Start stumps favourite punters at Geelong

Darryl Sherer - Friday September 8

Punters who backed the favourite in the fourth race at Geelong on Friday didn't get much of a run for their money.

Advertisement

Stephen Baster pulled up the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Spring Choice ($2.60) after several strides of the Maiden Plate over 1000m as he believed it was a false start.

Video footage clearly shows barrier seven for Royale Effort opening late while Lil' Bit Sassy in barrier 10 was declared a non-starter after being held by the attendant as the barriers opened. Spring Choice was drawn on the outside in 11.

Punters were advised to hold all tickets while stewards examined the film before declaring the Hawkes Racing-trained Lakota ($5.30) the winner over The Freak ($101) by a neck with Royale Effort ($6) closing late for third.

Racing Victoria Steward James Hitchcock explained how the rules of racing were applied.

"We spoke to the starter and viewed the film then we spoke to all the riders who participated in the race," Hitchcock told Racing Victoria.

"Having viewed the film it was evident Corey Parish's mount Lil' Bit Sassy was being held by an attendant as the start was being affected, so we felt it was therefore denied a fair start and was accordingly declared a non-runner.

"With regard to Royale Effort it was clearly evident on the film that its barrier didn't open simultaneous to the others but because it was placed third the rules provide that any horse that places first, second or third cannot be declared a non-runner so was deemed a starter."

Hitchcock said the rules of racing were clear regarding the remainder of the field.

"As for the balance of the field we were satisfied that the rest of the gates opened simultaneously and all the runners were afforded a fair start," Hitchcock said.

"Stephen Baster was of the belief that the race would be declared a non-race but you have to play to the umpires whistle so (Spring Choice) was declared a runner.

"It's the starter's call to effect a false start and there are sirens and mechanisms in place for that to occur. That didn't occur so all riders have to ride and treat it as a race - as simple as that."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Potential for Darby Racing's Raging Force
Unplaced in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate last spring on debut, Raging Force came out of that race with an injury that required significant time on the sidelines, but since returning to full work his progress has been swift.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.