QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

IPSWICH TURF CLUB

THURSDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2026

WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Good 4
RAIL – +8m Entire
PENETROMETER – 5.35

OFFICIALS

Stewards – B. Wright (Chair), D. Aurisch, S. Fletcher, D. McMahon, L. De Witt-Rowson


GENERAL

As rider V. Duric was injured, he was replaced as per the Stewards summary. Rider Duric was advised he would require a medical clearance prior to next riding.
 
Stewards approved the following overweight allowances at today’s meeting:
Race 5 – OAKFIELD EAGLE – W. O’Connell +1kg (55kg)
 
RACE 1: TAB QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP 1350M

AMALFI BOY – Near the 1000m was severely hampered after being taken in by BODYSNATCHER. Raced wide throughout without cover.

OUR MATE LOCKY – Slow into stride and inconvenienced shortly thereafter. Raced wide throughout with cover. Rider J. Bayliss was fined $100 pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(i) for using the whip on consecutive strides prior to the 100m.
 
BENT BRIDGE – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SPANISH RAGE – Near the 1000m, severely tightened for room and buffeted between FLASHMASTER and AMALFI BOY. Apprentice J. Newman advised after sustaining interference early, the gelding travelled comfortably during the race but when asked for an effort rounding the home turn, failed to respond to her riding and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  
 
BODYSNATCHER – Began awkwardly.
 
OUTTA REEF – Rider R. Maloney advised the filly raced greenly and would take benefit from the run.
 
BOSSIRI – Bumped on jumping.
 
FLASHMASTER – Near the 1000m, carried in onto the rail and became badly unbalanced.
 
Rider M. Hellyer pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in that near the 1000m, he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of ALMALFI BOY, which was severely hampered and taken in onto SPANISH RAGE, which was severely tightened and taken in onto FLASHMASTER, which was carried onto the rail and became badly unbalanced. In issuing the charge, Stewards acknowledged that rider Hellyer had made some effort to correct his mount. M Hellyer’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 8 days to commence midnight 7th March 2026 and to expire midnight 15th March 2026. When determining penalty, Stewards considered the QRIC careless riding penalty guidelines.
 

RACE 2: BEAR CAVE CLASS 6 PLATE 1350M

CUSTO – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after having raced at Sunshine Coast 22/2/26. Slow to begin. Improved onto heels whilst racing keenly approaching the 900m and steadied.

TRIBECA STAR – Laid in under pressure in the home straight, obliging its rider to stop riding and straighten on a number of occasions. Apprentice J. Newman reported her mount hung in throughout the race.
 
RUSSIAN SUB – Laid out rounding the home turn.
 
ZOOLOGY (GB) – When questioned on leading the race, rider M. Du Plessis advised he was instructed to be in a forward position, however; it wasn’t his intention to lead. He stated the gelding commenced to race keenly after being caught wide in the early stages and for this reason he elected to allow his mount to stride and take up the leading position.
 
NOBLE DECREE (NZ) – Bumped on jumping. Raced keenly in the middle stages. Raced wide for the majority. Taken wider rounding the home turn by RUSSIAN SUB.
 
RUBAAHY – Bumped on jumping and lost ground. Near the 1000m, raced in restricted room and steadied when CUSTO shifted out marginally and TRIBECA STAR (App J. Newman), shifted in when not clear. Apprentice J. Newman was advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances. Improved onto heels whilst racing keenly approaching the 900m and steadied.


RACE 3: POCO VINO CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1350M
 
PRETTY DUBIOUS – Bumped on jumping.
 
BUSKER – Bumped on jumping and tightened for room shortly thereafter. Held up rounding the home turn and had some difficulty obtaining clear running until leaving the 150m. Near the 150m, was contacted by CAVARETTA and carried in slightly. Passing the 50m shifted out, obliging CAVARETTA to also shift ground.
 
CAITLIN – Raced wide throughout without cover. Apprentice K. Lenton reported her mount laid out for majority of the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
CAVARETTA – Near the 150m, shifted in and contacted BUSKER. Shifted wider over the final 50m when BUSKER shifted ground.
 
LOU VEGA – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have some soreness to its left hindleg.
 
OUR JEWEL – Began awkwardly. Raced keen early. Held up from the 500m until the 400m. Laid out rounding the home turn.
 
RATENOTICE – Near the 150m, shifted in under pressure before being corrected.


RACE 4: BARRIER REEF POOLS MAIDEN PLATE  1700M

CRYPTO MAGIC – Laid out rounding the home turn.

