GENERAL:

Race 7: San Miguel Doncaster 1600m:

Hire was withdrawn at 7.17am on veterinary advice. The Stewards ordered that all moneys invested on Hire after 9.30am Tuesday 26 March 2002 be refunded and the following deductions in the dollar from the face value of tickets be made regarding pre-post betting: 4¢ win, 5¢ place. Riders G. Boss, G. Childs and D. Oliver were spoken to concerning being in breach of the Rules of Racing in regards to offering congratulatory gestures and the practice of removing their helmets prior to the weigh.

RACE 1: San Miguel Adrian Knox Stakes 2000m:

Thundercup was slow to begin. At the start Heads Of Agreement shifted out taking Factional out on to Duchess Talaria, which in turn ran out across the heels of Pirouettes. Making the first turn Laetitia had to be steadied when racing tight to the inside of Republic Lass. At the entrance to the straight Heads Of Agreement had to steady off the heels of Pixies, which shifted out. C. Brown (Factional) was reprimanded for shifting out near the 300m causing Thundercup to be hampered. Duchess Talaria, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Pirouettes had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight.

RACE 2: San Miguel Sapphire Stakes 1200m:

A veterinary examination of Gentle Genius, which was withdrawn from its engagement last Saturday due to a throat infection, passed the mare fit to start. Mica's Pride was slow to begin. Fair Embrace ran out badly under pressure in the straight.

RACE 3: San Miguel Chairman's Handicap 2400m:

On jumping Gillespie and Bondi Iceberg were tightened for room between Armstrong and Homewrecker, both of which shifted ground. Approaching the 200m Asia was tightened for room between Gillespie and Henderson Bay (D. McLellan), which shifted out. D. McLellan was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. J. Patton (Homewrecker) was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in passing the 200m resulting in Ebony Honor being taken across the running of Rapida, which had to be steadied. Hail, which had been held up for a run in the early part of the straight, had to be checked when disappointed for a run between Plea and Armstrong, which shifted in. Grampians had difficulty obtaining a clear run in the early part of the straight. Close to the line Grampians had to be steadied off the heels of Armstrong. D. McLellan (Henderson Bay) was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in approaching the first turn resulting in Ebony Honor being hampered and taken in onto Steel Phoenix, which had to be eased. C. Munce (Manner Hill) reported that passing the 1600m his mount commenced to overrace and went harder than he had wished from that point. Mr A. Denham, representing trainer Mr J. Denham, reported that Gillespie, which again raced disappointingly, will now be spelled. Trainer Mrs G. Waterhouse advised that Swiss Echo, which raced disappointingly, will now be spelled. A post-race veterinary examination of Rapida, which weakened in the straight revealed no abnormality.

RACE 4: San Miguel William Inglis Heroic Championship 1300m:

An objection was lodged by C. Brown, rider of 2nd placegetter, Half Hennessy, against Pillaging (D. Oliver) being declared the winner alleging interference over the concluding stages. After taking evidence from the parties concerned and viewing the video the Stewards dismissed the objection when they found that whilst over the final 20m Pillaging shifted out and brushed Half Hennessy, they could not be comfortably satisfied that had that incident not occurred Half Hennessy would have beaten Pillaging home. Delusional and Pillaging were slow to begin. Majorette began awkwardly. Emerging Star shifted in at the start and hampered Architrave. Delusional was held up for a run in the early part of the straight.

