Stewards' Summary @ Caulfield

Published: 25 Feb 2019

A summary of Caulfield for Saturday 23rd February is shown below, including Vet Notes, Penalties and Fines. For the full report, visit the racing.com website.

Vet Notes

Lunar Flare (Race 2) Got its head up when over racing in the early stages. Continued to over race in the middle stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be lame off foreleg. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.
DGrammy (Race 2) A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slower than normal recovery rate and the gelding had tied up. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.
Malaguerra (Race 6) A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering the thumps.
Vinicunca (Race 7) A post-race veterinary examination revealed a delayed recovery.
Free Of Debt (Race 7)- A post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt to be suffering mild heat stress.
Lankan Star (Race 7) - A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be suffering mild heat stress.
Crown Witness (Race 8) Proved reluctant to proceed to the barriers and after arriving at the start underwent a veterinary examination and was passed suitable to race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.
Steel Frost (Race 8) A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering heat stress and the thumps. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.

Penalties & Fines

Qafila Prior to weighing in it was observed that rider Mark Zahra handed a girth to Rayan Moore, an employee of the Hayes/Dabernig stable. The incident was identified, and M Zahra weighed in correctly with the girth. At a subsequent enquiry Mark Zahra conceded that as he was concerned about returning overweight, he handed the girth to Mr Moore. Mark Zahra pleaded guilty to misconduct in that he breached the provisions of AR83(a) by attempting to manipulate his weight by weighing in without the girth. Stewards fined M Zahra $1000.00. Further Stewards accepted Rayan Moores explanation in relation to the matter.
Joe Bowditch (Viddora) Pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provision of AR137(a). The careless riding being that approaching the 100 metres he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Steel Frost resulting in Steel Frost being tightened for room and hampered and inconveniencing Charge. J Bowditch had his licence to ride in races suspended for a total of nine meetings to commence midnight 4 March, 2019 and to expire midnight 11 March, 2019. (1 metro, 8 provincial). In assessing penalty the Stewards were of the view that the incident qualified for the low-range category of carelessness and took into account his guilty plea and record.

Summary of Races

Race 1 LADBROKES MORNINGTON CUP PRELUDE - 2000 metres:

Midterm Change of tactics To be ridden quietly. Settled in a mid-field position.
Dawn Raid Change of tactics Attempt to be ridden mid-field with cover. Settled towards the rear of the field. Rider Dwayne Dunn stated that, in his opinion, the gelding was not suited by the step up in distance and further, may not have appreciated the step up in class.
Im A Princess Change of tactics To be ridden more forward due to the tempo. Settled mid-field.
Call Me Handsome (IRE) Raced wide in the early stages until striding to obtain the lead near the 1300 metres.
Silkandarabad (IRE) Raced wide in the early stages until obtaining a position outside the leader near the 1200 metres.
Jaameh (IRE) Rider Mark Zahra reported that he was not too disappointed in the first up performance of the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.
Magnapal Rider Declan Bates reported that when placed under pressure passing the 500 metres his mount failed to respond. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.

Race 2 HERITAGE FINANCE CAULFIELD AUTUMN CLASSIC - 1800 metres:

Boomstock (NZ) Hampered outwards at the start by Global Exchange, making contact with Declares War.
Declares War Hampered at the start when bumped by Boomstock (NZ). Passing the 300 metres had to shift out to obtain clear running and in doing so brushed with Secret Blaze on two occasions.
Twinspier (NZ) Commenced awkwardly. Raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.
Amanikan Restrained from its wide barrier to obtain a position at the rear of the field.
Secret Blaze Brushed with Declares War on two occasions passing the 300 metres.
Florida Dream Unable to gain clear running in the early stages of the straight.
eGlobal Exchange Lay inwards under pressure in the straight.
Lunar Flare Got its head up when over racing in the early stages. Continued to over race in the middle stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be lame off foreleg. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.
Aramayo Steadied near the 500 metres to avoid the heels of Florida Dream (Jamie Mott), which shifted out. J Mott was advised to exercise more care. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted from the 800 metres until straightening Hugh Bowman stated that as Aramayo had not cornered well leading up to this point he was reluctant to shift to the outside of Boomstock as he was of the opinion that he would hang out wider rounding the home turn. He further stated that he elected to take a run to the inside of Boomstock near the 600 metres, however, had to steady due to Florida Dream shifting out to improve its position. Hugh Bowman added that in hindsight he would have been better off allowing his mount to stride the outside of Boomstock.
DGrammy A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slower than normal recovery rate and the gelding had tied up. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.

