Riding Changes:

* Must produce medical certificate prior to riding again.

Race 1 - HAYDEN REAL ESTATE MAIDEN HURDLE - 2900 metres:

Acting on a confirmed telephone call from Mr. Ern Ewert (Jnr.), trainer of "Beau Prediction", who stated that the gelding was lame in the near fore leg and was unfit to run, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of "Beau Prediction" at 9.50 a.m. Mr. Ewert will submit a veterinary certificate in respect of the gelding.

Correct weight was delayed due to T. Wheeler, rider of "Sea Fit (NZ)", fourth placegetter, calling for the bridle to be included in his weight as he had weighed in in excess of half a kilogram under his declared weight. T. Wheeler weighed in correctly with a bridle.

In the early and middle stages of the race "Calcavecchia" over-raced.

Race 2 - ECLIPSE FORD THREE-YEARS-OLD & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1) - 1400 metres:

On jumping away "Palla Strozzi" and "Worthy Prince (NZ)" came together.

Shortly after the start "Palla Strozzi" shifted in away from "Worthy Prince (NZ)" and as a result bumped "Centra Rainbeam (NZ)" in on to "Cody's Mate (NZ)".

Race 3 - JOHN AUGUSTINE MEMORIAL SUPER VOBIS TWO-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE - 1200 metres:

On jumping away "Mister Expert" was hampered when tightened for room between "Snowline" and "Loyal Lauren" which, after jumping away awkwardly, shifted in away from "Ricardo".

Approaching the 800 metres "Directory" and "Mal de Mer" were tightened for room by "Balata", which shifted in.

At the entrance to the straight "Mister Expert" had to be eased off the heels of "Ricardo" which, when weakening, shifted out.

N. Callow, rider of "Balata" which had performed below expectations, stated that the horse travelled well until near the home turn, but from that point failed to respond to his riding. A veterinary examination subsequent to the race failed to reveal any abnormality.

S. Baster, rider of "Mal de Mer" which performed below expectations, stated that the filly travelled well until near the 600 metres where it was tightened for room and from that point it failed to respond to his riding. A veterinary examination of "Mal de Mer" failed to reveal any abnormality.

Race 4 - GERARD COSGRAVE REAL ESTATE THREE-YEARS-OLD & UP MAIDEN PLATE (2) - 1400 metres:

Approaching the 200 metres "Lovage" had to be eased when tightened for room between "Regal Rise" and "Gallant Ned" (B. White), which shifted in under pressure. B. White was reprimanded and notified to exercise far more care when shifting ground in future. During this incident "Lovage" was struck over the head by the whip of K.Bandy, rider of "Regal Rise".

In the straight "Mim Mimp" had difficulty in obtaining a clear run.

Race 5 - T. B. WHITE & SONS SUPER VOBIS THREE-YEARS-OLD FILLIES CLASS 1 HANDICAP - 1200 metres:

Shortly after the start "Regal Vintage" was eased when tightened for room between "Break the Mould" and "Midori Gift", which shifted out.

Passing the 800 metres "Like Paradise (NZ)", which was over-racing, had to be eased off the heels of "Stellar Lights".

Race 6 - BEER & BEEF CLUB CLASS 5 HANDICAP - 1100 metres:

No report.

Race 7 - GOLF HOUSE HOTEL CLASS 2 HANDICAP - 1200 metres:

On jumping away "Wild Havana" was hampered when tightened for room between "Union Lad" and "Joffa Denaro" due to both horses shifting ground.

Race 8 - CARLTON DRAUGHT CLASS 3 HANDICAP - 1500 metres:

Mr. Rick Maund, who was representing Mr. Ron Maund, trainer of "The Mule's Brother (NZ)" which was unruly in the mounting yard, was notified that an official warning would be placed on the gelding for its behaviour today.

Passing the 1200 metres "Bio Lad (NZ)", which was over-racing, had to be checked to avoid the heels of "Maxima Star".

