Storm Brewing Over Bogie Hurricane's Final Omission

A bitterly disillusioned Ryan Ayre is searching for answers after a Past Members Trophy (630m) heat won by his quality all-distance performer Bogie Hurricane was declared a “no race” at Ipswich on Thursday night.

And the group 1 winning trainer's plight further deepened on Friday when Queensland, Racing and Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards conducted a ballot for the $30,000-to-the-winner finale with both Bogie Hurricane and Gin Shelf – winner and runner-up respectively in heat two – missed a berth.

"I've been trying to get in contact with the stewards to get a copy of the stewards report so I can consider my options and where I go from here," a frustrated Ayre said.

"What's pissed me off the most is that in watching the three heats, the lure has been at three totally different spots when the boxes opened.

"In one heat it's behind, then beside and then way out in front.

"If my race was a no race why weren't the other two as well?"

In addition to losing the opportunity to compete for next Thursday night's $30,000 first prize, Ayre and connections forfeited last night's $8,840 winner's purse with the race's total prize money divided between all starters. 

"We set the dog for this series months ago," Ayre lamented of his charge which was backed from $2.90 all the way into $1.60.

"At the end of the day, yes, the lure is out in front of where it should be but all of the dogs were faced with the same situation.

"The stewards have the discretion to decide whether any of the dogs are advantaged or disadvantaged above the others and I just can't see how any were.

"And you can tell by the time my dog ran. He went 37.01 which was the best of the heats. He wasn't disadvantaged at all."    

When QRIC conducted a ballot on Friday, Tiny Encounter and Ringbark Razor progressed into the final field for the rich final.

Adding to Ayre's ire is the fact that the 630m heats on Ipswich Cup night were manual starts for such an important event.

"I had no idea even when we were at the boxes it was a manual start," Ayre said.

"It's just really upsetting and disappointing. Hopefully I get an explanation soon so we can look at all of our options."

Final Field for Past Members Trophy: Valpolicella, Titanium Gunn, Scintillate, Amendola, Springtime Gold, Jewel Bee, Tiny Encounter (Ballot), Ringbark Razor (Ballot)