Race 3 PREMIER SIGNS MANNERISM STAKES - 1400 metres:

Spanish Reef To be ridden further forward from the good barrier. Settled just behind the leaders.
Supre Commenced awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Rider Luke Currie reported that he was satisfied with the performance adding that he had some difficulty gaining clear running in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.
Teleplay Near the 1100 metres eased to avoid the heels of I Am A Star (NZ), which shifted in.
Naantali (NZ) Raced wide without cover for the majority of the event. Passing the 800 metres bumped and taken wider on the track by I Am A Star, which shifted out to improve.
I Am A Star (NZ) Rider Ben Melham reported that he was not too disappointed with the performance, adding that the mare may not have appreciated the high weight impost. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.

Race 4 LADBROKES ANGUS ARMANASCO STAKES - 1400 metres:

Queen La Diva Slow to begin.
News Girl Raced keenly in the early stages. Lay out under pressure in the straight
Futooh Held up for clear running from passing the 300 metres until shifting to the inside of News Girl, approaching the 100 metres. Approaching the 50 metres, when racing close to the inside running rail shied and became unbalanced. As a result, Luke Nolen lost the use of his off side iron for the remainder of the event.
Street Icon When weakening had to be eased when awkwardly placed on the heels of News Girl passing the 100 metres.
Qafila Prior to weighing in it was observed that rider Mark Zahra handed a girth to Rayan Moore, an employee of the Hayes/Dabernig stable. The incident was identified, and M Zahra weighed in correctly with the girth. At a subsequent enquiry Mark Zahra conceded that as he was concerned about returning overweight, he handed the girth to Mr Moore. Mark Zahra pleaded guilty to misconduct in that he breached the provisions of AR83(a) by attempting to manipulate his weight by weighing in without the girth. Stewards fined M Zahra $1000.00. Further Stewards accepted Rayan Moores explanation in relation to the matter.

Race 5 LADBROKES ZEDITAVE STAKES - 1200 metres:

Zousain Slow to begin. When racing keenly in the early stages got its head up when being eased after being bumped and placed in restricted room to the inside of Poised To Strike, which in turn had been taken in by Terbium (John Allen), which shifted in before being straightened. J Allen was severely reprimanded. Continued to over race in the middle stages. Lay in under pressure in the straight. When questioned regarding the performance, which was below market expectations, rider Craig Williams stated that his mount had raced ungenerously in the early and middle stages after being hampered shortly after the start. He added, that despite this he was still slightly disappointed in the manner it finished the race off. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.
Poised To Strike Commenced awkwardly.
Terbium Raced wide without cover throughout.
Yulong January Held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight and passing the 200 metres had to be steadied and taken out to gain clear running.

Race 6 YULONG FUTURITY STAKES - 1400 metres:

Redkirk Warrior Change of tactics To be ridden more forward. Settled in a mid-field position. Near the 150 metres was crowded for room between Alizee, which shifted in slightly and Brave Smash (JPN), which had initially attempted to obtain a run to the outside of Malaguerra making contact with Redkirk Warrior (GB).
Best Of Days (GB) Refused to jump and took no part in the event, being eased down shortly after leaving the gates. Trainer James Cummings was notified that Best Of Days is now suspended from racing until such time as the horse performs to the satisfaction of Stewards in an official trial.
Manuel Slow to begin.
Alizee Raced wide for the majority of the event.
Brave Smash (JPN) Unable to obtain clear running for the entirety of the straight and went to the line not fully tested.
Material Man Held up for clear running over the final 200 metres, going to the line not fully tested.
Land Of Plenty Near the 150 metres Mark Zahra dropped his right rein for a short distance.
Hartnell (GB) Approaching 100 metres brushed by Land Of Plenty, which shifted in before being straightened.
Malaguerra A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering the thumps.

