2015 - WEEK 4: MUDLARKS MISS OUT, BIRCHLEY STRIKES IN NZ, THE COBALT ISSUE PLUS STEWARDS REPORTS
By Graham Potter | Thursday, January 29, 2015
2015 - WEEK 4 (JAN 22- JAN 28):
MUDLARKS ALMOST HAD THEIR DAY:
On Thursday last week the weather forecast suggested that mudlarks were going to be given their chance over the weekend, but the weather gods were just teasing those hopefuls.
The rain just kept coming. The persistent downpour washed away the Friday meeting at Ipswich and also soon drowned any hopes of the Saturday meetings going ahead at Doomben and the Gold Coast, with the other Saturday ‘regular’ Toowoomba not even being carded due to track maintenance ... leaving Thangool as Queensland’s only Saturday offering.
From there, things did go according to schedule with Beaudesert (on Sunday) and the four Monday “Australia Day’ meetings providing some consolation to the battered schedule, bearing in mind that Queensland racing normally has a ‘Monday race-free’ policy.
In the end, seven of the ten scheduled meetings went ahead, which was a positive outcome that few would have bet on during the Friday’s prolonged downpour.
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THE DOUBLE B BRAND – BIRCHLEY AND BROWN – STRIKE GOLD IN NZ
On Sunday, while Queenslanders were finding their way back into the sunshine, the state was claiming a big victory in New Zealand, courtesy of the Hardline, Liam Birchley, Damian Browne combination.
Birchley has a long established reputation in terms of selecting and preparing youngsters for the rich ‘sales specific’ million dollar races such as Karaka and Magic Millions.
In most people’s minds Birchley arguably build that reputation more on the back of the Magic Millions brand, where he always seems to have a real, live contender, than at Karaka ... but in terms of winning returns Karaka has been the happy hunting ground for Birchley, who leads most of his Queensland counterparts in terms of being able to set up two bites at the big money cherry on opposite sides of the Tasman.
On Sunday Birchley won New Zealand's richest race, the $1 million Karaka Million, for the second time. This time it was Hardline taking the honours. (In 2010 Birchley won the race with Sister Havana).
It was nail-biting stuff with Hardline having to overcome the disadvantage of a slow pace and traffic problems before unleashing his winning effort which carried him past Selfie in the closing stages after the latter looked to have the race in his grasp once he hit the lead.
In was an inch perfect ride from Browne, as most pundits have come to expect from the quality horseman, and while Birchley must take every credit for turning the horse out in the sort of condition which allowed him to put his explosive acceleration to its best use, it was ultimately perhaps Browne’s calmness in the saddle that most helped carry the day.
"I brought 40 owners over with me,” said Birchley after the race. "We've got a bit more firepower now to go shopping for another one for next year.”
You can bet he will be back.
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COBALT IDENTITIES:
If a charge is laid and sustained against a trainer whose horse has exceeded the colbalt threshold of 200 micrograms per litre of urine, the consequences can be very serious indeed.
Sounds ominous enough for the guilty, but life is never that simple.
A few protracted cases and suddenly the whole training fraternity is under scrutiny. The line between those who do what is right and those who allegedly don’t has been blurred significantly in the past couple of weeks.
Racing is a Premier League player when it comes to ‘rumours’ and the pending cobalt cases are the stuff on which gossipmongers thrive. It seems no trainer is safe from suspicion. No stable safe from innuendo.
At the start of this week Racing Queensland's chief integrity officer Wade Birch stated, “I have to make a decision whether the results should be made public after they return from Perth or after the final tests in Sydney or Hong Kong.”
"It is a case of weighing public interest against the interests of trainers and owners. We have to get the balance correct.”
Four days later the Courier-mail reported that ‘numbers but not names will be announced when Racing Queensland receives the results of the first batch of samples kept for retrospective cobalt testing.’
Birch confirmed that point. “We will be making the results known but at this stage we won’t be naming anyone until any irregularity is confirmed by second tests as per legislation.”
And when might that be?
Can’t tell us because of the high volume of samples being tested!
Well that may suit some people but it will only frustrate the majority ... and I can concede that Birch and his colleagues, who have to follow strict protocol, might be as frustrated as anyone ... but that doesn’t help the situation.
Integrity and transparency are words that racing’s hierarchy like to toss around when it suits them.
Currently both of those lofty ideals are arguably being severely compromised by the lack of specific information on every one of the alleged elevated cobalt readings as that vacuum impacts on the greater trainer population.
Red tape, legislation ... I understand, but surely that is meant to be in place to protect the good name of racing and its innocent stakeholders rather than create a situation, such as the current state of play, which is of little value to the industry at all.
Something to work on.
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STEWARDS’ REPORT EXTRACTS:
WHEN YOU NEVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE:
RED ‘N' BROWN - The start was delayed after the horse became fractious in the barriers. After being examined by the veterinary surgeon the horse was cleared to start. Slow to begin. Severely checked near the 900m and took no further competitive part in the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a laceration to the inside of the off-side hock and abrasions to the head. (Sunshine Coast January 26 – Race 3).
PUNISHED FOR LACK OF VIGOUR:
MOE'S TAVERN - Rider M. Dracos was found guilty of a charge under AR. 137(b) in that he failed to ride his mount out approaching the end of the race with sufficient vigour, specifically the portion of the race between the 100m and the 30m. Jockey Dracos's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 2 weeks, to commence at midnight on Saturday 31 January 2015 and expire at midnight on Saturday 14 February 2015.
Whilst stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that jockey Dracos's actions did cost his mount first place, they were of the view that his actions did cast some doubt as to whether or not MOE'S TAVERN should have won the race. (Beaudesert January 25 – Race 2).
