Poor Judgement and no action

[p plater]

I have waited until the stewards report was released before posting here.

My concern is when is a driver held responsible for poor judgement in the stewards eyes.
Most punters and harness followers would know that Reservation Road in the 2nd last at Menangle on Saturday night was either a superstar or had no chance after a 25.8 first quarter. This is after in the previous race the same driver drive Suave Stuey Lombo in an outstanding 1.50.1 with a lead time of 26.9.
The stewards report is gutless, it reads

"When questioned regarding the performance of RESERVATION ROAD NZ driver L Panella explained that although she had to make use of the gelding in the first quarter t find the lead she was able to rate a slow middle half of the mile. L Panella stated that connections were disappointed that RESERVATION ROAD did not finish the race off and would assess how the gelding recovers prior to deciding its immediate program."

The Connections were disappointed what an understatement and the stewards accepted this!!!

In the same race a driver was fined $400 for excessive whip....go figure

[Messenger]

I wonder if she has any idea of how fast she is going?
And if the stewards asked her "what did you think you ran that first Q in?"
If she said about 26 she probably should have received some sort of fine/penalty
She had already had a FFAller capitulate in the first after going a first Q of 26.6
So it added up that going any faster in an M0 was not good judgement

[Race For Fun]

What's the difference in driving an ill-judged race:
Not pulling out and putting a horse into the race?
Going too fast early in early quarters, horse doesn't run on?
Both fail to give a horse every chance to win.

[p plater]

What's the difference in driving an ill-judged race:
Not pulling out and putting a horse into the race?
Going too fast early in early quarters, horse doesn't run on?
Both fail to give a horse every chance to win.

That's how I see it as well. Obviously the stewards don't.

[Triple V]

I have waited until the stewards report was released before posting here.

My concern is when is a driver held responsible for poor judgement in the stewards eyes.
Most punters and harness followers would know that Reservation Road in the 2nd last at Menangle on Saturday night was either a superstar or had no chance after a 25.8 first quarter. This is after in the previous race the same driver drive Suave Stuey Lombo in an outstanding 1.50.1 with a lead time of 26.9.
The stewards report is gutless, it reads

"When questioned regarding the performance of RESERVATION ROAD NZ driver L Panella explained that although she had to make use of the gelding in the first quarter t find the lead she was able to rate a slow middle half of the mile. L Panella stated that connections were disappointed that RESERVATION ROAD did not finish the race off and would assess how the gelding recovers prior to deciding its immediate program."

The Connections were disappointed what an understatement and the stewards accepted this!!!

In the same race a driver was fined $400 for excessive whip....go figure

VVV- I've watched a lot of races over a lot of years and right now, off the top of my head I cannot think of so much as A SINGLE HORSE, be it Southern Hemisphere or Northern Hemisphere, that made it to the 1/4 in 25.8 (25 & 4/5ths) on the lead and lived to tell the story.

[HaroldParker]

VVV- I've watched a lot of races over a lot of years and right now, off the top of my head I cannot think of so much as A SINGLE HORSE, be it Southern Hemisphere or Northern Hemisphere, that made it to the 1/4 in 25.8 (25 & 4/5ths) on the lead and lived to tell the story.

by Northern Hemisphere, you mean QLD ? : )

Sub 26 in the US and Canada is very common and many do live to tell the story.

I have no problem with the drive. Heza Presidente (sub 26 as well ?) and Heres Rommel went with her early and finished 2nd and 3rd. They went out with a plan, made it public, executed that plan and it failed.

The horses these guys are bringing to Menangle are breaking the clock (trialling and racing) around Newcastle. They're rock hard fit and they drive them accordingly. They make racing at Menangle far more interesting.

24 years ago Westburn Grant and Thorate carved out a 26.2 around Harold Park. What would that equate to, 24 years later around Menangle ?

[p plater]

by Northern Hemisphere, you mean QLD ? : )

Sub 26 in the US and Canada is very common and many do live to tell the story.

I have no problem with the drive. Heza Presidente (sub 26 as well ?) and Heres Rommel went with her early and finished 2nd and 3rd. They went out with a plan, made it public, executed that plan and it failed.

The horses these guys are bringing to Harold Park are breaking the clock (trialling and racing) around Newcastle. They're rock hard fit and they drive them accordingly. They make racing at Menangle far more interesting.

24 years ago Westburn Grant and Thorate carved out a 26.2 around Harold Park. What would that equate to, 24 years later around Menangle ?

Sub 26 is common in US and Canada as you say, so is sub 1.49 but only one horse has achieved that in our part of the world.

[Race For Fun]

Sub 26 is common in US and Canada as you say, so is sub 1.49 but only one horse has achieved that in our part of the world.

And if your not there at the finish what's the point in being first out if your last home, because that's the money part of any race.

[p plater]

VVV, the great Smoken Up went 25.7 on the way to his 1.48.5 at Menangle.

[Race For Fun]

VVV, the great Smoken Up went 25.7 on the way to his 1.48.5 at Menangle.

If a horse the quality of Smoken Up is capable of running 25.7 for the first quarter and going on to win a group 1 race against some of the best horses racing at the time then it may be safe to assume that a horse the class of Reservation Road was always going to struggle to stay competitive running such a fast first quarter. Drivers have to know the ability of the horse they are driving.