QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
 
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
SUNDAY 6th JULY 2025
 
 
 
WEATHER – Fine    TRACK RATING –  Soft 5           RAIL – +6m 1000m-W/Post; +3m - remainder true
PENETROMETER – 5.7
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – R Neal
Stewards – D Griffiths; P Warren; S Nosworthy and J McIntosh.
 
SUPPLIMENTARY REPORT
 
MCKINLAY RACE CLUB – Saturday 21st June 2025
Race 5: 2025 OUTBACK RACING SHOWCASE - FINAL / SOUTH32 MCKINLAY CUP OPEN HANDICAP 1500M
 
Stewards today concluded an investigation into rider Michael McDonald's handling of HANG FIVE over the concluding stages, where he applied the whip on 18 occasions in the final straight. Rider McDonald admitted a breach of AR 132(5) and was suspended for 7 days. The suspension will commence at midnight on Monday, 14th July 2025, and conclude at midnight on Monday, 21st July 2025.
 
GENERAL
 
1.    Due to rider Ronald Stewart being injured on Saturday 5th July 2025 the Stewards authorised the following replacements,
R1 – SECRET BOOM – Tahlia Fenlon
R3 – CONVERTOR – Tahlia Fenlon
R4 – STATESWOMAN – Tahlia Fenlon
R5 - HEAD HONCHO – Tahlia Fenlon
R6 – TIME TO PROPHET – Tahlia Fenlon
R7 – HELLISH – Tahlia Fenlon
R8 – TAMBO’S JUSTICE – Tahlia Fenlon
 
 
2.    Stewards approved the following overweight allowances at today’s meeting:
 
R1: DASHING GYPSY – Ashley Butler + ½ kg
R2: CRAFTY GOODESS – Adam Sewell + ½ kg
R2: MYSTERIOUS BAY – Justin Stanley +1kg
 
 
Race 1: BELLE PROPERTY TOWNSVILLE QTS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE    1,000 M
 
AZCONPETE – Travelled three wide throughout; laid out passing the 250 metres, hampering CHARGIN'.
CHARGIN' – Travelled wide throughout; hampered passing the 250 metres when AZCONPETE laid out.
GOLDEN OCTAVIAN – Began awkwardly; lay in when taken into clear running passing the 250 metres and had to be straightened.
MEANS TEST – Shifted out on jumping.
SECRET BOOM – Held up rounding the final turn until passing the 300 metres.
DASHING GYPSY – Laid out passing the 450 metres.
LETHALLY STELLA – Travelled wide throughout.
MISSYPIE – Contacted the running rail near the 450 metres and became briefly unbalanced.
PARDON THE PURR – Laid out passing the 250 metres.
SPIRIT GHOST – Began awkwardly, then was hampered shortly after.
WEBS – Held up rounding the final turn until passing the 200 metres.
 
Race 2: MITAVITE MAIDEN PLATE      1,400 M
 
ARIK LAD – Lay out in the early stages; travelled three-wide without cover throughout. Stewards questioned Apprentice Olivia Kendall regarding her decision to shift three-wide in the early stages of the race when other options appeared available. In explanation, Ms. Kendall stated that ARIK LAD has shown a tendency to over-race when travelling with cover, and as a result, she elected to move out rather than remain behind, which could have led to the gelding over-racing if either the tempo steadied, or ARIK LAD begin to race keenly. In assessing the ride, the Stewards advised Ms. Kendall that, in their opinion, she had erred in her judgement by shifting out when she did. Ms. Kendall was further advised that another option might have been to establish herself one-off and then consider other options should ARIK LAD's tractability become a concern. Given all circumstances, the Stewards determined that no further action would be taken, other than to firmly remind Ms. Kendall that she must consider all available options rather than committing to a single approach.
HUSTLER'S AMBITION – Travelled four-wide throughout.
TRUSTING STAR – Began awkwardly, striking its barrier stall and lost ground as a result.
ARTURETTA – Hampered at the start.
KELLISA – Slow to begin.
MAGIC TYLA – Trainer Ms. Tracy Simmons advised that it was the intention to have the mare ridden further forward – ridden accordingly.
STARMEIRA – Over-raced for the majority of the race; shifted wider passing the 800 metres.
HOLD MY HALO – Jumped in abruptly at the start, hampering ARTURETTA.
SNEAKY TAY – Travelled three-wide with cover throughout.
 
 
Race 3: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP       1,400 M
 
HARROW (IRE) – began awkwardly and then slow in the early stages.
BRAD – commenced to over-race passing the 1,000 metres.
BRAVE AGENDA – lost the near front plate during the running.
ROOM FOR SQUARES – lay out when placed under pressure in the final straight.
TYMON – began awkwardly.
 
Race 4: BELLE PROPERTY TOWNSVILLE RATING BAND 0 – 55 HANDICAP 1,200 M
 
PRIMO – lay out under pressure over the final 100 metres.
HIT SNOOZE – jumped in at the start and hampered DESERT MOON; gave ground passing the 250 metres and was not persevered with over the latter stages. When questioned rider Ashley Butler stated that the mare had failed to let down when pressured and was disappointing – a post-race veterinary examination revealed obvious abnormality.
LIVEWIRE LASS – slow into stride; travelled 3-wide with cover throughout.
STATESWOMAN – slow into stride; travelled wide throughout.
LET'S RIDE had difficulty obtaining clear running throughout the final straight.
FAITH OVER FEAR – slow to begin.
SOOZIE MAREE – was a late scratching at 1:51pm after becoming fractious in the barriers and becoming agitated; trainer Ms Liliana McCormack was advised that SOOZIE MARIE must requalify with respect to its barrier certificate before next racing. The Stewards ruled that all monies invested on SOOZIE MAREE be refunded in full and that all successful wagers made prior to 11:51pm be subject to the following deductions in the face value of each ticket:
1st: PRIMO – 2¢ win, 2¢ place
2nd: STATESWOMAN - 2¢ place
3rd: CRAFTY GODDES  - 2¢ place
 
