J. Potter replaced T. Barras as the rider of MISS VODKA owing to T. Barras being indisposed through injury.

MAHOGANY DANCER (P. Gatt) was slow to jump.

TROLL (J. Holder) raced greenly in the early stages of the event.

In the vicinity of the 500 metres FIERY PROSPECTOR (J. Maund) was inclined to lay out and got its head up.

D. Carney, the rider of UPMARKET STAR, reported that on jumping away he lost his off side iron and had not regained the iron until in the vicinity of the 800 metres.

On jumping away CLAY ROSE (B. Vale) shifted in and inconvenienced SHORE LORD (B. Neville). Shortly afterwards CLAY ROSE shifted out and brushed NAME IT (J. Potter).

Near the 800 metres SHYALI (B. Claridge) was obliged to steady to avoid the heels of BILLY BUSTER (D. Carney), which shifted in. D. Carney was reminded of his obligations when shifting ground.

Approaching the 400 metres SMOOTH AS SILK (J. Holder) was obliged to steady off the heels of SHORE LORD (B. Neville), which shifted out.

Inside the 300 metres SHORE LORD (B. Neville), which was inclined to lay out, shifted out and away from SMOOTH AS SILK (J. Holder), which had improved on its inside.

Inside the 200 metres SMOOTH AS SILK (J. Holder) shifted out and brushed NAME IT (J. Potter).

J. Holder, the rider of SMOOTH AS SILK, reported that he had expected the filly to race mid field early and that it had not shown the speed he had expected. He explained that, in the vicinity of the 600 metres, he had taken the option to shift to the inside otherwise he would have risked being sprayed wider at the entrance to the straight. Approaching the 400 metres a run had become available to him inside CLAY ROSE (B. Vale), however, shortly after attempting that run, he was aware of SHORE LORD (B. Neville) commencing to shift out and for that reason, had elected not to persevere and shifted in to the rail. J. Holder added that thereafter he was able to obtain clear running and his mount responded to his riding.

IOTA OF LUCK (J. Potter) was slow to jump.

REGAL OCCASION (R. Price) jumped away awkwardly.

Near the 800 metres MAAVEER (C. Lindop), whilst being steadied, shifted in onto SIMPLY SUAVE (D. Cleaver), which was inclined to lay in resulting in SIMPLY SUAVE tightening ANOTHER FARE (J. Bowditch), which was hampered.

Inside the 200 metres SHORE GENIE (D. Carney) was disappointed when attempting to improve between MAAVEER (C. Lindop), which shifted in, and JACK HAVOC (J. Holder), which shifted out.

MITOBY (C. Buchiw) was inclined to lay in and race greenly when under pressure over the concluding stages.

SEPARATOR (S. Price) jumped away awkwardly.

Near the 1300 metres SEPARATOR (S. Price), which had commenced to race ungenerously, shifted in, tightening QUITE EASY (T. Creek) taking that filly in onto the hindquarters of MOONEY (Darren Holland), which was unbalanced for a short distance. In consequence FREELANCE (J. Bowditch), which had commenced to race keenly, got its head up whilst being steadied.

Approximately 100 metres after the finish of this event, C. Lever was dislodged from WINDANA, which, in being checked, shifted out and clipped the heels of SEPARATOR (S. Price), which had been taken in when tightened by QUITE EASY (T. Creek), which in turn had been taken in by WHAT A SPUR (D. Tootell) as that colt was obliged to check to avoid the heels of the winner, THUNDER CREEK (M. Neilson), which had been permitted to shift in several horses after passing the finish. After considering the evidence taken from all riders, Stewards adjourned this inquiry to a date to be fixed to allow M. Neilson’s Master, Mr. B. Dunn, to attend.

Subsequent to this race C. Lever was examined by the Club’s Doctor and passed fit to fulfil his remaining engagement.

CROSS ME NOT (J. Bowditch) was slow to jump.

J. Bowditch, the rider of CROSS ME NOT, reported his saddle shifted on jumping away resulting in him being disadvantaged over the concluding stages.

Inside the 400 metres D. Azis, the rider of PAIGE OF GLORY, lost his whip. D. Azis was fined $100 under ARR 137(a) for carelessness. In assessing the penalty, Stewards took into account D. Azis’ record.

Inside the 200 metres NICE IN TIGHTS (J. Maund) and EUCLID (M. Hoppo) were both hampered as a result of ELLAWARREN LAD (B. Claridge) shifting out and RATHER GAZE (P. Gatt) shifting in under riding.

J. Maund, the rider of NICE IN TIGHTS, reported that he had been concerned with the action of his mount over the concluding stages. Subsequent to the race a veterinary inspection of the gelding revealed it was exhibiting signs of heat stress.

Near the 800 metres LORD MILN (C. Lindop), whilst being steadied, got its head up and commenced to race ungenerously.

