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- Darwin Turf Club: 18/07/2026
Darwin Turf Club: 18/07/2026
Weather: Fine Track: Good Rail: True
Stewards: J Zucal (Chairman), R Hamilton, R Shiers
Deputy Stewards: C Streat, E Baird
Clerk of Scales: B Huppatz
Judge/Assistant: G Middleton, D Garnham
Veterinary: Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic
Number of Races: 9
Number of Runners: 84
Stakes Paid: $421,000
Following changes to Sky Racing scheduling, the start times of the following races were
updated:
Race 6: Rescheduled to commence at 3:37pm.
Race 7: Rescheduled to commence at 4:12pm.
Race 8: Rescheduled to commence at 4:47pm.
Race 9: Rescheduled to commence at 5:23pm.
Race 1: Mindil Beach Casino Resort Handicap 0-66 – 1600m
CRAZY BRAVE (D Barton) – Steadied passing the 600m.
VIERI (R Bensley) – Dwelt at the start losing considerable ground (10L). Trainer C Nash was advised that the gelding would be required to trial satisfactory before starting in a race again.
VILLA SEVENTYNINE (A Sweeney) – Over raced in the early and middle stages.
FURY (J Todd) – Passing the 600m brushed the running rail.
IKNOWHATYOUREDOING (R Vigar) – Slow into stride.
THE ALBION (J Lyon) – A post-race veterinary examination found that the gelding was lame in the near fore. Trainer P Stennett was advised that a veterinary certificate of soundness would be required before the gelding starts in a race or trial.
THE ACCELATOR (S Tsaikos) – Raced wide throughout.
1ST FURY 2ND THE ACCELATOR 3RD VILLA SEVENTYNINE
Race 2: De Silva Hebron Handicap 0-62 – 1300m
PIRATE (R Bensley) – Raced wide throughout.
RHESUS (W Davis) – Slow to begin. Brushed the running rail approaching the 700m.
RAMPAZETTO (B Cray) – Cast near-hind plate in running.
ABLE SEAMAN (H Le Blanc) – Leaving the 600m lay inwards slightly and steadied.
1ST STOMP’EM 2ND RAMPAZETTO 3RD GALAXY GENERAL
Race 3: Rhino Industrial Handicap 0-62 – 1300m
ROMANTIC LOVE (S Tsaikos) – Bumped on jumping. Raced wide throughout.
PUB CRAWL (I Luximon) – Restrained losing ground near the 150m.
YOUR NOT THE BOSS (J Lyon) – Bumped on jumping.
KALIMNA VIEWS (J Booth) – Rider reported that the mare lay in throughout, brushing the running rail on a number of occasions.
ARIARNE (B Cray) – Raced wide throughout.
HELLO MARY (A Sweeney) – Unsettled in the barriers prior to the start, commenced awkwardly losing ground.
General: Stewards inquired into the reason for PUB CRAWL (I Luximon) restraining and losing ground near the 150m. On inquiry it was establish that ITWASONLYAKISS (V Arnott) when being ridden forward shifted outwards when not clear of PUB CRAWL causing that gelding to restrain. Jockey V Arnott pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) for causing this interference. After taking into account Ms Arnott’s guilty plea, good record, and the circumstances of this incident, Ms Arnott was suspended from riding in races for 1 NT race meeting, effective from midnight 18 July 2026 and to expire at midnight on the 25th July 2026.
1ST KALIMNA VIEWS 2ND ITWASONLYAKISS 3RD BIDEN TIME
Race 4: Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale Handicap BM76 – 1200m
Stewards interviewed trainer K Petrick in relation to the riding instructions she intended to issue as the stable had multiple runners in the event.
BAHAMA BAY (A Sweeney) – Raced wide throughout.
BON’S PRIDE (V Arnott) – Slow into stride.
MAGARTEN (S Tsaikos) – Slow to begin.
1ST MONTJUIC MAGIC 2ND AUXILIARY 3RD BON’S PRIDE
Race 5: Aspire Weight for Age – 1200m
BALASTIER (J Lyon) – Returned with laceration to the off-side foreleg.
BOLDINHO (J Todd) – Cast near-fore plate.
CINQUE TORRI (P Shiers) – Cast off-fore plate.
COTEHELE (P Denton) – Raced wide throughout, rider reported that the gelding lay outwards throughout.
EARLY CROW (J Hampson) – Bounded on jumping and commenced extremely awkwardly losing ground. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
GENETIC FREAK (R Vigar) – Raced wide throughout.
WALLENDA (R Bensley) – Cast off-fore plate.
1ST BALASTIER 2ND CINQUE TORRI 3RD BOLDINHO
Race 6: SignCity Handicap 0-58 – 1100m
DYNAMIC THEORY (H Le Blanc) – Brushed the running rail on several occasions near the 700m.
IF I WAS YOU (J Lyon) – Bumped heavily on jumping.
IN NO DOUBT (J Todd) – Commenced awkwardly losing ground. Raced wide in early and middle stages.
CRIPPS TONITE (J Booth) – Veered inwards on jumping bumping heavily with another runner.
DUMMY SPIT (R Bensley) – Raced wide from the 650m.
OCEAN’S JEN (A Sweeney) – Slow into stride.
1ST COPYCAT 2ND IF I WAS YOU 3RD DYNAMIC THEORY
Race 7: SIXT Car & Truck Rental Handicap 0-70 – 1100m
RUNAWAY TYCOON (J Todd) – Carried inwards shortly after the start.
