QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB

SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST 2026


WEATHER – Overcast TRACK RATING – Soft (5) RAIL – Out 3.5 metres 1,000 metres to winning post; 1 metre for the remainder.
PENETROMETER – 5.88

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – Ross Neal
Stewards – Darryl Griffiths; Paul Gillard; Kieran Dean and Sam Copelin.

GENERAL

1. Stewards permitted the following overweight’s
R4: Raul Silvera-Olivera (KHAMIS) + 1kg
R6: Tasha Chambers (GOODNIGHT ROMEO) +½kg



Race 1 - GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO MAIDEN PLATE (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE 3YO'S ONLY) 1000 M

ANY NEWS – blundered on jumping and lost ground; buffeted for a short distance after leaving the barriers between AUCHTERARDER which shifted out and CHATSWORTH which shifted in; raced wide for the majority.
KARMARDO – returned to the enclosure with blood present in the nasal region. A post-race veterinary examination of KAARMARDO revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils. Acting under the provisions of AR79(4), KARMARDO shall not be permitted to start in any race for a period of three months and must satisfactorily complete a 1000-metre gallop in the presence of a Steward prior to racing again.
WADE'S LEGACY - began awkwardly and shifted out; raced wide for majority; hung out rounding the final turn losing ground – warning placed.
BELINDA'S RUBI – over-raced in the middle stages; bumped and briefly steadied passing the 250 metres when TOI TOI shifted out to obtain clear running. On returning to scale rider Chris Whiteley the rider of 3rd placed BELINDA’S RUBi lodged an objection against the 2nd placed TOI TOI alleging interference near the 200 metres. After considering submissions from the respective riders and connections, and reviewing vision of the incident the Stewards dismissed the protest and declared all-clear on the judges numbers.
TOI TOI – held up to near 250 metres, and when shifting out bumped with BELINDA’S RUBI.
VAN DER WOODSEN – was a late scratching at 8:58am after Trainer My Troy Clive advise that the gelding had sustained an injury off-hind after scratching time this morning. Mr Clive was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to next racing.
AUCHTERARDER – shifted out on jumping.
ZEMOREYA – reared on jumping and lost ground. When questioned regarding the improved performance Trainer Tom Button stated that the gelding had benefited from a brief let up and had trialed well prior to today’s race and performed accordingly today.


Race 2 - RACING ON MELBOURNE CUP DAY BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 1000 M

PORRISTA (NZ) – slow into stride.
GROVERS PREDICTION – laid in and made heavy contact with the running rail near the 800 metres.
HELL OF A BENTLEY – slow into stride.
KICKOFF – Raced greenly in the early part of the home straight. Passing the 250 metres, when struck with the whip, ducked out abruptly and made heavy contact with TAMBO’S SISTER, which became badly unbalanced and lost momentum. As a consequence, TAMBO’S SISTER was forced wider and into the running of EXTRA FREE, which was also badly unbalanced and lost momentum. On returning to scale, Ashley Butler, rider of fourth-placed TAMBO’S SISTER, and Peta Edwards, rider of third-placed EXTRA FREE, lodged protests against KICKOFF being declared the second-placegetter, alleging interference near the 250 metres. After considering the evidence of the respective riders, viewing the available patrol footage and taking into account the manner and degree of interference suffered, Stewards upheld the protest by TAMBO’S SISTER (4th) against KICKOFF (2nd). In consequence of that determination, the protest by EXTRA FREE (3rd) against KICKOFF (2nd) was also upheld. KICKOFF was subsequently relegated to fourth placing and correct weight was declared on the amended placings. 10 – 8 – 12 -4. Stewards subsequently advised Ryan Wiggins, rider of KICKOFF, that in their opinion, having regard to the gelding displaying a propensity to lay out at that stage of the race, he should not have applied the whip when he did. While Stewards acknowledged that Mr Wiggins used the whip on only one occasion, he was nonetheless advised that he would be expected to exercise greater care and judgement in similar circumstances in future.
REMEMBER ROY – raced fiercely in the lead through the early.
EXTRA FREE – began very awkwardly; travelled wide with cover throughout;
HOT TORQUE INVEGAS – travelled 4-wide without cover throughout.
TAMBO'S SISTER – travelled wide throughout.
MR FERRARI – travelled wide with cover throughout.


