Auckland Trotting Club Inc

Soft trip mrks,thru lane,fght best

6th otr,1x1 1200,wd 300,stern claim

Chkd,5th otr,3-bk,1x1 500,off,stout

SKIPPER - hampered by a breaking runner racing into the first turn. Lay in rounding the final turn placing an insider runner in restricted room.

3rd,3-bk inr,4-bk,off,bttld away wd

SKIPPER - had to be steadied off the back of AARDIE'S FLASH near the 1300m when that runner was being eased to take a trail.

Lovely trip mrks,every chance,faded

SKIPPER - weakened in the run home.

4th inr,3-bk 1400,drifting 500m out

SKIPPER - weakened from the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

8th otr,3-bk 1500,wd 600,up shadows

Wd,pressed to ld 1200,attckd,wilted

SEA OF LOVE - placed in restricted room by an outside runner rounding the final turn before being checked when locking wheels with AYE AYE CAPTAIN near the 250m.

Eased,6th otr,1x1,off,ran on nicely

AYE AYE CAPTAIN - crowded by an inside runner in the run home.

Trld,3-bk 1300,held up,off,solid wd

Ld out,trld 1800,thru,strong on inr

AYE AYE CAPTAIN - shifted out passing the 150m when Driver B Mangos activated the deafeners and had to be corrected.

Trld,3-bk 1600,off,blkd,strong late

AYE AYE CAPTAIN - held up final turn and early in the run home.

Lost dig,trld,brk,held trail,strong

JACCKA COOPER - paced roughly after contacting the sulky wheel of MAHIA DREAMIN near the 1850m then broke for several strides hampering a trailing runner. Stewards opened and adjourned an enquiry into this incident.

Prkd,into ld 1650,dictated,crunched

JACCKA COOPER - raced wide early before improving to lead near the 1600m.

Fired to ld,set terms,gobbled up

JACCKA COOPER - had to be steadied when placed in restricted room by an inside runner near the 60m.

Fired to ld,dictated,reeled in 125m

6th inr,5-bk 1550,off,no final dash

JACCKA COOPER - hampered late in the score up and was marginally out of position at the start. Stewards were satisfied that this did not materially prejudice the gelding's chances. Weakened in the run home.

3 & 4-bk mrks,off,held up,sound mid

JACCKA COOPER - over-raced early stages.

Eased,4-bk inr,held up,sound on inr

HAMPTON - lay inwards throughout.

Brk early in 9th,never a live hope

HAMPTON - lay in and broke racing into the first turn hampering a trailing runner and lost all chance. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing manners.

Chkd/brk early in trail,out of play

HAMPTON - checked when forced down over track markers approaching the first turn and broke hampering trailing runners before losing all chance.

Into trail early,thru lane,bold bid

Gun run mrks,thru lane,stout effort

3rd pegs,3-bk,off top,stern late wd

Gun run mrks,thru lane,breezed past

Prkd,lost ld dig,trld,keen,off,game

SPIRITED PEGGY - hung out and paced roughly near the 1500m and was unable to hold the back of the leader FRISCO BAY which enabled SMART AND MIGHTY to shift down to fill that position.

Trld,3-bk 1600,off,failed to run on

Wd,prkd,cvr,prkd 1300,wknd run home

SMART AND MIGHTY - raced wide early.

Wrkd to ld,trld 1800,stout fin mrks

5th otr,1x1,wd,prkd 1500,outkicked

Held ld,dictated terms,cut dwn 100m

SMART AND MIGHTY - shifted out marginally on straightening for the run home. Driver S Abernethy reported that a sulky tyre deflated during the middle stages.

Ld out,set all terms,mastered late

8th otr,3-bk,wd to ld 1500,hdd 175m

Nice trip otr,peeled 400,ld,run dwn

Eased,wd cvr rear 650,wdr,bttld on

CLASSY OPERATOR - Co-Trainer/Driver D Ferguson advised Stewards that the gelding would be driven with cover should circumstances permit. Checked near the 1050m by a breaking runner losing ground. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home. Stewards questioned Driver D Ferguson regarding the tactics he adopted during the running. Mr Ferguson explained that he had improved three wide with cover behind IDEAL ZEN from the 700m however he had been forced to race four wide with cover shortly after when runners to his inside shifted outwards. Mr Ferguson added that IDEAL ZEN had commenced to weaken on the final bend leaving him poorly positioned wide on the track. He further added that due to the tempo of the race increasing markedly combined with his horse not travelling as well as expected he elected to shift inwards to save ground rather than shift outwards around the weakening IDEAL ZEN as he would be obliged to race very wide on the track. After considering his explanation and viewing the replays, Stewards were satisfied Mr Ferguson's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

Lost ld dig,4-bk inr,prkd 1200,wknd

MAGIC FOUR - had to be steadied near the 1300 metres when CLASSY OPERATOR shifted away from the marker line which resulted in an easing of the pace back through the trailing runners. Hampered briefly near the 175 metres when AKUTA shifted out under pressure. Driver P Ferguson was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion late in the run home.

Nice trip otr,wd 500,2nd top,outfin

CLASSY OPERATOR - over-raced in the early stages when being restrained to obtain cover. When questioned regarding the performance Co-Trainer/Driver D Ferguson stated that he was disappointed with the run and could offer no explanation. A post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Cut breeze,over-raced,effort told

IRON BRIGADE - over-raced early and middle stages when outside the leader. Weakened in the run home.

Gate speed to ld,dictated,reeled in

IRON BRIGADE - raced keenly middle stages when leading.

Prkd,rolled to ld 1800,never tested

Did enough to ld,3bk,prkd bell,game

IRON BRIGADE - paced roughly late in the score up and was back from position at dispatch. A warning was placed on the colt's barrier manners. Driver M McKendry was questioned in relation to shifting down into the passing lane approaching the winning post on the first occasion when improving to the inside of PRECIOUS BET to lead. Mr McKendry stated that after losing some ground at the start that IRON BRIGADE had settled to the inside of DANCE STAR, which had moved down onto the back of PRECIOUS BET which was racing wider on the track than a true marker line position and this enabled him to improve to that runner's inside to secure the lead. Driver A Harrison confirmed that her runner had raced greenly over the early stages when reluctant to shift fully down to the marker line. After considering the matter no further action was deemed necessary other than note the circumstances.