Auckland Trotting Club Inc

Brk,wd,prkd,ld 1550,dictated,gritty

SOONER THE BETTOR - broke at the start losing ground.

Ld out,dictated,held on tenaciously

SOONER THE BETTOR - Driver H Orange was warned for allowing his runner to shift inwards rounding the final turn contacting track markers. Shifted out on straightening for the run home but was immediately corrected. Shifted in marginally approaching the 50m locking wheels briefly with an inside runner.

Ld out,trld 1450,strong fin on mrks

WE WALK BY FAITH - begun awkwardly. Held up near the 150m and shifted outwards placing JOLIMONT in restricted room which had to be steadied and with CHASE A DREAM also being hampered. Hampered near 50m when an inside runner lay outwards and held up thereafter. Driver M White wished to view the films in relation to a possible protest being lodged against the 2nd placed (SOONER THE BETTOR) on the grounds of interference in the run home. After viewing the films Mr White declined the opportunity to protest and placings were duly authorised. Driver M White admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly near the 150m when shifting ground outwards. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr White's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 10 May up to and including 23 May 2025 (4 days).

Lost long ld dig,prkd,ld tn,run dwn

SOONER THE BETTOR - pre-race warmed. Over-raced middle stages. Shifted ground marginally under pressure near the 150m placing MERLIN and MO'UNGA in restricted room momentarily.

Ld out,trld 1200,thru,whacked away

SOONER THE BETTOR - pre-race warmed.

4-bk mrks,off,3-bk otr,off,plggd on

4th inr,4-bk 1550,off 350,ran on wd

8th otr,4-bk bell,wd 700,wdr,chased

LITTLE SPIKE - raced four wide from the 500m.

Eased,rear inr,off,wd 450,stout fin

LITTLE SPIKE - improved wide from the 450m.

5th,5-bk inr,prkd 1600,wilted out

LITTLE SPIKE - weakened leaving the final bend.

5th otr,3-bk,peeled 4w top,plggd on

LITTLE SPIKE - locked wheels with an inside runner briefly near the 200m.

Chkd & brk early 6th,out of play

LITTLE SPIKE - checked and broke near the 1400m losing all chance.

8th otr,5-bk bell,wdst top,bold fin

Cut breeze thru'out,stuck on gamely

Brk,9th otr,4-bk bell,wdst,did well

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - broke at the start losing ground.

Gun run mrks,thru,chkd,strong pegs

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - shifted out marginally approaching the 50m locking wheels briefly with an outside runner.

Chkd,rear,3-bk inr,trld 600,fght on

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - checked racing into the first bend when AKUTA shifted down to trail the leader resulting in the horse losing ground.

Chkd,3 & 4-bk mrks,held up,chkd/brk

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - hampered racing into the first bend. Over-raced middle stages. Held up rounding the final bend. Awkwardly placed to the inside of IRON BRIGADE and broke when both runners shifted ground simultaneously when attempting to utilise the passing lane near the 150m. Stewards questioned drivers C Hackett and G Sugars regarding this matter and after hearing their evidence and viewing the replays Stewards were unable to apportion blame onto any one horse or driver and took the matter no further.

3bk otr,4bk 800,3wd cvr,sound wd

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - hung inwards shortly after the start placing an inside runner in restricted room momentarily.

Brk,1x1,left prkd 1550,flat top,fdd

COLD CHISEL - broke briefly shortly after the start.

3-5bk otr,off wdr tn,steady mid

COLD CHISEL - driver T Herlihy dropped his foot from the sulky footrest for a distance rounding the first bend when attempting to activate gear. Mr Herlihy was spoken to regarding this and advised he is to make a better effort to return his foot to the sulky footrest at the earliest opportunity. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed a suspected fracture to the off hind pastern with the gelding being treated by the on course Veterinarian prior to being transported in the Horse Ambulance to the Canterbury Equine Clinic. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to resuming.

