Stewards continue probe into driving tactics after Sam snookered, leaving Ray fuming

Victorian stewards continue to probe into the circumstances that contributed to the failure of Simply Sam in the Holloway Classic at Ballarat.

In what Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green described as a very bad look for harness racing, Simply Sam was blocked from getting off the marker pegs for almost the entire race by a stablemate of runaway winner Captain Ravishing.

Green said people on course were outraged by what appeared to be a deliberate act by Idealrockidealroll’s driver Allan McDonough to keep the clear second favourite Simply Sam out of play.

Stewards investigating the race also opened an inquiry into an incident that occured afterwards between the stables and float car park, taking evidence from McDonough, Emma Stewart stable rep Clayton Tonkin, Green’s Ballarat host Anton Golino, and other witnesses, and are reviewing available CCTV footage.

“A lot of people on course were up in arms about what happened in the race,” Green said. “One guy came up to me and said he was sick with anger about it.”

Green said he was ropable when summoned by the stewards to explain the tactics employed by his driver Nathan Jack.

In particular they queried why Jack stayed on the marker pegs at about the 1900 metre mark as Idealrockidealroll improved to his outside.

“I told the stewards our horse didn’t need to be sitting parked from the get-go in his first run for a while. I said the drive they should be querying was McDonough’s.

“I told them it was disgraceful what the other driver did. He sat outside Sam and never tried to go forward, despite a crawling pace, or back.”

The stewards grilled McDonough about his tactics on the $151 outsider, and primarily about his decision to improve forward without cover soon after the start and his failure to continue to improve forward.

Evidence was also taken from Jack and Tonkin, representing the trainer of Captain Ravishing and Idrealrockidealroll.

The stewards adjourned their inquiry to consider the evidence and a veterinary report that revealed Idealrockidealroll was lame in his off hind leg after the race.

Stewards said they would also be examining in detail previous performances in New Zealand by Simply Sam and analysing all betting on the event.

Simply Sam, head turned sideways, starts to angle out desperate for a run, which never came.Green said today Simply Sam was never tested in the race, snookered four deep, and Jack did not pull the plugs because he could not secure racing room in the run home, eventually finishing fourth.

“Nathan said the horse felt good, was full of himself, but there was no gap and he had to take hold.

“It was his first go left-handed and I had an inside pole on him but Nathan suggested we try him without it next time.”

That next start is likely to be at Kilmore on September 23 in the A$25,000 Withers Classic (mobile 2180m) when Green will be hoping not to run into Captain Ravishing again.

Green acknowledged the winner’s run was exceptional, despite it racing greenly and hanging at the 200.

The Captaintreacherous colt walked the field through the first half of the last mile, with quarters of 32.7 and 31.4, before letting rip with unheard of sectionals of 52.8 and 25.1 to win by 36.5 metres.

“Nobody was going to run past the winner when he was going that fast.”

Idealrockidealroll capitulated to run last, 68 metres behind the winner.