Race 3 - LADBROKES OPEN HANDICAP 1200 M

NORTHERN PRIDE – had to briefly steady near the 150 metres when AGED CARE shifted out; held up for clear running over the final 150 metres.
OUTBACK ACTION – slow into stride.
REAL KEY – travelled wide without cover throughout
AGED CARE – travelled wide in the early and middle stages; laid out near the 150 metres and had to be straightened.
TURN BIRD – raced ungenerously throughout.

Race 4 - MITAVITE BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP 1609 M

ELLIS BEACH – when questioned regarding the run of ELLIS BEACH, which performed below market expectations, rider Aidan Holt stated that the gelding had travelled well until placed under pressure near the 400 metres however had failed to respond, with rider Holt adding that in his opinion ELLIS BEACH may have come to the end of its campaign and would benefit from a spell.
READY TIGER – lay out under pressure over the final 200 metres having to be straightened.
MEDAL (NZ) – slow into stride.


Race 5 - THANK YOU MICHELLE PAYNE RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1400 M

REDLIGHTS ON – hampered passing the 250 metres.
VOUCHERS – very slow into stride. when questioned regarding the run of VOUCHERS, which performed below market expectations, rider Ryan Wiggins stated that after being slow away the gelding had failed to come onto the bridle at any stage and was disappointing.
ELITE GATHERING – jumped in at the start and bumped heavily with LOOMING ONE.
LOOMING ONE – bumped heavily at the start; travelled wide without cover throughout.
MR SUGAR DADDY – Stewards questioned Trainer Gareth Smith regarding the improved performance of MR SUGAR DADDY which had disappointed in recent starts. In explanation Mr Smith stated that the gelding had benefited from a drop back in class and having a brief let-up.
VAGABOND PRINCE – travelled wide in the early stages before forward to lead near the 600 metres
DIAMOND LUCY – hampered passing the 150 metres and again near the 100 metres.
CRAICARO raced greenly throughout the final straight and near the 250 metres shifted in hampering REDLIGHTS ON; then near the 150 metres again shifted in hampering DIAMOND LUCY which in turn was taken inward onto REDLIGHTS ON; then passing the 100 metres again shifted in further hampering DIAMOND LUCY. Given all circumstances a warning was placed on the racing manners of CRAICARO.


Race 6 - HYGAIN CLASS 4 HANDICAP 1200 M

BETTERLUCKNEXTTIME – Apprentice Fiona Sandkuhl was reprimanded under AR131(a) after permitting to shift inward when not clear when improving forward to lead near the 1,000 metres, this resulting in STOKOMO having to be steadied.
KHUMBILA – bounded in the air at the start, then checked; over-raced in the early stages and near the 1,000 shifted out off the heels of STOKOMO.
CARPACCIO - checked on jumping away; over-raced through the early stages.; held up rounding the turn until near the 250 metres.
STOKOMO – checked on jumping away; steadied passing the 1,000 metres when inside BETTERLUCKNEXTTIME which shifted in when not clear.
SUPER FREEZE – over-raced through the early and middle stages.
BRAVE AGENDA – was declared a late scratching at 9:25am after Trainer Rhien Sewell advised that the mare had sustained a laceration to the right hind leg. Mr Sewell was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to BRAVE AGENDA next racing.
RUSSIAN SUMMER – jumped awkwardly then shifted out abruptly simultaneously as KOBAYASTAR jumped inwards with this resulting LOOK AT ROSA; WHIRLWIND; STOKOMO KHUMBILA all being checked.
GARINION RIGH – held up rounding the final turn, and passing the 200 metres bumped with KOBAYASTAR when being taken into clear running.
KOBAYASTAR – jumped in at the start.
WHIRLWIND - checked on jumping away.
LOOK AT ROSA - checked on jumping away.




STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
R6: Apprentice Fiona Sandkuhl [AR131(a)] – shifting ground 1,000 metres.

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
WADES’S LEGACY; TOI TOI; EXOLENT CHOICE; HELL OF A BENTLEY; TURN BIRD; MEDAL.

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
R1: VAN DER WOODSEN – veterinary clearance required.
R2: KICKOFF – warned racing manners.
R5: CRAICARO – warned racing manners.
R6: BRAVE AGENDA - veterinary clearance required.

Bleeders
R1: KARMARDO

Protests
R1: BELINDA'S RUBI (3rd) vs. TOI TOI (2nd) – dismissed.
R2: TAMBO’S SISTER (4th) & EXTRA FREE (3rd) vs. KICKOFF (2ND) – both upheld.

Late scratching’s
R1: VAN DER WOODSEN at 8:58am (injured)
R6: BRAVE AGENDA at 9:25am (injured)

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.


Up Dated.