drivers, the good, bad & desperate!

[mary]

Same driver struck again in race 8 at Wagga today. Attacked from three wide the same as he did at Temora.

RACE 8 – WAGGA BOULEVARDE MOTOR INN PACE. 1755M
Connections of FLITEOFTHECONCORDS advised their intention to vary tactics and drive the gelding further back. Driven accordingly.
STUDLEIGH MATTHEW was checked and broke after the start when COLD SHARK which was drawn to his outside hung in after the start and MISTER MANHATTAN which was drawn to his inside hung out after the start. No action was taken against any horse or driver due to the marginal shift from both runners.
A.Richardson was questioned regarding the tactics he adopted and performance of COLD SHARK. A. Richardson stated that he progressed forward at the start with the intention of taking up a forward position which is COLD SHARK’S usual racing pattern. A. Richardson stated that near the 1500 metres it was evident that P. Diebert on MISTER MANHATTAN would not surrender the position outside the leader therefore he steadied COLD SHARK and sat back off the leading horses. A. Richardson stated COLD SHARK races keenly and he is unable to restrain him to the rear of the field, therefore he elected to remain racing three wide for the remainder of the short distance race. A. Richardson stated he was pleased with COLD SHARK’S performance at a recent trial where he ran second in a fast 1:57.5 mile rate, however stated that two races and a trial in one week, together with the extreme heat may have adversely affected COLD SHARK. A. Richardson further stated it was his intention to give COLD SHARK a freshen up before racing him again.

[aussiebreno]

RACE 8 – WAGGA BOULEVARDE MOTOR INN PACE. 1755M
Connections of FLITEOFTHECONCORDS advised their intention to vary tactics and drive the gelding further back. Driven accordingly.
STUDLEIGH MATTHEW was checked and broke after the start when COLD SHARK which was drawn to his outside hung in after the start and MISTER MANHATTAN which was drawn to his inside hung out after the start. No action was taken against any horse or driver due to the marginal shift from both runners.
A.Richardson was questioned regarding the tactics he adopted and performance of COLD SHARK. A. Richardson stated that he progressed forward at the start with the intention of taking up a forward position which is COLD SHARK’S usual racing pattern. A. Richardson stated that near the 1500 metres it was evident that P. Diebert on MISTER MANHATTAN would not surrender the position outside the leader therefore he steadied COLD SHARK and sat back off the leading horses. A. Richardson stated COLD SHARK races keenly and he is unable to restrain him to the rear of the field, therefore he elected to remain racing three wide for the remainder of the short distance race. A. Richardson stated he was pleased with COLD SHARK’S performance at a recent trial where he ran second in a fast 1:57.5 mile rate, however stated that two races and a trial in one week, together with the extreme heat may have adversely affected COLD SHARK. A. Richardson further stated it was his intention to give COLD SHARK a freshen up before racing him again.

You can blame the weather, the float trip, the race tempo, the trial, the horses racing style but at the end of the day there is only one thing to blame and I think everybody knows that.

While you've bought up a section from a Wagga stewards report here is something from Race 2 on Friday.

RACE 2 – WAGGA TAB NUMBER 1 CLUB PACE. 1755M
The all clear was delayed to allow stewards the opportunity to review the replay of the start, in particular the starting position of CLOUDY BEACH which was placed first by the judge. The evidence disclosed that due to a scratching on the front row, SIZZLING MAXWELL should have started from barrier two, however SIZZLING MAXWELL remained in barrier three, which resulted in no horse starting out of barrier two. CLOUDY BEACH which was drawn barrier eight was pulling hard and racing keenly in the score up and at the starting point CLOUDY BEACH had its front legs in a front line position, effectively between the horse in barrier one and the horse in barrier three. Soon after the start CLOUDY BEACH was able to fully progress through into the front line and lead the race by the first turn. Acting under Rule 66(h) CLOUDY BEACH was disqualified from the race as it gained an unfair advantage by starting further forward than its second row barrier position. The all clear was then given on the numbers 3-6-7-5.
G. Maxwell (SIZZLING MAXWELL) was fined $200 under Rule 162(1)(g) for starting from the incorrect barrier position.
It was noted that CAPRI sustained a flat tyre near the 700 metres which placed it at a disadvantage for the remainder of the race. As CAPRI gave ground over the concluding stages, HIGHVIEW OBAN was checked and galloped.


This, imo, is absolutely ridiculous. When a driver from inside the back row intentionally doesn't score up properly and gets off the pegs they get a $200 fine. When a driver from the front line doesn't is in the wrong starting position (how would somebody start from 3 instead of 2 is beyond me) they get a $200 fine. But when somebody is trying to do the right thing and marginally infringes they get DQed for it.

[Triple V]

This, imo, is absolutely ridiculous. When a driver from inside the back row intentionally doesn't score up properly and gets off the pegs they get a $200 fine. When a driver from the front line doesn't is in the wrong starting position (how would somebody start from 3 instead of 2 is beyond me) they get a $200 fine. But when somebody is trying to do the right thing and marginally infringes they get DQed for it.

[VVV] I feel your pain Breno. It's right up there, no question. The same goes for fining Drivers for a change of tactics aboard a fav. even when said change (snagging off the gate instead of going forward) sees to it that the fav. still wins the race. That particularly stirling effort from the since departed the Stewarding ranks Mr. Cable will go down in History as one of, if not THE most ridiculous rulings to have ever been made on a racecourse. Straight to The Pool Room. God forbid that some common sense ever creeps in.

[mary]

Straight to The Pool Room.

And that statement is one of the best ive ever heard.