Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Inc

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr top,plggd wdr

8th otr,5-bk,wd cvr 300,wdr,no dash

7th otr,wd 1400,posted,effort told

NORVIC CHARLIE - commenced to over-race before being taken forward three wide from the 1400m but was then obliged to remain three wide without cover when unable to secure the position outside the leader which was being held by EASTWOOD DREAM. Weakened in the run home.

Rough,5th otr,1x1 1600,off,fght on

NORVIC CHARLIE - lay inwards racing into the first bend placing inside runners in restricted room.

Brk run-up,tacked on,wd cvr,too big

NORVIC CHARLIE - broke in the score up and was back from position at the start.

5th inr,off,1x1,wd 1250,posted,wknd

NORVIC CHARLIE - hampered near the 1500m when there was an easing of the pace in the running line. Raced wide without cover from the 1300m when unable to secure the position outside the leader which was being held by LUKA DONCIC.

5th inr,4-bk,3-bk,held up,bttld on

BENJAMIN BUTTON - over-raced middle stages.

5th otr,3-bk bell,wdst tn,unleashed

Eased,5th inr,5-bk,off,wdst,stout

BENJAMIN BUTTON - lay out in the score up and was back from position at dispatch. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. Slow early stages. Driver J Kriechbaumer, assisted by Trainer S Abernethy, was questioned regarding the tactics he adopted in the middle stages when electing not to shift out into an available position three back in the running line until near the 750m. Mr Kriechbaumer stated that he had been driving to instructions and felt he had saved ground by not shifting out earlier. Mr Abernethy confirmed that he had given instructions to Mr Kriechbaumer that this runner was best suited when saved for one run and ideally when that was between other horses. He further stated that it was his intention to drive the gelding in this manner where possible in the future. After considering the evidence Stewards took the matter no further other than to note the respective explanations.

Eased,5-bk inr 1200,never fired up

BENJAMIN BUTTON - back from position throughout the score up. Junior Driver D Grundmann, assisted by J Abernethy, was issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice.

5th pegs,4-bk 1800,off,rear,tidy wd

BENJAMIN BUTTON - back from position at dispatch. Junior Driver D Grundmann, assisted by J Abernethy, was issued with a warning. Raced keenly middle stages.

6th inr,4-bk,off tn,closed well mid

4th,left prkd 1800,whacked away gap

Gun run mrks,off top,chall,thwarted

6th pegs,4-bk bell,off 300,stout wd

EASTWOOD DREAM - broke near the winning post on the first occasion but soon settled.

Cut breeze thru'out,bttld on nicely

EASTWOOD DREAM - Driver M Ranger, assisted by B Butcher, was issued with a warning for failing to activate the sliding blinds and also for failing to report the non activation to Stewards as soon practicable.

Wd,up prkd 1950,upper hand last 50m

CALL SECURITY - raced wide without cover from the 1200m when unable to secure the position outside the leader which was being held by EASTWOOD DREAM. When questioned regarding his mid-race decision Driver Z Meredith stated that he felt the parked position may be available or that EASTWOOD DREAM would roll to the lead however this did not occur resulting in him being obliged to remain three wide.

Nice trip otr,peeled 450,best late

Eased,rear otr,made grnd mrks gap

IRISH WHISPERS - when questioned regarding the driving tactics adopted Junior Driver Z Meredith, assisted by P Brown, stated that it had been decided to go back from the wide barrier draw at the start and look for a trail into the race in what was the gelding's first run back from a lengthy spell. Mr Meredith further explained that this had not eventuated so he had elected to improve along the markers rounding the final turn and was satisfied with the manner in which this runner finished the event off. Mr Brown confirmed the instructions to go back early given the gate speed drawn to the inside and advised that he would expect the gelding to derive benefit from the first up run.

Eased,wd rear,prkd 950,outfinished

The start was delayed approximately 5 minutes due to IRISH WHISPERS requiring attention from the Farrier.

Ld,attckd 1450,held ld,too powerful

Wd,prkd,into ld 1500,too tenacious

Prkd,cvr,wd 1300,prkd,bttld soundly

IRISH WHISPERS - lay inwards near the 1300m when improving three wide.

Held ld,dictated terms,kicked,cght

Trld out,shffld,off,plggd away mid

Eased,8th otr,wd cvr 7th,stout fin

6th inr,up prkd 1800,gritty effort

Wd,up prkd 1100,outkicked in str

HESASHORETHING - raced wide early.

Wd,3-bk otr,3 & 4w 600,no final zip

HESASHORETHING - pulled hard during the score up and over the early stages. Raced four wide from near the 600m. Weakened in the run home.

Speared to ld,dictated,hdd 100,fght

POTTER - lay in late in the score up.

Soft trip mrks,off top,wore ldr dwn

POTTER - paced roughly early in the run home having to be steadied. Driver A Poutama reported that he didn't activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Straight to ld,set terms,too strong

Gt spd,parkd,led 500,folded late

Gt spd,led,retook,fght on strongly

A false start was declared when POTTER broke in the score up after making contact with the mobile arm checking a trailing runner. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Driver C Ferguson elected to remain in his allocated barrier position for the restart. There was a further delay to the start when POTTER required gear adjustments.

6th inr,4bk,held up,wd rear,bt slws

CLAUDE - paced roughly approaching the first turn and had to be steadied. Over-raced middle stages. Lost ground rounding the final turn.

Trld,3-bk,off,wdst,flat tyre,no zip

CLAUDE - Driver C Hackett reported that she received a punctured sulky tyre near the 500m when contacted by the trailing VILLAGE REBEL, when CLAUDE was being steadied to clear the sulky wheel of BETTOR HEIST before shifting out to trail that runner.

5th,1x1 2300,wd 600,prkd,tried hard

BENJAMIN BUTTON - badly hampered by a weakening runner leaving the back straight the final time. When questioned regarding her decision to shift out from the marker line approaching the 600m Driver M Ranger stated she had hoped to be able to shift out onto the back of CLAUDE which was improving three wide however DENNY had improved to her outside which resulted in her gelding then being held up when GANDALF commenced to weaken.

9th otr,4-bk,wd cvr 650,stout wdst

Trppd wd,rushed to ld 1400,run down

CLAUDE - raced wide before improving to the lead near the 1350m. Lay out throughout the run home.

Eased,rear otr,wd 450,wdr top,solid

CLAUDE - when questioned regarding the performance Driver C Hackett stated that the gelding had raced best when driven for one run so she elected to restrain early from the outside draw. Ms Hackett further explained that she had not received a trail into the race as she had hoped and had then been unable to make up ground due to the last 400m which was run in 27.6 seconds.

Eased,wd rear 950,prkd 800,wknd out

WHOOSHKA - underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after being delayed enroute to the track and was cleared to start. Weakened late in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance Driver F Schumacher stated that the mid-race effort to reach the parked position near the 750m before the fast quarter down the back may have taken its toll.

Wd,4-bk inr,off,prkd,ld 1100,cut bk

9th otr,1x1,3-bk 1050,no final kick

Brk,6th,1x1 1400,wd 600,stern bid

WHOOSHKA - broke briefly at the start and shifted inwards hampering trailing runners losing ground. A warning was placed on the mare's barrier manners. Over-raced middle stages.

Left prkd,pshd to ld bell,reeled in

WHOOSHKA - paced roughly shortly after the start. Shifted out on straightening for the run home.

Eased,rear otr,wd cvr,bttld on wdst