NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED RACING

STEWARDS REPORT

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 2010


WEATHER:      Fine
TRACK:      Good 2
RAIL:      Out 4.5 metres

STEWARDS PANEL:      C George (Chairman), A Coles, M J Williamson, S Moore


SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT:
S McKee reported ADALINE which competed in the Mercedes-Benz Sunline Vase on 10 March 2010 pulled up mildly lame, however has continued to work and S McKee reported the horse has recovered.

SUMMARY
LATE SCRATCHINGS     R8 VELOCE BELLA (9.05am), Vet advice
SUSPENSIONS     
FINES     
WARNINGS     R6 J Riddell, Rule 638(1)(d), shifted ground final 70 metres.
BLEEDERS     
EMBARGOS     R8 VELOCE BELLA. Must produce Vet certificate of fitness prior to racing next.
VET CLEARANCES     
MEDICAL CERT     
RIDER CLEARANCES     Received for G Cooksley from the Malayan Racing Assn

HORSES SAMPLED:
CALATRAVA, IRISH OPERA, REDESSI, RIO FORTUNE, FLEDGLING, ITALIAN PRINCESS, STOLE, BANCHEE, CELLARMASTER, JIMMY CHOUX,
STREET SIREN, VOSNE ROMANEE, HARRIS TWEED, TELL A TALE, LEMONADE, RIOTOUS

All runners in Race 6 were pre race blood tested.


RACE 1:     THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD 2100
FIORANO (A Calder), HERACLES (M Du Plessis) and THE FLANEUR (G McKeon) all began awkwardly.
TACHUS (D Johnson) over-raced in the early and middle stages, skying its head when being restrained.
FIORANO dipped approaching the 100 metres.

RACE 2:     CLASSIC HITS MILE
PRINCE KAAPSTAD (D Johnson) and MILL DUCKIE (N Collett) both over-raced in the early stages.
When questioned as to the performance of MILL DUCKIE N Collett advised the Stewards that the horse raced disappointingly and could offer no reason for the horse’s performance.

RACE 3:     FUJIFILM WHIPS ‘N’ SPURS 1400
BENABAR (L Innes) shifted out on jumping making contact with REDESSI (M Du Plessis).
MILL VINNIE (N Collett) began awkwardly.
HARSHADA (M Wenn) was obliged to race wide without cover.
Passing the 700 metres BENABAR hung out across the heels of DE LOS ANGELES (M Coleman) and dictating HARSHADA over extra ground.
REDESSI was briefly held up approaching the 300 metres when attempting a marginal run to the inside of MR SHANGHAI (J McDonald).
L Innes was questioned with regards to BENABAR’S performance. L Innes stated that he felt the gelding would prefer some easing of the ground as he had not felt entirely comfortable throughout the race.

RACE 4:     HALLMARK STUD MR TIZ TROPHY
MASQUERADE (L Innes) was slow to begin.
THE HECKLER (O Bosson) shifted in on jumping and crowded REGAL FLAME (J McDonald), MONARCH (G Cooksley) and LOVISTE (M Coleman).
THE HECKLER and MOLLY’S DOLLY (M Walker) were obliged to race three wide.
MASQUERADE over-raced and was awkwardly placed on the heels of ART BEAT (G McKeon) near the 800 metres.
LOVISTE near the 800 metres was steadied to avoid the heels of MONARCH.
Near the 800 metres FLEDGLING (L Allpress) was steadied when crowded for room by THE HECKLER. O Bosson was advised to exercise care.
Near the 300 metres ART BEAT made contact with MASQUERADE when shifting out across the heels of MOLLY’S DOLLY to obtain clear running.
Between the 200 metres and 100 metres RIO NUGGET (A Calder) was held up for clear running.
KEYORA (M Cameron) which raced in restricted room near the 100 metres was steadied to avoid the heels of ITALIAN PRINCESS (M Du Plessis).

RACE 5:     TELECOM 1200
SIEM REAP (R Norvall) shifted out on jumping and hampered HAPPY FOREVER (BR Jones).
OXBOROUGH MAGIC (M Du Plessis) was slow to begin.
POCKET DIARY (O Bosson) over-raced in the early and middle stages.
Near the 800 metres POCKET DIARY and ROUGH ODDS (N Collett) were momentarily crowded for room by ROMAN TOIA (G Cooksley) which shifted in abruptly.
STOLE (D Johnson) was briefly held up near the 250 metres.
Near the 200 metres OXBOROUGH MAGIC was checked when crowded for room by EL BIMBO (N Harris) which was awkwardly placed on the heels of POCKET DIARY and SIEM REAP both of which shifted ground. N Harris (EL BIMBO) and R Norvall (SIEM REAP) were advised to exercise care.
R Norvall could offer no tangible explanation for the poor performance of SIEM REAP other than in his opinion the horse may have slipped behind on jumping. A post race veterinary examination of SIEM REAP revealed no apparent abnormalities.