RACE 5: San Miguel AJC Australian Derby 2400m:

The Stewards received an application from rider G. Colless seeking a winning or losing ride fee in relation to an engagement he purported to hold for Another Warrior. Following acknowledgment from the owners of Another Warrior that G. Colless in fact had held an engagement, the Stewards ruled under AR8(ll) that G. Colless be entitled to a winning or losing ride fee. Trainer Mr J. Morish was fined $50 for presenting Navy Blue in the enclosure without the nose roll, part of its declared gear (AR8(e)). Grey Song got its head up and overraced in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion Foxborough laid in resulting in Ustinov and Another Warrior being crowded for room. Passing the 2000m Prince Of War commenced to race fiercely and had to be checked off the heels of Carnegie Express. Pentastic, which was following, also commenced to race fiercely and shifted out taking My Tally wider. Prince Of War then continued to overrace for some distance. Grey Song was inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight. When questioned, J. Cassidy (Carnegie Express) stated that for some distance approaching the 1000m he had been inconvenienced when My Tally, which he was following, was backing off the speed. He said that to have gone go the rails and followed Valedict in the circumstances would have led him to be dictated to and, therefore, he elected to stride around the two leaders so that Carnegie Express could settle and dictate terms.

Clay Shaker was examined behind the barriers and passed fit to start. Clay Shaker and Century Kid were slow to begin. Near the 1000m The Big Chill was tightened onto the hindquarters of Polygram by Bradshaw, which was taken in by Centre Fire (G. Colless). In the incident the pressure to Polygram had the effect of turning that horse out across the running of The Big Chill compounding the tightening to The Big Chill. The Stewards accepted that G. Colless had made every effort to prevent his mount shifting in at that point. Rounding the home turn Donna Natalia and Clay Shaker raced tight to the inside of Mistegic. Approaching the 200m The Big Chill, which had been held up for a run, shifted out but was then disappointed for a run between Padstow and Donna Natalia, which shifted out. C. Brown (The Big Chill) pleaded guilty to a charge under AR118C(c) of having weighed out in a non-approved body protector in an endeavour to make the weight. C. Brown was fined $1,000.

RACE 7: San Miguel Doncaster 1600m:

P. Harvey (Old Comrade) was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in shortly after the start taking Weasel Will in onto Make Me A Miracle. At the 1000m Hey Pronto had to come back off the heels of Ugachaka, which in turn was steadied off the heels of Defier. In this incident Ebony Night was awkward on the heels of Hey Pronto for some distance. When Shogun Lodge (G. Boss) shifted out at the 200m Hosannah had to steady and Huge Demand was taken out onto Gordo and Hey Pronto. G. Boss was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Dash For Cash lost its near-fore plate in running.

Rinehart was slow to begin. About the 800m Academe got its head up when being restrained off the heels of I Rock My World. Near the 100m Red Hannigan and Gabfest came together as Gabfest shifted in to the inside of the heels of Arlington Road to improve. G. Boss (Academe) was reprimanded for shifting out and making heavy contact with On A High (L. Beasley) on the home turn, resulting in L. Beasley becoming unbalanced. Palais, which was following, was hampered in consequence. A short distance later Jai's Jump shifted out, which resulted in Academe being taken out further onto On A High causing On A High and Bosworth to be hampered. Close to the finish line Academe shifted out and bumped On A High. Over the concluding stages Rinehart had to be steadied off the heels of Mississippi River. When questioned concerning the disappointing performance of Barkada, S. Seamer stated that in his opinion the horse raced like a tired horse. A post-race veterinary examination of Barkada revealed no abnormality. A swab sample was taken. Trainer Mr L. Freedman will be contacted regarding the immediate racing future of Barkada.

Fines:
Race 5: Trainer J. Morish (Navy Blue) fined $50 - present horse without declared gear (AR8(e)).
Race 6: C. Brown (The Big Chill) fined $1,000 - weigh out in non-approved body protector (AR118C(c)).

Reprimands:
Race 1: C. Brown (Factional) - shifting out (AR137(a)).
Race 3: D. McLellan (Henderson Bay) - shifting out (AR137(a)).
Race 3: J. Patton (Homewrecker) - shifting in (AR137(a)).
Race 7: P. Harvey (Old Comrade) - shifting in (AR137(a)).
Race 8: G. Boss (Academe) - shifting out (AR137(a)).

Severe Reprimands:
Race 3: D. McLellan (Henderson Bay) - shifting in (AR137(a)).

The Stewards Room