Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Inc

7th otr,1x1,3-bk,wd 450,ld,staunch

BOBBY BOY - locked sulky stays with an inside runner just short of the winning post.

5th otr,4-bk,wd cvr 500,stern claim

BOBBY BOY - over-raced middle stages.

11th otr,wd cvr 700,wdr,closed hard

Eased,rear inr,off,wd cvr,no pickup

Trld,3-bk 1500,off,sound effort mid

BOBBY BOY - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home.

Sped to ld,trld 1850,thru,fght mrks

Made ld,set terms,mastered 50m out

Speared to ld,set terms,chopped dwn

Ld out,attckd,trld 1300,carted,done

GLADYS GREENLAND - Trainer J Young was warned for presenting the filly with removable deafeners which were not notified. Hampered by a weakening runner rounding final turn and early stages of the run home losing its chance.

Gate speed to ld,dictated,too slick

into 1x1,held up badly,late on mrks

GLADYS GREENLAND - hampered by a tiring runner rounding the final bend and was then held up early in the run home.

4th,4-bk inr,prkd 1400,outfin,chkd

LEO LINCOLN - held up rounding the final turn and in the early stages of the run home. Briefly locked wheels with THE MIGHTY SULLY near the 100m when both runners shifted ground.

6th,6-bk inr,off,8th tn,bt slws inr

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr rear,no pick-up

A false start was declared at the first attempt when THE MIGHTY SULLY checked MCKENDRICK early in the score up. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners.

Prkd,trld 1800,off tn,up in shadows

THE MIGHTY SULLY - Driver M White admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) in that he shifted his gelding inwards near the 1800m when not sufficiently clear which resulted in an inside runner being checked and pacing roughly. After viewing the replays and hearing penalty submissions the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr White's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on the 22 March up to and including 4 April 2024 (3 days).

Wd,prkd,into ld 1200,hdd top,wilted

THE MIGHTY SULLY - lay in approaching the first turn and paced roughly for several strides. Raced wide early stages. Weakened rounding the final turn. When questioned regarding the performance Driver S Burley expressed disappointment and could offer no tangible explanation. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality. Trainer M White advised Stewards on 3 February that although he had initially intended not racing on the 2nd day, he had changed his mind after the gelding had recovered well and scoped clear. Mr White further advised that he could only attribute the disappointing run to having had to work to secure the lead in the prevailing blustery conditions.

Made ld,dictated,held on resolutely

SPIRITED LOU - hampered briefly on straightening for the run home when THE MIGHTY SULLY shifted outwards. Driver M McKendry advised that his chances hadn't been affected.

8th otr,5-bk 900,wd cvr 500,bt slws

CLAUDE - hampered when there was an easing of the pace near the 1500m.

4th,4-bk inr,prkd,cvr,wd 900,wilted

CLAUDE - raced wide from the 900m after having been shifted up the track by MAHIA DREAMIN. Weakened final turn.

7th otr,3-bk,3 & 4w 500,fght on gap

CLAUDE - raced wide early before securing a position in the running line after having shifted BENJAMIN BUTTON inwards.

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.

6th otr,4-bk 900,carted,never in it

PROVISEUR - hampered when there was an easing of the pace near the 1500m. Held up by a weakening runner rounding the final bend.

6th otr,4-bk bell,wd cvr rear,solid

PROVISEUR - held up final turn and early stages of the run home.

8th inr,4-bk,off,held up,strong inr

Thru prkd,3-bk inr 1800,blkd,steady

PROVISEUR - had some difficulty obtaining a clear run to the inside of CLEAR LEFT in the passing lane in the run home.

10th,5-bk otr 1500,wd top,no pickup

PROVISEUR - weakened in the run home.

Cut breeze thru'out,ld top,run down

PROVISEUR - began awkwardly. Weakened in the run home.

Eased,4-bk mrks,off,ran on,no gaps

BENJAMIN BUTTON - lay in and contacted track markers rounding the first turn.

4th inr,3-bk 1800,bttld away in gap

HAIL LUCIUS - Stewards investigated an incident rounding the first bend where BENJAMIN BUTTON paced roughly and struck track markers when HAIL LUCIUS shifted down to trail the leader. After hearing the evidence of drivers S Abernethy (BENJAMIN BUTTON), A Poutama (HAIL LUCIUS) and viewing the replays Stewards could not apportion blame solely on to any one driver and took the matter no further.

7th inr,4-bk,held up,stout mid,blkd

BENJAMIN BUTTON - held up until late in the run home.

Gun run mrks,thru lane,tried hard

6th inr,4-bk 1800,5th top,no pickup

BENJAMIN BUTTON - weakened in the run home.

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

BENJAMIN BUTTON - over-raced middle stages.

9th otr,3-bk,wd 400,fght on stoutly

6th otr,1x1 1200,wd 450,just denied

COTE D'AZUR - shifted out late in the run home and momentarily came into contact with the sulky of BETTOR GRUNTER. Authorisation of 1st placing was withheld until Stewards viewed the replay of the final stages and questioned Driver T Mitchell (BETTOR GRUNTER - 2nd placing) who confirmed his chances had not been affected.

Eased,wd cvr rear 400,bt stragglers

BETTOR GRUNTER - out of position at the start. Driver T Mitchell was issued with a warning for failing to maintain his barrier position. When questioned regarding the performance Mr Mitchell stated that the gelding was not suited to the stop start nature of today's race. Mr Mitchell further advised that he had been unable to release the deafeners due to the cord breaking.

Eased,8th otr,3-bk,wd cvr,bold fin

6th otr,1x1 1500,wd 300,closed hard

Eased,wd cvr rear 400,closed nicely