Shortly after LORD MILN (C. Lindop) got its head up and was obliged to steady off the heels of FUSING (D. O’Heare), which shifted in. D. O’Heare was reprimanded and advised in future to give riders on his inside the room to which they are entitled.

Subsequent to the race a veterinary inspection of LIKE ALESHIA revealed no visible abnormalities.

J. Potter replaced T. Barras as he rider of MISS PUBLICITY.

MR. VANDAAM (D. Tootell) jumped away awkwardly.

L. Smith, the rider of JACK OF SPADES, reported that gelding got its tongue over the bit during the event.

Racing to the 100 metres MISS PUBLICITY (J. Potter) shifted out and tightened COLOMBO KING (C. Bryant) onto SARAGAT (J. Lyon), which in turn was taken out to MARSCMER (R. Faehr) resulting in those three runners being inconvenienced.

Subsequent to the race a veterinary inspection of VERDOT revealed no visible abnormalities.

M. Neilson replaced H. McKechnie as the rider of SURMATO owing to H. McKechnie being injured in a track work fall.

BENARBER (J. O’Connor) was slow to jump.

On jumping away JUROMA (T. Creek) shifted out and brushed MANATOBA (J. Holder).

Shortly after entering the straight NORTH CORNER (S. Price), JUROMA (T. Creek) and FREAK OUT (Darren Holland) were held up for a short distance.

Near the 300 metres AMA’S SON (C. Bryant) shifted in resulting in JUROMA (T. Creek) being taken in and obliged to check away from the heels of HI TAIL (D. Carney). In consequence MANATOBA (J. Holder) was obliged to steady off the heels of JUROMA.

From approximately the 300 metres MANATOBA (J. Holder) was unable to obtain clear ground.

BENARBER lost its near hind plate during the event.

RATIONS sustained a laceration to its off side cannon during the race.

YANA’S CHOICE (J. O’Connor) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in brushing RONDA’S GIRL (J. Marks).

Near the 1300 metres YANA’S CHOICE (J. O’Connor) was forced to check to avoid the heels of BRIGHT BEAD (S. Price), which had commenced to race ungenerously, and shifted in away from SURE BET (T. Creek), which shifted in. T. Creek was advised that in future he should give riders on his inside the room to which they are entitled.

Near the 700 metres LUCKY DANCER (P. Gatt) was obliged to steady when tightened by SCENARAJA (M. Hoppo), which rolled in.

Near the 400 metres LUCKY DANCER (P. Gatt) clipped the heels of YANA’S CHOICE (J. O’Connor), which shifted out, resulting in P. Gatt becoming severely unbalanced and as a result LUCKY DANCER was eased out of the event. J. O’Connor pleaded guilty to a charge of Careless Riding under ARR 137(a) in that he had ridden YANA’S CHOICE out across the running of LUCKY DANCER. J. O’Connor was suspended from riding for a period of seven days to commence at midnight on Wednesday, 13^th February and to expire at midnight on Wednesday, 20^th February 2002. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into consideration the exceptional riding record of J. O’Connor, who had not been suspended for Careless Riding since August 1993.

Inside the 300 metres SPAGET (C. Lindop), which had commenced to weaken, was obliged to steady when tightened by KULCURNA (R. Price). KULCURNA continued to shift in and contacted BRIGHT BEAD (S. Price) resulting in both runners becoming unbalanced for a short distance.

Shortly afterwards RONDA’S GIRL (J. Marks) shifted in under riding tightening KULCURNA (R. Price) onto BRIGHT BEAD (S. Price), which was taken in onto FINE STEM (W. Kerford), resulting in that mare’s hindquarters being turned in. J. Marks and R. Price were advised that in future to shift ground only when entitled to do so.

Approaching the finish LEMONADE PARADE (S. Cahill) shifted in under riding and tightened RONDA’S GIRL (J. Marks), which was inconvenienced. S. Cahill was reminded of his obligations when shifting ground.

Subsequent to the race a veterinary inspection of LUCKY DANCER revealed no visible abnormalities.

J. Bowditch, the rider of VISIBLE HALO, reported that gelding had made respiratory noises over the concluding stages. Subsequent to the race VISIBLE HALO was inspected by the Club’s Veterinary Surgeon who advised the gelding should be subjected to an endoscopic examination. Mr. B. Papazaharoudakis, the trainer of the gelding, was advised that an endoscopic examination and a Veterinary Certificate of Fitness would be required before VISIBLE HALO is accepted for in a future event.

Race 2 SHYALI (winner)
Race 4 THUNDER CREEK (winner)
Race 6 OXFORD REGENT (winner)
Race 8 DOUBLE LEGEND (winner)

Mr. R. Jolly, the Trainer of VERDOT, informed the Stewards that a further examination of the mare on Thursday morning, 14^th February 2002, revealed it was sore in both fore feet.

The Stewards Room