RACE 6:     AUCKLAND DIAMOND STAKES
MISS THORN (T Harris) was slow to begin.
KING’S ROSE (J McDonald) and BRAVE WARRIOR (M Walker) began awkwardly and lost ground.
NACHO MAN (C Grylls) shifted out on jumping, crowding CELLARMASTER (O Bosson) out on to the hind quarters of JIMMY CHOUX (J Riddell).
SISTER HAVANA (M Du Plessis) was obliged to race three wide without cover throughout the race.
CELLARMASTER had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 200 metres.
When questioned regarding the performance of SISTER HAVANA M Du Plessis stated that after beginning well the horse only travelled fairly in the run and failed to respond to his riding in the straight. A post race veterinary examination of SISTER HAVANA revealed no apparent abnormalities.
A protest was lodged by the rider of the fourth placed horse CHARMA (M Sweeney) against the third placed horse JIMMY CHOUX for alleged interference in the home straight. After considering evidence from all relevant parties the JCA dismissed the protest on the basis that although CHARMA was inconvenienced during this part of the race by JIMMY CHOUX which shifted out under pressure they did not believe the interference warranted a change of placings given the margin of a length and a quarter. J Riddell was issued with a warning.

RACE 7:     NICOLAS FEUILLATTE 2100
CAPE TREASURE (C Grylls) was slow to begin.
Rider A Ng (COMMIE STAR) was advised to exercise care after he steadied the pace passing the 1500 metres resulting in SUN VALLEY (M Hills), TRADITIO (V Colgan) and BLINK (M Vance) all being hampered.
POSTER BOY (M Coleman) was obliged to race three wide without cover.
COUNTRY DANE (A Calder) did not obtain clear running until inside the 150 metres.

RACE 8:     SKYCITY NEW ZEALAND STAKES
VELOCE BELLA (M Coleman) was a late scratching acting on veterinary advice at 9.05am when it was found to be lame in the near hind Trainer M Brosnan was advised that he must produce a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to VELOCE BELLA starting in a race again.
Passing the 1600 metres HOLD IT HARVEY (J Bullard) which was racing fiercely shifted out taking PRIX DU SANG (C Grylls) wider. HOLD IT HARVEY continued to over-race for some distance.
MACO’REILLY (H Tinsley) raced three wide in the early and middle stages.
Rounding the home turn BOUNDLESS (L Innes) was held up for clear running.
When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on HARRIS TWEED between the 1400 metres and 1000 metres as to why T Harris persisted in holding out MACO’REILLY rather than electing to take a sit T Harris stated that he did not think that MACO’REILLY was going to continue for the lead so he persisted to try and maintain his position outside SIR SLICK (M Walker). He further added that near the 1000 metres he formed the view that MACO’REILLY was going to continue forward so he elected to take a sit behind that runner. T Harris also stated that in his opinion HARRIS TWEED has not got a turn of foot so therefore in the race he felt it was better for HARRIS TWEED to maintain its position. T Harris agreed with the Stewards that he erred in that between the 1300 metres and 1000 metres he should have taken a sit behind MACO’REILLY sooner than what he did. T Harris was advised that in similar circumstances he is expected to take better options when they are available.

RACE 9:     J.T. ANDERSON FAREWELL 1400
BARTOTE (M Walker) shifted out on jumping and made contact with LEMONADE (J McDonald).
SPECIAL BLEND (A Calder), AL RODE (V Colgan) and FASTNFREE (N Collett) were all slow to begin.
ZARA DANCER (L Innes) which was over-racing passing the 1000 metres was steadied to avoid the heels of MAE JINX (C Grylls) which shifted in. C Grylls was advised to exercise care. In this incident TWO TONES (G McKeon) which was following ZARA DANCER was steadied.
Near the 700 metres SMART MOVE (T Harris) which was racing fiercely was checked off the heels of EASY STREET (M Cameron) who shifted in. FASTNFREE shifting out also contributed to the incident. SPECIAL BLEND which was following was checked and MADE MY POINT (M Du Plessis) was hampered.
Near the 250 metres L Innes, the rider of ZARA DANCER, dropped his whip.
Over the final 150 metres ZARA DANCER lay in under pressure.

RACE 10:     STELLA ARTOIS CARNIVAL FAREWELL MILE
TANALISED (M Coleman) was slow away and then was further inconvenienced when CATALINA (A Calder) shifted in.
RIOTOUS (N Collett) began awkwardly.
Near the 1500 metres ROMAN GAL (A Ng) had to be steadied when racing in restricted room.
Near the 1200 metres JUSTACROSS (D Johnson) was steadied when crowded for room by ROMAN GAL and TANALISED who were taken in by RIOTOUS which was hanging in.
TANALISED had difficulty obtaining clear running over the final 250 metres.