JUICE BOX (R Bensley) – Raced wide throughout.
DAD BOD (L Maloney) – Commenced awkwardly and shifted inwards.
CAVENDISH (J Hampson) – Carried inwards shortly after the start.
FRAWLEY (W Davis) – Was unsettled in the barriers prior to the start, slow to begin then shortly after steadied away from another runner which had shifted inwards. Rider reported that in this incident the gelding had overreacted.
1ST RUNAWAY TYCOON 2ND CAVENDISH 3RD BRUNO BRUNO
Race 8: BTC Constructions Buntine Handicap – 2050m
ICHIBAN (J Todd) – Impeded and restrained passing the 350m losing ground.
UNQUESTIONABLY (B Cray) – Steadied passing the post the first time.
FABERGE TZAR (J Doyle) – Over raced in the early and middle stages. Returned with an elevated heart rate.
General: Stewards considered an objection lodged by Rider J Todd (ICHIBAN), fifth placegetter against TENNESSEE WHISKEY (S Tsaikos), fourth placegetter alleging interference passing the 350m. After considering the evidence of all parties concerned, viewing all relevant vision of the incident and acting on their own observations, the Stewards formed the opinion that had the interference not occurred to ICHIBAN, the gelding would have finished ahead of TENNESSEE WHISKEY and consequently upheld the objection, amending the official placings to read:
1ST MAXXI BON 2ND UNQUESTIONABLY 3RD VANGUARD LEGEND 4th ICHIBAN 5th TENNESSEE WHISKEY
On inquiry, Stewards issued a severe reprimand to Jockey S Tsaikos (TENNESSEE WHISKEY) under the provisions of AR131(a) for allowing his mount to shift in passing the 350m causing ICHIBAN (J Todd) to restrain and lose ground.
Race 9: Ladbrokes NT Derby SW 3YO – 2050m
AGGRESSIVE (A Sweeney) – Raced wide throughout.
CRAZY TOWN (R Bensley) – Slow to begin.
GRINZINGER TUNDRA (S Tsaikos) – Raced wide in the middle stages.
HOPELESS ROMANTIC (B Cray) – Shifted out near the 300m and bumped heavily with another runner, becoming unbalanced.
MALDINI (J Lyon) – Slow to begin. Bumped and checked near the 300m.
MERIMBULA (J Todd) – Steadied approaching the 400m.
RIVERS OF BABYLON (W Davis) – Just prior to the start being effected, the gelding broke through the barriers and cantered a short distance. The gelding was returned to the barriers and underwent a veterinary examination and was cleared to take its place in the field.
LOVE TO LIE (I Luximon) – Bumped heavily and checked near the 300m.
General: Stewards inquired into the reason for MALDINI (J Lyon) and LOVE TO LIE (I Luximon) receiving severe interference near the 300m. On inquiry, Jockey B Cray (HOPELESS ROMANTIC) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) in that at the 300m he had angled for a run to the outside of RIVERS OF BABYLON (W Davis) where there was insufficient room to do so, bumping heavily with LOVE TO LIE which checked, becoming unbalanced and lost ground. In this incident LOVE TO LIE bumped heavily with MALDINI on its outside. In arriving at a penalty, Stewards took into account Jockey B Cray’s guilty plea, record and the circumstances of this incident. As Rider B Cray had been engaged to ride at race meetings in country NSW on Monday 20 July 2026 and Tuesday 21 July 2026, he was suspended for 1 NT race meeting, effective midnight Tuesday 21st July 2026 and to expire at midnight 25th July 2026.
Jockey S Tsaikos (GRINZINGER TUNDRA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) in that near the 300m he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of MALDINI which was bumped, checked and lost ground. In this incident MALDINI bumped heavily with LOVE TO LIE which was racing to its inside. In considering a penalty, Stewards took into account Jockey S Tsaikos’s guilty plea, record and the circumstances of this incident. Rider S Tsaikos was suspended for 1 NT race meeting effective from midnight the 18th July 2026 and to expire at midnight 25th July 2026.
1ST LEVERAGED BUYOUT 2ND CRAZY TOWN 3RD GARRIX
Summary:
All riders were subject to alcohol breath testing.
Post-race swab samples taken from all winners & CRAZY TOWN (R9).
Pre-race samples were taken from: PIRATE, PUB CRAWL, DOWN THE WICKET, CONVINCEBILITY, IF I WAS YOU, COPYCAT, RIVKIN, UNQUESTIONABLY & all runners engaged in Race 9.
Reprimands:
Race 8 – Jockey S Tsaikos was severely reprimanded for careless riding, AR131(a).
Suspensions:
Race 3 – Jockey V Arnott was suspended for 1 NT Meeting for careless riding, AR131(a).
Race 9 – Jockey S Tsaikos was suspended for 1 NT Meeting for careless riding, AR131(a).
Race 9 – Jockey B Cray was suspended for 1 NT Meeting for careless riding, AR131(a).
Fines: Nil
Embargoes & Warnings:
Race 1 – THE ALBION – Lame near-fore vet certificate required before racing or trialling.
Race 1 – VIERI – Stood flat footed, satisfactory trial required before starting in a race again.
Medicals: Nil
J Zucal
Chairman of Stewards (Acting)