Race 7 LADBROKES BLUE DIAMOND STAKES - 1200 metres:

Shotmaker Veterinary examination on arrival on course and passed suitable to race. Commenced awkwardly, making contact with Athiri. Raced wide without cover for the majority of the event. Approaching the 100 metres had to be eased when crowded for room between Loving Gaby, which had been steadied out and Athiri, which shifted in slightly.
Loving Gaby - Veterinary examination on arrival on course and passed suitable to race. Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight. Near the 100 metres had to be restrained to avoid the heels of Lankan Star, which had shifted out to obtain clear running to the outside of Free Of Debt, which was shifting out at this point. As Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that the incident was the fault of any one rider they nonetheless severely reprimanded both Damien Oliver (Lankan Star) and Michael Walker (Free of Debt).
Game Keeper Slow to begin.
Brooklyn Hustle Slow to begin. Lay out rounding the home turn and when under pressure in the straight.
Hawker Hurricane Slow to begin. Rider Mark Zahra reported colt raced flat. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.
Athiri Hampered on jumping away by Shotmaker, which jumped in. Passing the 50 metres had to be eased when crowded for room between Lyre and Lankan Star, both of which shifted ground.
Catch Me Over raced in the early and middle stages. Rider Dwayne Dunn reported that with the addition of blinkers the filly over raced and this was detrimental to its performance.
Bella Rosa Raced three wide without cover for the majority of the event.
Vinicunca A post-race veterinary examination revealed a delayed recovery.
Free Of Debt - A post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt to be suffering mild heat stress.
Lankan Star - A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be suffering mild heat stress.

Race 8 LADBROKES OAKLEIGH PLATE - 1100 metres:

Crown Witness Proved reluctant to proceed to the barriers and after arriving at the start underwent a veterinary examination and was passed suitable to race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.
Ill Have A Bit Slow to begin. Approaching the home turn eased around heels to obtain clear running.
Bel Sonic Crowded for room at the start between Nature Strip and From Within.
Spright Passing the 800 metres raced in restricted room for a short distance. Over the concluding stages, when making ground, was held up for clear running.
Sensei Raced wide without cover for the majority of the event.
Usain Bowler Rounding the home turn eased when crowded out onto Sensei by Ellicazoom, which shifted out to improve.
Fell Swoop Approaching the 200 metres had to be restrained when crowded for room between Viddora and Booker (Dean Yendall), which shifted in to gain clear running. Dean Yendall was severely reprimanded and notified to exercise more care.
Steel Frost Passing the 150 metres was crowded for room, and hampered when avoiding the heels of Viddora (Joe Bowditch), which shifted in when not sufficiently clear. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering heat stress and the thumps. A veterinary clearance is required prior to racing again.
Charge Passing the 150 metres raced in restricted room to the inside of Steel Frost, which had been crowded inwards by Viddora.
Eduardo Raced wide without cover throughout. Lay out under pressure rounding the home turn and in the straight.
Nature Strip Rider Damian Lane could offer no explanation for the performance. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality and a sample was taken for analysis.
Joe Bowditch (Viddora) Pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provision of AR137(a). The careless riding being that approaching the 100 metres he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Steel Frost resulting in Steel Frost being tightened for room and hampered and inconveniencing Charge. J Bowditch had his licence to ride in races suspended for a total of nine meetings to commence midnight 4 March, 2019 and to expire midnight 11 March, 2019. (1 metro, 8 provincial). In assessing penalty the Stewards were of the view that the incident qualified for the low-range category of carelessness and took into account his guilty plea and record.

Race 9 CARLTON DRAUGHT PETER YOUNG STAKES - 1800 metres:

DArgento Change of tactics To be ridden quieter from the wide draw. Settled just worse than mid-field. Rider Luke Nolen was of the opinion that the horse does not appreciate the Caulfield circuit and may be better suited on tracks with more give. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormality.
Ace High Change of tactics To be ridden mid-field. Settled mid-field. Commenced awkwardly making contact with Ambitious (JPN).
Shillelagh (NZ) Slow to begin.
Nights Watch (NZ) Slow to begin. Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early stages of the straight.
Avilius (GB) Bumped at the start by Ambitious (JPN), which was taken in by Ace High.
Ambitious (JPN) Bumped at the start by Ace High. Raced keenly in the early stages.
Hiyaam (NZ) Approaching the 200 metres had to be restrained when crowded for room between Ace High and The Taj Mahal, which shifted out under pressure after shifting out and away from Avilius, which had also shifted out.