Queensland Racing stewards not probing far enough after races

There are concerns surrounding stewards in Queensland for allowing questionable performances to go unchallenged. Plus Nathan Exelby’s highs and lows from a big weekend of racing.

Hugh Bowman on Farnan wins the Inglis Silver Slipper Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

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Punters are hot under the collar about the lack of questions being asked by stewards in Queensland at the moment and other racing incidents going unreported.

Paul Daily from Ratings2Win says the number of failures and/or improved performances that go unchallenged is not good enough.

Daily, who has a database dating back years documenting par times over all distances and sectionals, was stunned the panel didn’t ask a single question of jockeys after one race a few weeks back.

The winner, who was backed from $17-$10, led by several lengths in the middle stages, but was still carving out sectionals that were many lengths below the average for that grade of horse.

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Hugh Bowman on Farnan wins the Inglis Silver Slipper Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“At least ask a question or two of the jockeys to explain themselves,” Daily said.

“It doesn’t give you a lot of confidence when something like that goes unnoticed.

“I have halved my turnover on Queensland racing in recent times because I can’t be comfortable when these types of incidents are being brushed over.”

Kevin Kemp was asked to explain the improved performance of Naval Strike on Saturday, and noted it was checked in the final stages of its previous run – a fact that went undocumented in the stewards’ report from that day.

Farnan’s first-up win in Sydney on Saturday also served as a reminder of the abominable handling by QRIC of the fitness cloud he had over him heading into the Magic Millions. Vets had discovered a potential issue more than 24 hours before punters were alerted.

Meanwhile, there are murmurings of things being far from amicable up on top of the Toowoomba range following a recent dust-up.

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One thing stewards didn’t miss was breaches of the whip rule at Warwick on Friday.

The panel handed out six fines – up to $300 – and issued another nine reprimands through the day for breaches of the rule prior to the 100m mark.

Gold Coast stewards also dished out three fines on Saturday, while Emma Ljung copped a $500 penalty at Toowoomba on Saturday night and three others also earned the ire of stipes.

But at Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting, not a single jockey gained a mention.

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An inquiry will be held this week into Nathan Day’s ride on Helsun at Doomben on January 16.

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Tagaloa took out the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfied. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Ladbrokes weekend Report

Best Result: Tagaloa, Caulfield, Race 7: Hardly held a dime for him and he was a huge result.

Worst Result: Adelaide Ace, Caulfield, Race 2: Punters struck early with this guy running out a dominant winner.

Best backed: Hanseatic, Caulfield, Race 7: Despite concerns over barrier 1, punters were still all over him.

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Markets – Ladbrokes

Australian Cup, run March 7

$5.50 Kings Will Dream, Regal Power

$8 Avilius, Harlem

$9 Miss Siska, Vow And Declare

$10 Mirage Dancer

$15 Fierce Impact

$16 Fifty Stars

$17 Southern France

$21+ Others

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This Week:

Tomorrow: Cairns, Tamworth, Bendigo

Wednesday: Toowoomba, Gosford, Sandown Hillside, Terang, Penola, Ascot, Launceston

Thursday: Rockhampton, Beaumont Newcastle, Kilmore, Pakenham (night), Bunbury

Friday: Sunshine Coast (night), Canterbury (night), The Valley (night), Kilcoy, Ballina, Wagga, Sale, Mount Barker

Saturday: Doomben, Randwick, Flemington, Morphettville, Ascot, Gold Coast, Toowoomba (night), Townsville, Blackall, Chinchilla, Gladstone, Mount Isa, Newcastle, Wangaratta, Alice Springs

Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Armidale, Mudgee, Wangaratta, Colac, Balaklava, Esperance

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The Quote:

“When he kicked and the favourite came off our back I thought ‘oh f…’ … but he toughed it out.” Trent Bussuttin in a not soon to be forgotten live television interview after winning the Blue Diamond with Tagaloa.

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The Talking Point:

Caulfield had its issues on Saturday and was the number one subject on racing social media over the weekend. But take nothing away from Chris Meagher and his dad John for winning the Oakleigh Plate with Pippie. She’s won in the fastest time in the race’s history crossing from a wide gate. Sure, the leaders had an advantage, but most of the ones who were up on speed chasing her finished out the back. Brilliant execution of a long range plan by the stable.

Linda Meech rides Pippie to victory in the Oakleigh Plate. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

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The Ride:

Baylee Nothdurft is teaching his more experienced rivals a lesson or two at the moment. His rides on Violet and Akage were the difference between winning and losing. No claim? No worries.

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Three to Back:

Secret Lady, Eagle Farm, Race 5: Market said she was flying. Came up a run short.

Dee Day Diva, Eagle Farm, Race 8: Finished solidly. Can join the stable’s winning tram soon enough.

Qiji Phoenix, Eagle Farm, Race 9: Continues to race well. Surely his turn soon.

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Risk:

Miami Bound, Caulfield, Race 2: Poor return from the Oaks winner, who had the rails trail but dropped right out. Nothing in initial vet report to shed light on the flop.

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The Flop:

Cellsabeel, Rosehill, Race 3: Had the dreaded Glue on Shoes gear change and was reported two out of five lame post-race. Slipper favouritism went by the wayside with this paddling effort. Needs a big turnaround.

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Sharp Shooters

The big players weren’t keen on Cellsabeel ($1.50 out to $1.90) and avoiding her proved shrewd. Instead, they found Farnan ($10-$7.50) turning his Magic Millions performance around.