Stewards' Summary @ Moonee Valley

Published: 02 Dec 2018

A summary of Moonee Valley for Saturday 1st December is shown below, including Vet Notes, Penalties and Fines. For the full report, visit the racing.com website.

Vet Notes

The Regiment (Race 4) - A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding had sustained a small laceration to its off fore cannon and had lost its off hind plate.
Top Prospect (NZ) (Race 8) - A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have mild heat stress and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
Lycurgus (Race 8) - A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have some soreness in the near foreleg and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
Like To Think So (Race 9) - A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have the thumps
Sirius Suspect (Race 9) - A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a throat condition and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.

Penalties & Fines

Beau Mertens (Brooklyn Hustle) - was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a), the carelessness being that he permitted his mount to shift out passing the 200m, when not clear of Namimo resulting in Namimo being tightened for room and inconvenienced. Beau Mertens had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight December 1st and to expire at midnight December 11th, a total of nine race meetings (three metropolitan, six provincial). In assessing penalty Stewards took into account that the carelessness was in the low range.

Summary of Races

Race 1 - Santas Workshop @ The Valley Handicap - 1200m:

Smart Elissim - third placegetter; prior to correct weight apprentice Lachlan King viewed the patrol film before deciding not to lodge an objection. Over the final few strides, was brushed by Social Spin which shifted in under pressure. Lachlan King was satisfied with the performance of the gelding, which drifted in the market from $3.50 out to $4.60. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Mischa - was re-plated after arriving on course and then underwent a veterinary examination and was passed suitable to race. Bounded at the start, landing awkwardly, resulting in rider Linda Meech and the filly both becoming unbalanced and losing ground. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Ashtrain - after getting its leg up momentarily in its starting stall, underwent a veterinary examination and was passed suitable to race. Over-raced in the early stages.
Advancing - rider Michael Dee could offer no explanation for the performance, which was below expected. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Race 2 - Buildsafe Plate - 1000m:

Brooklyn Hustle - slow to begin.
Yes Yes Yes - began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages.
Oh So Rewarding - was bumped heavily on jumping away by South Street Boss which had been bumped inwards by Floreat Pica.
South Street Boss - bumped in onto Oh So Rewarding by Floreat Pica at the start.
Floreat Pica - commenced awkwardly and made contact with South Street Boss.
Oyashio - shortly after the start was bumped by Oh So Rewarding.
First Responder - passing the 800m was eased to avoid the heels of Oh So Rewarding which shifted in. Raced greenly under pressure in the straight. Rider Brett Prebble was spoken to advisedly and reminded of his obligation to ride all of his mounts out fully to the finish of the race.
Sacred Thoughts - raced wide without cover throughout.
Namimo - passing the 200m was inconvenienced when tightened for room between Yes Yes Yes and Brooklyn Hustle (Beau Mertens) which shifted out to improve.
Beau Mertens (Brooklyn Hustle) - was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a), the carelessness being that he permitted his mount to shift out passing the 200m, when not clear of Namimo resulting in Namimo being tightened for room and inconvenienced. Beau Mertens had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight December 1st and to expire at midnight December 11th, a total of nine race meetings (three metropolitan, six provincial). In assessing penalty Stewards took into account that the carelessness was in the low range.

Race 3 - Keller Handicap - 1200m:

Bonito - connections advised would be ridden back from the wide gate; settled mid-field. Was inclined to lay inwards under pressure in the straight and approaching the winning post brushed with Notation.
Kobe Princess - connections advised would be ridden quieter from the wide gate; settled towards the rear of the field.
Our Long Sali - was hampered at the start by Notation which shifted in. Was held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
Notation - commenced awkwardly. Approaching the winning post was brushed by Bonito, becoming unbalanced.
Luck Favours - shortly after the start was inconvenienced when crowded in onto Solar Star by Our Long Sali, which had been taken in by Notation. Over-raced in the early stages.
No Joy - raced wide without cover for the majority of the event. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
My Pendant (NZ) - was inclined to lay inwards under pressure in the straight.

