Darwin Turf Club: 10/11/2018

Weather: Fine

Track: Good

Rail: True Position

Stewards: D Hensler (Chairman), R Hamilton, S Copelin, P Carroll, A Napier (Clerk of Scales), K Hampson (Assistant to the Stewards)

Stable Compliance: R Hamilton, S Copelin

Veterinary: Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic

Number of Races: 5

Number of Runners: 36

Stakes Paid: $90,500

General - Stewards today inquired into an incident that occurred following the running of the final race at the Darwin race meeting on Tuesday 6 November, 2018. Jockey W Davis subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge under AR175(q) with the specifics being that his conduct in verbally abusing fellow jockey P Crich for a continued period in the vicinity of the mounting enclosure following the abovementioned race was in the opinion of the Stewards improper. W Davis was fined the sum of $500 with half of this amount suspended for a period of 12 months on the condition that he is not found guilty of any further conduct related issue within that period.

Race 1: 0-58 1000m

MADAME DUPORTH (P Denton) – Commenced awkwardly.

WICKED AFFAIR (J Todd) – Lay outwards through the middle stages and as a result was impeded near the 400m.

FLINDERS BEACH (B Huppatz) – Commenced awkwardly.

Race 2: 0-70 1000m

BRUNSWICK STREET (P Shiers) – Slow into stride.

IRON LOTUS (B Davis) – Trainer G Clarke sought and was granted permission to race the mare without a tongue tie as despite his efforts this gear could not be fitted. Commenced awkwardly and lay outwards through the middle stages when resenting the kickback. A post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Trainer further advised that he will consider his options for a gear change prior to the mare’s next start.

Race 3: 0-64 1300m

EMJYE (P Crich) – Commenced awkwardly and lost ground.

LET’S CELEBRATE (B Davis) – Following the unplaced performance a post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Race 4: BM54 1200m

Stewards acceded to a request by trainer C Pollard to replace jockey P Crich as the rider of BIG BLOWS with jockey P Denton due to a miscommunication. Stewards intend to follow up on the explanation tendered by the trainer for this late riding change.

MEAZZA (B Davis) - Commenced awkwardly and bumped.

WISEN UP (P Shiers) – Returned having bled from both nostrils. Trainer G Lefoe was advised of the provisions of AR53A(4).

MIGHTY TAX (J Todd) – Raced wide throughout.

ROCKMEARTIE (B Huppatz) – Bumped at the start. Raced wide throughout.

Race 5: 3YO & Maiden 1100M

FINALISE (B Davis) refused to load into the barriers and was declared a late scratching by order of the Stewards at 4.49pm.

Stewards ordered that all bets wagered on FINALISE be refunded and all successful bets placed prior to 4.49pm were subject to the following deductions –

PAGHMAN 2c win 2c place

LIBERTY’S TORCH 7c place

MCINTYRE 5c place

Trainer L Walling-Denton’s representative was advised that the filly must barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards prior to racing again.

BIG SHAFT (R Vigar) – Knucked at the start. Commenced to buck shortly after the start and veered inwards hampering another runner. Raced greenly in running. Trainer C Pollard was advised that the gelding must barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards prior to racing again.

MCINTYRE (P Shiers) – Fractious prior to the start. Raced wide throughout.

ROCK N RHYTHM (V Arnott) – Carried inwards and checked shortly after the start.

ASHSTAR (J Todd) – Commenced awkwardly.

HELL OFA GOOD SORT (P Crich) – Raced wide throughout.

General – On inquiry jockey R Vigar (BIG SHAFT) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under AR137(a) with the specifics being that after his mount knuckled at the start his action in then using the whip directly resulted in the gelding attempting to buck and as a result veered inwards causing ROCK ‘N’ RHYTHM to be checked by its rider. R Vigar had his license to ride in races suspended for a period of 2 NT meetings to expire after 18 November 2018.

Summary

Swab samples were taken from all winners and WISEN UP. Pre race samples were taken from FIRING EQUIANO, LOUPPY BEND, BIG BLOWS & FIZZY ONE.

Fines

Race 5 – Trainer C Pollard fined $100 for presenting POWERSTRETCHER without its approved gear.

From 6/11/18 – Jockey W Davis was fined $250 for improper conduct.

Reprimands/Warnings

Nil

Suspensions

Race 5 – Jockey R Vigar was suspended for careless riding (2 NT meetings)

Embargos & warnings

Race 4 – WISEN UP bled both nostrils (1st time)

Race 5 – BIG SHAFT bucked after the start (must barrier trial)

Race 5 – FINALISE refused to load (must barrier trial)

D Hensler

Chairman of Stewards