTHERS – began very awkwardly and lost ground. had difficulty obtaining clear racing room from the 200 metres to the 100 metres.
 
MARGOT BARBIE – held up rounding the final turn.
 
REEMYYA (NZ) – travelled wide with cover throughout.
 
ARROGANT HEART – laid in and bumped with MISHANI MAVERICK passing the 800 metres; travelled wide without cover throughout.
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Nil
Fines
Nil
Suspensions
Race 2: Jockey Chris Meehan– [AR131(a)] – careless riding – suspended 9th March to 16th March 2025 (inclusive) 8 – days.
Race day injuries/illness
Nil
Absent jockeys
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
CHARTWELL, FAMILY STAR, EARLY THOUGHTS, ACCLIMATISE, LUCKY ROLLA
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 5. BRAVE EDDY – veterinary clearance required.
Race 8. THE HAIRDRESSER – veterinary clearance required.
Bleeders
Nil
Falls
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
 
Protests
Nil

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Nil

Late scratchings
Race 8. No 5. THE HAIRDRESSER @ 12:47pm – Veterinary Advice


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.