Race 5: LADBROKES BET TICKER CLASS 6 HANDICAP  1,200 M
 
LE MELODY – fractious when parading to the barriers – warning placed on the gelding’s manners; travelled 3-wide with cover throughout.
REGGIE'S BOY – travelled 3-wide throughout.
HIGHBAR – slow to begin; lay in and contacted the running rail near the 900 metres; held up rounding the final turn until passing the 250 metres.
RUSSIAN MINT – improved onto heels passing the 400 metres and had to steady; taken wider passing the 350 metres to obtain clear running.
HEAD HONCHO – was declared at late scratching at 2:32pm after refusing to load into its barrier. Trainer Mr Tom Button was advised that HEAD HONCHO was requalify with respect to its barrier certificate. Prior to the declaration of correct weight,The Stewards ruled that all monies invested on HEAD HONCHO be refunded in full and that all successful wagers made prior to 2:32pm be subject to the following deductions in the face value of each ticket:
1st: CHARTWELL – 13¢ win, 10¢ place
2nd: PENNY PACKER - 14¢ place
3rd: LE MELODY  - 12¢ place
PENNYPACKER – crowded for a short distance after leaving the barriers.
ARMOUR FORCE - Stewards noted rider Ryan Wiggins exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100m (+ two) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.
 
Race 6: CHRYSALIS MEDISPA QTS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1,000M
 
ALMIGHTY JAB – slow to begin then bumped by BESMARA. Held up rounding the final turn and passing the 250 metres when attempting a narrow run between MARGOT BARBIE and MIMMY’S SECRET lay out, dictating MIMMY’S SECRET out into the line of DANCE FOR ME RANDY which was inconvenienced. After questioning all riders concerned, and reviewing vision of the incident, rider Ryan Wiggins was advised of his obligations when in similar circumstances.
DANCE FOR ME RANDY – travelled wide with cover for the majority; held up throughout the final straight; inconvenienced when held up near the 200 metres.
HAND GRENADE – held up for a short distance rounding the final turn.
BESMARA – bounded on jumping then bumped with ALMIGHTY JAB
TIME TO PROPHET – bumped at the start.
FRAMED IT – jumped inwards at the start bumping with TIME TO PROPHET
GREY POWER – travelled 3-wide for the majority.
MARGOT BARBIE – lay out when under pressure passing the 300 metres.
OUTBID – proved difficult to load – warning placed; steadied passing 900 metres and then shifted out dictating BESMARA wider for a short distance.
LITTLE IFFY – travelled wide with cover throughout.
 
Race 7: WATCH STATE OF ORIGIN LIVE & FREE ON NINE OPEN HANDICAP 1000M 
 
ROWEINER'S DANCE – Jumped out at the start and bumped with NORTHERN EXPRESS.
NORTHERN EXPRESS – Bumped at the start and lost ground.
MOLONGLE SURPRISE – Jumped in at the start and bumped, then ran out abruptly, losing ground.
TURBEAU – Contacted the barriers on jumping and lost ground; held up for the majority of the final straight, only obtaining clear running passing the 100 metres.
CAPTAIN BOND – Was a late scratching at 9:35am after being found sore when being prepared for the race meeting. Trainer Mr. Les Gordy was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to CAPTAIN BOND's next racing.
YOUR TOO GOOD – Travelled four-wide for the majority of the race.
LOUD NOISE – Travelled wide throughout.
LAST DESCEND – Began awkwardly and was then tightened shortly after, losing ground. Returned to the enclosure with blood present in both nostrils. Returned to the enclosure with blood present in both nostrils. Trainer Ms. Melissa Bieri was advised LAST DESCEND shall not, without the permission of the Stewards: (a) for a period of 2 months must not be trained, exercised or galloped on a racecourse, recognized training track, private training establishment, or other place; (b) must not start in any race for a period of 3 months, and then only after firstly completing a satisfactory gallop of at least 1,000 metres; or competing in an official trial or jump-out; in the presence, and to the satisfaction of a Steward. Trainers representative Mr Jason Barbarovich advised that LAST DESCEND would now be retired.
 
Race 8: LADBROKES MAGNETIC ISLAND MILE OPEN HANDICAP  1,609M
 
ANDALUS (NZ) – travelled wide throughout.
SOLAR APEX – slow to begin
EARLY THOUGHTS – travelled wide throughout.
FORTIFIED (NZ) – contacted the barriers on jumping and lost ground.
MISTER MAESTRO – slow to begin; inclined to lay out over the final 250 metres.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Suspensions
MCKINLAY RACE CLUB – Saturday 21st June 2025
Rider Micheal McDonald – [AR132(5) - whip violation - suspended 15th to 21st July 2025 (inclusive)
 
Absent jockeys:
Ronald Stewart – injured 6th July 2025
 
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race.
Brad; Brave Agenda; Desert Moon; Highbar; Head Honcho; Molongle Surprise.
 
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
R4: SOOZIE MARIE – must requalify from the barriers.
R6: OUTBID – warned barrier manners.
R7: CAPTAIN BOND – veterinary clearance required.
 
Bleeders: R7 LAST DECEND.
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
 
 
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.