THE FINE TIMELINE FOR WEIGHT LOSS:
When Jockey R. McMahon (CRAIGLEA RUSH) was overweight, Jockey C. McIver was substituted. Jockey McMahon explained that, due to the inclement weather and transport difficulties, he was later than expected arriving on course resulting in him being unable to lose the required weight. Stewards accepted his explanation. (Mackay January 22 – Race 2).
A WARNING ...
ZIETTA was withdrawn at 2.31 pm when unable to be loaded. As the horse has similarly offended on numerous occasions, Mr Nugent was advised that the mare would be required to perform satisfactorily in two consecutive jump-outs in the presence of a steward prior to being permitted to race again. (Ipswich January 28 – Race 5).
... AND A LIFE SENTENCE:
TRAIL BOSS - Bled from both nostrils during the race. As this was the second occasion on which the gelding has bled, the horse now will incur a lifetime bar from racing. (Sunshine Coast January 26 – Race 4). *TRAIL BOSS ended his career as an eleven time winner, with seventeen minor placings, from forty-two starts with stake earnings of $194 400.
CLEARED TO START BUT HAD NO FINISH:
The start of this race was rescheduled to 3.04 pm as a result of the fall in the previous race. The start was further delayed when GHERARDINI and CHARCOAL MELODY broke through the barriers. Both horses were examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to start. (Sunshine Coast January 26 – Race 4). *CHARCOAL MELODY finished second last and GHERARDINI finished badly tailed off.
BACKING UP:
Trainer Bryan Dixon brought off a rare double at the weekend. On Saturday he took DIXIE MISS to Thangool where the five-year-old saluted at odds of $15. He then went straight to Taroom on Sunday where DIXIE MISS again took the honours at a starting price of $6.The mare was ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Hannah Phillips on both occasions.
DIXIE MISS - Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after racing the previous day at Thangool (Race 4), and was subsequently passed fit to start by the veterinary surgeon. (Taroom January 25 – Race 4).
NO IDEA ...
CHILLDOWN - Was slow to begin. Rounding the home turn, shifted out wider on the track to obtain clear running. When questioned in regards to the improved performance of the gelding, Trainer G. Schrader stated that he was at a loss to explain Chilldown's improved performance (Taroom January 25 – Race 3). *Chilldown had finished 11.50 lengths (at Chinchilla) and 9.50 lengths (at Bell) behind the winner in his previous two starts of this preparation.
... AND ONE WHO HAD AN EXPLANATION:
BILLABONG BIRD - Raced wide in the early stages until the 1000m where it was permitted to stride forward to the lead. Inquiry into improved performance. Trainer G. Blades indicated at the horse's most recent start the race was run at a very slow pace and developed into a sprint home which he believed did not suit the horse. He felt the mare benefitted from the step up in distance of today's event and was more suited to being permitted to stride forward in the middle stages. The explanation was noted. (Sunshine Coast January 26 – Race 6).
REMEMBER PARTING:
Trainer Glen Richardson hasn’t had the best of luck with PARTING at the barriers recently. You may remember last week PARTING made the stewards report when he got left behind at the start after which correct weight was delayed to determine if afforded a fair start. After taking evidence stewards found the filly had not been fully loaded into its outside barrier when the start was effected. Subsequently PARTING was declared a non-runner. This time around, at Kilcoy, he was under staters orders but again had the starting stall blues and ultimately finished 11.20 lengths behind the winner CLIFFORD, PARTING’s stable companion.
PARTING - Stewards permitted rider half kilo over the allotted weight. Stood flatfooted at the start and lost considerable ground. Trainer G. Richardson was advised that PARTING must perform to the satisfaction of stewards in an official trial before being permitted to start again. (Kilcoy January 26 – Race 4).
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FALLS:
An inquiry was adjourned into the reasons for Eljetem (L. Dittman) and Atarartzi (R. McMahon) falling near the 900m and RED ‘N' BROWN (J. Byrne) being severely interfered with after passing the 900m. Evidence was taken from apprentice B. Grylls, rider of Bowler Lane, jockey T. Harrison, rider of Noosa Heads, jockey K. Wharton, rider of Larebil, and jockey J. Byrne.
The matter was adjourned to enable L. Dittman and R. McMahon, who were both injured as a result of the fall, to be present to give evidence. (Sunshine Coast January 26 – Race 3).
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SUSPENSIONS:
From Kilcoy (January 26):
Rider B. Powell (MARREW MIA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a) in that he allowed his mount to shift in over the concluding stages whilst under hard riding when insufficiently clear of BIONDA DAZZLER, resulting in that runner blundering after being forced in and clipping the heels of DEAR MARY. B. Powell's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 6 meetings to commence midnight 26 January and to expire midnight 6 February 2015.
From Beaudesert (January 25):
Rider M. Dracos (MOE’S TAVERN) was found guilty of a charge under AR. 137(b) in that he failed to ride his mount out approaching the end of the race with sufficient vigour, specifically the portion of the race between the 100m and the 30m. Jockey Dracos's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 2 weeks, to commence at midnight on Saturday 31 January 2015 and expire at midnight on Saturday 14 February 2015.
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FINES:
From Ipswich (January 28):
Race 9. M. Cahill - $200 - weighed in overweight - AR. 145
From Kilcoy (January 26):
Race 3 - Trainer C. O'Neill - Incorrect gear - $100 - AR140B
From Beaudesert (January 25):
Race 1. Tnr. D. Duryea - $100 - late rider declaration - LR. 67
Race 1. Tnr. B. Dais - $100 - late rider declaration - LR. 67
From Mackay (January 22):
Supplementary: Trainer T. Cook $200: Improper conduct (A.R. 175(q) )Mackay on 24/12/2014
Race 5: App. L. Attard $100 - fail to fulfill engagement for NOBODY'S BOY(A.R.85B).
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