Race 4 - Inglis Catalogues out now Handicap - 1500m:

Koolama Bay - commenced awkwardly. Raced wide in the early stages, until being permitted to stride forward and obtain a position outside the leader near the 900m.
What A Shock (NZ) - slow to begin.
Tycoon Kate - over-raced considerably, getting its head in the air in the early stages.
Naishava - over-raced in the early stages, getting its head in the air on several occasions. Laid outwards rounding the home turn and was then held up for clear running until near the 100m.
The Regiment - was held up when unable to obtain clear running from near the 400m until approaching the 50m. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding had sustained a small laceration to its off fore cannon and had lost its off hind plate.
Second Marriage - rider Michael Dee could offer no explanation for the performance. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Race 5 - Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap - 1600m:

Dreams Of Paris - proved reluctant to proceed to the barriers. Connections advised would be ridden more forward; led.
Snogging - connections advised would be ridden more forward; settled just behind the leader. Passing the 100m was hampered by Queen Leonora (NZ) which had shifted in and away from Shokora, which initially shifted in before being straightened by its rider. Rider Brett Prebble reported that his mount did not feel comfortable in its action. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Mintha - passing the 1400m, was eased when crowded for room between Shokora and Smart As You Think, which shifted in before being straightened by its rider. Rider Luke Currie was of the view his mount would be better suited on a track with more give. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Valeria Messalina - near the 1300m was checked when awkwardly placed on the heels of Smart As You Think, which in turn been steadied when close to the heels of Penny To Sell (NZ). Near the 1100m was steadied outwards when over-racing and awkwardly placed on the heels of Smart As You Think.
Shokora - raced keenly in the middle stages.

Race 6 - Spendthrift Australia Handicap - 1000m:

Savaju (NZ) - late withdrawal on veterinary advice at 11.05am.
Unique Lovely - was re-saddled behind the barriers which delayed the start of the race slightly. Near the 150m, was disappointed for clear running to the outside of Fill The Flute, due to Rewarding Laughter which was racing to its outside, shifting in under pressure.
Belwazi - after being fractious in its starting stall, underwent a veterinary examination behind the barriers and was passed suitable to race and this delayed the start of the race further. Shortly after the start was bumped by Essence Of Terror which shifted in. Raced wide without cover throughout.
Caribbean Pearl - was bumped at the start by Queen Annabel.
Queen Annabel - commenced awkwardly and bumped Caribbean Pearl.
Essence Of Terror - commenced awkwardly, making contact with Belwazi.
Fill The Flute - lost its near fore plate in running.
Rewarding Laughter - rider Damien Thornton could offer no explanation however, trainer Eric Musgrove indicated that the mare would now be sent for a brief spell. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Race 7 - Independent Turf Services Handicap - 1000m:

Diamond Oasis - late withdrawal on veterinary advice at 11.16am.
Carlingford - commenced awkwardly. In the early stages got its head up when racing keenly. Raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.
Kens Dream - passing the 800m was eased when crowded for room to the inside of Angry Gee which shifted in before being straightened by its rider.
Thermal Current - was held up for a short distance rounding the home turn.
Holy Blade - lost its near fore plate in running.
Invincible Al - when questioned, apprentice Nathan Punch explained that he was instructed to ride his mount where comfortable however in his opinion, he was not travelling very well in the early and middle stages. He added that he wanted to improve his position earlier than he did, however he was caught to the inside of Thermal Current passing the 500m and had to restrain his mount to get to the outside of that gelding. He further added that when he got to the outside of Thermal Current, he did not want to put his mount under full pressure at this stage as Invincible Al only has a short sprint and is best saved for a final run.

Race 8 - Adapt Australia Handicap - 2040m:

Oncidium Ruler - slow to begin.
Top Prospect (NZ) - raced wide without cover for the majority of the event. Rider John Allen reported that the gelding had no luck in running and travelled wide throughout and added that it made an abnormal respiratory noise. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have mild heat stress and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
Captain Rhett - laid inwards under pressure in the straight. When questioned regarding the gelding settling further forward, apprentice Jessica Eaton stated that she was instructed to give her mount a dig from the barrier as it was back in distance today. She added that the outside runners took their time crossing and as a result she found herself further forward than expected. Trainer Pat Carey confirmed these instructions and added that he had not intended for the gelding to settle as far forward as it did on this occasion. Stewards, taking on board all of the circumstances, reminded Mr Carey of his obligation to notify any changes of tactics.
Lycurgus - a post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have some soreness in the near foreleg and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.

Race 9 - Woodside Park Stud Handicap - 1200m:

Exceltara - commenced awkwardly and lost ground.
Blazejowski - slow to begin. Was held up for clear running approaching and rounding the home turn.
Like To Think So - stumbled on jumping away. Rider Harry Coffey was of the view that his mount would appreciate a track with more give. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have the thumps.
Easy Beast (NZ) - was held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
Prezado - raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.
Sirius Suspect - rider John Allen stated that the gelding failed to travel throughout and was disappointing. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a throat condition and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.