PASS THE PEAK – When asked about leading today’s race, rider B. Lerena stated it was not his intention to do so, however; after being caught wide early, he elected to press on and take up the leading position.  
 
WEEKEND SPIRIT – Near the 1300m, momentarily steadied from the heels of FIVE OF US, which was taken in by HOLLER DASH (J. Taylor), which shifted in when not clear. Rider J. Taylor was advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances. Rider R. Maloney could offer no explanation for the somewhat disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
KOOLIBAH – Slow to begin. Laid out in the home straight and near the 150m, shifted to the inside of GAS BRIGADE to obtain clear running.
 
SHE'S A FIZZ – Slow to begin.
 

RACE 5: RIVER 96.9FM CLASS 2 HANDICAP 1700M

SAN JOSE BOY – Raced wide throughout with cover.

SIMPLY FUN – Began awkwardly. Rider G. Cartwright reported her mount raced keenly whilst leading. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a poor recovery and the thumps.
 
SKORPIOS ISLE – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Raced wide without cover throughout.
 
JUNGLE PRINCE (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.

XTRA LA VITA – Bumped on jumping. Held up from the 500m until passing the 300m.
 
LORD DANILO – Slow to begin. Held up for a run from the 300m until near the 150m.
 
MOSAMOUR (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages and approaching the 1100m, steadied after improving onto heels. Raced wide for the majority with cover.
 
BONFIDELITY (NZ) – Hampered on jumping. For a short distance on straightening was somewhat reluctant to come to the outside of SIMPLY FUN.
 
MAGADAN – Raced keen early. Steadied after improving onto the heels of ROCKRATA near the 400m.
 
OAKFIELD EAGLE  – Raced wide throughout with cover. Rider W. O’Connell was fined $100 pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(i) for using the whip in consecutive strides on 2 occasions prior to the 100m.


RACE 6: GREAT NORTHERN CLASS 2 HANDICAP 1200M

ALLY – Raced wide throughout without cover. Hampered near the 200m.
 
MEADOWBROOK (NZ) – Raced wide throughout with cover. Hampered near the 200m.
 
STAR VENTURE – Near the 800m, steadied from the heels of PRIVATE SHOWTIME, which was taken in by BEE EXACT, which was laying in.
 
PRIVATE SHOWTIME – Underwent farrier attention in the tie up stalls and underwent a veterinary examination on arrival at the barriers. Near the 200m, heavily bumped by STAR VENTURE, resulting in PRIVATE SHOWTIME and rider D. Moor becoming badly unbalanced, shifting out and bumping ALLY. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
BEE EXACT – Laid in under pressure over the final 200m.
 
DOYLE – Began awkwardly.
 
Rider A. Thompson pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in that near the 200m, he directed his mount out when not clear of PRIVATE SHOWTIME, which was heavily bumped, resulting in that runner and rider D. Moor becoming badly unbalanced, losing its rightful running and being taken out and bumping with ALLY which was hampered and taken out onto MEADOWBROOK which was also hampered. A. Thompson’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 16 days to commence midnight 7th March 2026 and to expire midnight 23rd March 2026. When determining penalty, Stewards considered the QRIC careless riding penalty guidelines.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Fines
Race 1 – Rider J. Bayliss – Use of the whip on consecutive strides prior to the 100m – AR132(7)(a)(i) – $100
Race 5 – Rider W. O’Connell – Use of the whip on consecutive strides prior to the 100m – AR132(7)(a)(i) – $100

Suspensions
Race 1 – Rider M. Hellyer – Careless riding – AR131(a) – 8 days to commence midnight 7/3/2026 and to expire midnight 15/3/2026
Race 6 – Rider A. Thompson – Careless riding – AR131(a) – 16 days to commence midnight 7/3/26 and to expire 23/3/26.

Absent jockeys
Vlad Duric – Injured – Medical required

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
OUR MATE LOCKY, CUSTO, OUR JEWEL, PASS THE PEAK, WEEKEND SPIRIT, XTRA LA VITA
 
Horses sampled post-race
All winners

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1:         10 FLASHMASTER - Ms Angela Jones
Race 3:         2 PRETTY DUBIOUS - Daniel Moor
Race 5:         13 ROCKRATA - Ms Jett Newman (a2/50kg),
Race 6:         4 MEADOWBROOK (NZ) - Ben Thompson
                    14 EXCEED THE SKY - Jason Taylor

 
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.