- Home
- Industry
- Stewards Reports
- Darwin Turf Club: 27/12/2025
Darwin Turf Club: 27/12/2025
Weather: Fine Track: Wet Fast Rail: True
Stewards: D Hensler (Chairman), R Hamilton
Deputy Stewards: R Shiers, C Streat
Clerk of Scales: R Shiers
Judge/Assistant: G Middleton, D Garnham
Stable Compliance: R Hamilton, R Shiers
Veterinary: Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic
Number of Races: 6
Number of Runners: 45
Stakes Paid: $138,000
Race 1: Become A DTC Member Handicap 0-70 – 1600m
A protest lodged by jockey R Vigar, rider of the second placed PEEL THE STICKERS against the winner AWASH (J Todd) alleging interference in the home straight was dismissed. In arriving at this decision, whilst Stewards were satisfied that AWASH did shift outwards inside the final 50m resulting in PEEL THE STCKERS being carried outwards, they were not satisfied that the interference warranted a reversal of the placings.
PEEL THE STICKERS (R Vigar) – Bounded at the start. Lay inwards near the 200m. Carried outwards leaving the 50m.
AWASH (J Todd) – Shifted outwards under pressure from the 100m.
CACOFONIX (A Sweeney) – Trainer reported the gelding returned with abrasions to both hind bumpers.
BEAU FACTOR (V Arnott) – Raced wide throughout and yielded ground prior to straightening.
HELL FIRE MISS (D Barton) – Commenced awkwardly.
1ST AWASH 2ND PEEL THE STICKERS 3RD VIERI
Race 2: bet365 Handicap BM54 – 1200m
STRAYA PRIDE (J Todd) – Shifted outwards and bumped another runner at the 650m.
MARVELOUS NIGHT (D Barton) – Commenced awkwardly.
ANKLE ROLEX (V Arnott) – Dwelt at the start. Raced wide from the 800m. The veterinarian reported the gelding returned with an elevated heart rate.
ROSSANADO (A Sweeney) – Crowded and steadied at the 700m. Held up near the 500m and again at the 400m.
BEATIFICATION (S Logan) – Lay inwards in the back straight. Bumped on the near shoulder by another runner and mistrode near the 650m.
General – On inquiry jockey S Logan (BEATIFICATION) was reprimanded under AR131(a) for engaging in careless riding. In arriving at this decision, Stewards were of the opinion that whilst her mount had a tendency to lay inwards in the back straight she did permit the gelding to shift in when not fully clear resulting in ROSSANADO being crowded and steadied near the 700m.
1ST ROSSANADO 2ND STRAYA PRIDE 3RD MIAMI BABY
Race 3: Sportsbet Handicap BM54 – 1200m
RHESUS (W Davis) – Bumped at the start.
SABOR (V Arnott) – Tightened for room and checked to avoid heels near the 200m. Cast the near-hind plate in running.
FIELD OF PRAISE (A Sweeney) – The mare sustained a laceration to the near-hind leg due to an incident in the race day stalls. After undergoing a veterinary examination the mare was cleared to compete.
MAX ROCK (H Le Blanc) – Bumped at the start. Failed to muster early speed.
NEW ENTERPRISE (J Todd) – Raced wide throughout.
General – On inquiry jockey R Vigar (PREDICTING) pleaded guilty to a charge under AR131(a) for engaging in careless riding. The specifics being that after his mount had initially shifted inwards when tested with the whip approaching the 200m, he then failed to make sufficient effort to prevent the gelding from continuing to shift ground when not clear, resulting in SABOR (V Arnott) being tightened for room and checked from heels. R Vigar had his license to ride in races suspended for 1 NT meeting to commence after 27/12/2025 and to expire midnight 9/01/2026.
At a further inquiry jockeys R Vigar and V Arnott were both reprimanded in relation to their conduct in the scales area following this race.
1ST RHESUS 2ND FIELD OF PRAISE 3RD MAX ROCK
Race 4: Silks Darwin New Menu Maiden Plate SW – 1200m
GRAYSVILLE (A Sweeney) – Shifted inwards under pressure leaving the 150m.
JUST ALBERT (D Barton) – Commenced awkwardly.
BERKELEY BAY (R Vigar) – Raced outside the leader prior to yielding ground from the 600m. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Jockey R Vigar was of the opinion that his mount had choked down in running and would benefit from the addition of a cross-over noseband. In light of the performance, trainer C Pollard undertook to barrier trial the mare with this additional gear prior to racing again.
1ST JUST ALBERT 2ND SASS 3RD RED EXTREME
Race 5: Rydges Palmerston Handicap 0-64 – 1100m
PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (J Todd) – Declared a late scratching at 8.50am following advice to the Stewards from the trainer that the gelding was mildly lame at the stables.
CRIPPS TONITE (W Davis) – Bumped at the start.
BRUNO BRUNO (R Vigar) – Fractious in the barriers. Commenced awkwardly and lost ground. Rider was required to refit his right foot in the stirrup iron near the 1000m.
JUMPING POWER TWO (S Logan) – Commenced awkwardly and then crowded and bumped shortly after the start. Cast both hind plates in running.
BRYCE (D Barton) – Raced wide throughout.
1ST JUMPING POWER TWO 2ND LA BOQUERIA 3RD BRYCE
Race 6: Ladbrokes Racing Extras In Multi Handicap 0-58 – 1000m
Stewards interviewed trainer P Cole in relation to the riding instructions he intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.
MR NUNEZ (H Le Blanc) – Commenced awkwardly. Lay outwards rounding the first turn and shifted outwards near the 700m.
VALKUR (A Sweeney) – Carried outwards rounding the first turn. Raced wide on straightening.
DANCER FOR MONEY (W Davis) – Carried outwards rounding the first turn and wide from thereon.
TOUGH IMPACT (R Vigar) – Carried outwards and raced in restricted room rounding the first turn.
1ST STARSPANGLEDANCER 2ND JUELENE 3RD MR NUNEZ
General:
Post-race swab samples taken from all winners.
Pre-race samples were taken from CAPITOL HILL, CACOFONIX, MARVELOUS NIGHT, PREDICTING, FIELD OF PRAISE & CRIPPS TONITE.
Reprimands:
Race 1 – Apprentice Jockey D Barton reprimanded for failing to claim down to her MRW, NT77.
Race 2 – Jockey S Logan reprimanded for careless riding, AR131(a).
Race 3 – Jockey V Arnott reprimanded for misconduct in the scales area following the race, AR115(1)(a).
Race 3 – Jockey R Vigar reprimanded for misconduct in the scales area following the race, AR115(1)(a).
Suspensions:
Race 3 – Jockey R Vigar suspended for 1 NT meeting for careless riding, AR131(a).
Fines:
Race 1 – Apprentice Jockey D Barton was fined $200 for her late arrival on course, AR128(1).
Race 3 – Trainer T Gillett was fined $100 for the late notification of rider, NT111.
Embargoes & Warnings:
Race 4 – BERKELEY BAY – Barrier trial required.
Medicals: Nil
D Hensler
Chairman of Stewards