Passing the 200 metres "The Mule's Brother (NZ)", which was weakening, had to be eased when tightened for room between "Shellshocked", which shifted out slightly, and "Fishguard (NZ)", which was taken in slightly by "Tineke".

Race 9 - BALLARAT LODGE CLASS 1 HANDICAP - 1400 metres:

Acting on a confirmed telephone call from Mrs. Glenda Peterson, trainer of "Devious Deal", who stated that the gelding had an elevated temperature and was unfit to run, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of the gelding at 12.15 p.m. Mrs. Peterson has submitted a veterinary certificate for "Devious Deal".

Prior to correct weight the Stewards queried the Judge's placing for third, which was showing as a dead heat between "Vixen" and "My Zena", when in their opinion it should have read as a dead heat between "Vixen" and "Chelsea's Millions". After conferring with the Judge the numbers were then amended to read "8. Rampant Rhythm", 1^st, 5. "Morebulk", 2^nd, and a dead heat between 10. "Vixen" and 15. "Chelsea's Millions", 3rd.

Shortly after the start "Boundalong" and "Pawel (NZ)" were hampered when tightened for room between "My Zena" and "Hunka Metal", which was taken out by "Castle Dale (NZ)".

Near the 1300 metres "Kentucky Jack" had to be checked off the heels of "Pawel (NZ)".

On the home turn "Canonicity" became unbalanced when brushed by "Rampant Rhythm", which shifted out.

Approaching the winning post "Vixen" had to be eased when tightened for room between "Chelsea's Millions" and "Rampant Rhythm", which shifted in.

SWAB SAMPLES were taken from "Woody Woodpecker (NZ)", winner of the Hayden Real Estate Maiden Hurdle - Race 1; from "Snowline", winner of the John Augustine Memorial Super Vobis Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate - Race 3; from "La Vida", the winner of the T.B. White & Sons Super Vobis Three-Years-Old Fillies Class 1 Handicap - Race 5, and from "Hong Se Lad", the winner of the Carlton Draught Class 3 Handicap - Race 8.

A random swab sample was taken from "Our Monarch", third placegetter in the Gerard Cosgrave Real Estate Three-Years-Old & Up Maiden Plate (2) - Race 4.

Six horses were pre-race blood tested for post-race analysis.

FINES/EXPLANATIONS:

Mr. D. Brideoake, trainer of "Midori Gift", was fined $50 for having his horse presented in the mounting yard without blinkers when it has been approved to race in them.

Mr. Glenn Thornton, trainer of "Wild Havana", was fined the sum of $50 for the late notification of Christine Cole as the rider of the gelding, which ran in Golf House Hotel Class 2 Handicap - Race 7.

Mr. W. Walters, trainer of "Pawel (NZ)", was fined $50 for the late notification of K. Walters as the rider of the gelding which ran in the Ballarat Lodge Class 1 Handicap - Race 9.

Mr. Tony McEvoy, trainer of "Lightuma", was fined the sum of $30 for using wrong colours on the gelding which ran in the Gold House Hotel Class 2 Handicap - Race 7.

RESUMED INQUIRY:

The Stewards today continued the inquiry into the reason for "Phinrow" having to be checked near the 1100 metres in the Carlton Draught Class 3 Handicap, which was run at Ballarat on the 23^rd April, 2002. It was established that "Phinrow" had to be checked when tightened for room between "Sweet City Sioux" and "Caso Maggio", which was taken in by "Pindarri Gold", which initially shifted in before then being taken in by "Black Widow" (M. Allen), which shifted in. M. Allen was reprimanded and notified to exercise more care when shifting ground in future.

The Stewards also concluded the inquiry into the reason for M. Allen and L. Coffey leaving the Ballarat racecourse on the 23^rd April, 2002 without obtaining a clearance from the Stewards. The explanations given by both riders were accepted.

The Stewards Room