Riding Changes:

Race 1 - CONCEPT SPORTS INTERNATIONAL PLATE - 1200 metres:

Prior to the event "Balencia" was examined by the Club's Veterinary Surgeon at the request of its trainer, Mr. T. Hughes, Jnr., and passed fit to run.

"La Quinta Gold" was unable to be placed in its stall, and "Took a Chance", which had been placed in the stall outside of "La Quinta Gold", became fractious and reared. Acting on a report from the Club's Veterinary Surgeon the Stewards withdrew "Took a Chance:" from the event at 7.03 p.m.

As the Starter was unable to place "La Quinta Gold" in its starting stall, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of "La Quinta Gold" at 7.03 p.m.

Subsequently the Stewards ordered that all monies wagered on "La Quinta Gold" and "Took a Chance" be refunded, and that all successful bets on horses prior to the time of withdrawal of "La Quinta Gold" and "Took a Chance" be subject to the following deductions in the dollar from the face value of the ticket: Win Bets: 33 cents; Place Bets: 28 cents; Winning Concession Bets: 32 cents, and Doubles Bets: 33 cents. All monies bet after the Stewards' declaration of withdrawal were ordered to be paid at face value of the ticket.

After questioning Mr. Chris Gibbs, foreman for Mr. G. Rogerson, the Stewards notified Mr. Gibbs that due to the filly's unruly behaviour "La Quinta Gold" is not permitted to start until such time as it performs to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial, at which time it must obtain a barrier test certificate.

Shortly after the start "Balencia" was hampered when tightened for room between "Magravine", which initially shifted out, and "Zembu", which then shifted in.

"Zembu" and "Magravine" raced tight passing the 1000 metres.

Near the 500 metres "Balencia" was tightened on to the hindquarters of "Magravine" by "Somhairle", which shifted in slightly.

Shortly after this incident "Balencia" had to be checked off the heels of "Somhairle".

On the home turn "Somhairle", which had commenced to give ground, was inconvenienced when tightened slightly between "Magravine" and "Cocktail Evening", which improved on its outside.

Race 2 - QANTAS CLUB HANDICAP - 1500 metres:

Running to the 800 metres "Careyes" shifted in away from "Zedimbi", and made contact with the hindquarters of "Ruanaidh" and became unbalanced.

Near the 100 metres N. Rawiller, rider of "Careyes", dropped his whip.

When questioned S. Arnold, rider of "Zedimbi", stated that the gelding did not begin as well as he had expected and, as "Zedimbi" had led at its three previous starts, he elected to ride forward as he did not believe that there was going to be any pace in the race, but all horses on his inside improved, which resulted in him being trapped wide rounding the first turn until after passing the 800 metres. Arnold added that due to the hard run in the early stages of the race "Zedimbi" weakened over the concluding stages.

S. Baster, rider of "Ruanaidh", could offer no explanation for the gelding's poor performance, and stated that after being tightened for room near the 800 metres the gelding gave ground until the home turn.

Race 3 - THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS VICTORIA PLATE - 1200 metres:

"Amandine" jumped away awkwardly, and lost ground.

On the home turn "La Zoffany" had to check when tightened for room between "Suzy Grey", which shifted in slightly, and "Rory's Jane", which shifted out slightly after being brushed by "Lady Marion", which also shifted out at that stage. As no one rider was fully responsible, the Stewards took no action.

At the entrance to the straight "Lady Marion" was hampered when tightened for room between "Haste ye Back", which had improved on its inside, and "Rory's Jane", which shifted in slightly away from "Suzy Grey".

Race 4 - QANTAS AIRWAYS HANDICAP - 1000 metres:

On arrival at the course "Street Mate" was examined by the Club's Veterinary Surgeon and passed fit to run.

On jumping away "Seddenga" and "Beetee" bumped. "Seddenga" and "Beetee" then came together on a number of occasions in the early stages of the race, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.

Near the 800 metres "La Tonkiki" had to be checked when tightened for room by "Seddenga", which hung in away from "Curragh Star", which shifted in slightly to avoid the heels of "Lorette".

"Seddenga" then hung in for the remainder of the race, and N. Callow was unable to ride "Seddenga" in his normal manner.

"Beetee", which was following "La Tonkiki", had to be checked off the heels of that filly. "Beetee" then became unbalanced, and raced ungenerously for a short distance.

In the straight "Curragh Star", which was hanging in, shifted in near the 100 metres, and bumped "Lorette".

Subsequent to the event the Club's Veterinary Surgeon reported that "Seddenga" was lame in the off fore leg. Mr. J. Edwards, trainer of the filly, was notified that prior to it racing again he must produce a veterinary clearance in respect of it.

Race 5 - QANTAS CARLYON STAKES - 1200 metres:

On the home turn "Royal Code" was hampered when tightened on to the hindquarters of "Ustinov" by "Mr. Murphy", which shifted out slightly under pressure. P. Payne, rider of "Mr. Murphy", was notified to make every effort to keep his mount straight when in similar circumstances.

Race 6 - WEDGWOOD VASE - 1600 metres:

On the home turn "Piper Star" shifted out and brushed "More Action".

"More Action" was then inconvenienced when tightened slightly between "Panoramic Lad", which had been temporarily held up and shifted out slightly, and "Pindi Ridge", which shifted in slightly.

Race 7 - QANTAS FREQUENT FLYER HANDICAP - 3000 metres:

Rhys McLeod, rider of "Mystic Outlaw", was found guilty of a charge of negligence under Rule 8(e), the negligence being that he failed to satisfy himself of the distance of the race when he rode in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Handicap - 3000 metres - thinking it to be a 1200-metre race, which led to a breach of Australian Rule of Racing 135(b), the particulars being that he rode his mount, "Mystic Outlaw", along from the 600 metres on the first occasion, and vigorously rounding the home turn and in the home straight on the first occasion, and then attempting to pull the gelding up after passing the winning post on the first occasion, riding consistent with a 1200-metre race. Rhys McLeod was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence at midnight on Monday, 28^th January, and to expire at midnight on Thursday, 28^th March, 2002.

SWAB SAMPLES were taken from the winners of all races tonight.

FINES/EXPLANATIONS: Mr. James Riley, trainer of "Kabila", was fined $50 for having presented the gelding in the mounting yard without blinkers when "Kabila" is a blinkered horse.

The Stewards Room