Eased,3wd cvr,emergd,thru,flat tyre

JUSTCALLMEMIKI - raced wide early. Over-raced middle stages. Lay outwards near the 350m and locked wheels momentarily with COLD CHISEL. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding.

4th inr,1x1 1600,held up,wd,bold wd

Eased,rear otr,1x1 bell,wd,bold bid

Trld,3-bk 1550,flat 350,plggd away

LADY OF THE LIGHT - struck and dislodged a track marking rounding the final turn. Driver M McKendry was issued a warning.

5th,4-bk inr,3-bk,off,steady in gap

6th inr,5-bk,off,wd 600,5w,no extra

LADY OF THE LIGHT - raced four wide from the 550m.

Wd,up prkd thru'out,couldn't stick

LADY OF THE LIGHT - raced wide early. Weakened final bend.

8th,4-bk inr 1250,held up,not in it

LADY OF THE LIGHT - held up throughout the run home.

Wd,up prkd 1800,bttld away soundly

LADY OF THE LIGHT - raced wide early.

Prkd,ld 1850,dictated,collared late

3rd inr,3-bk,prkd 1500,ld 150m,cght

Made ld,trtld 1550,off,closed hard

4th inr,3-bk,thru,stout mrks,no gap

THE SURFER - lay in contacting a track marker near the 1250m. Held up early final turn and late in the run home.

Lost ld dig,eased,4th inr,1x1,solid

4bk otr,3wd,ld,trld,2nd tn,fght hrd

6th otr,swept to ld 1100,kicked clr

THE SURFER - lay inwards near the 100m but was corrected by Driver D Butcher.

Speared to ld,dictated,chopped down

THE SURFER - lay outwards approaching the 200m having to be corrected by its driver.

Fired to ld,trld 1600,did best mrks

THE SURFER - lay outwards over the concluding stages.

7th otr,1x1,3-bk 850,4w tn,bold fin

TWO EYE SEE - over-raced middle stages. Locked stays briefly with THE SURFER rounding the final bend. Weakened in the run home.

Prkd,into ld 1600,dictated,powerful

THE SURFER - the murphy blind shifted after becoming detached over the early stages.

Soon ld,dictated terms,mastered 50m

8th inr,5bk 1550,held up,off,useful

1x1 in rear,off,closed strongly wd

The start was delayed due to the boring pole being removed from JOLIMONT.

7th inr,5-bk 1450,rear top,bttld on

WE WALK BY FAITH - begun awkwardly. Held up near the 150m and shifted outwards placing JOLIMONT in restricted room which had to be steadied and with CHASE A DREAM also being hampered. Hampered near 50m when an inside runner lay outwards and held up thereafter. Driver M White wished to view the films in relation to a possible protest being lodged against the 2nd placed (SOONER THE BETTOR) on the grounds of interference in the run home. After viewing the films Mr White declined the opportunity to protest and placings were duly authorised. Driver M White admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly near the 150m when shifting ground outwards. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr White's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 10 May up to and including 23 May 2025 (4 days).

6th,6-bk inr,5-bk 1600,plggd on inr

Pshd along to hold ld,hdd top,faded

JOLIMONT - lay inwards contacting a track marker rounding the final bend resulting in the trailing RAKERO ROCKET also contacting a track marker. Weakened leaving the final bend.

Prkd,cvr 1800,flat 400,dropped away

JOLIMONT - weakened rounding the final turn. When questioned Driver T Herlihy advised that the gelding had raced lethargically and been under pressure with a lap to run. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Stewards will follow up with Trainer A Donnelly in the coming days.

Fired to ld,allowed terms,held well

6th otr,1x1 1550,wd 350,bold effort

MERLIN - Co-Trainer B Purdon advised Stewards that it was connections' intention to drive the entire for one run given he was first up after a lengthy spell and the 20m handicap. This information was passed on to the Commentator for public dissemination. When questioned regarding the performance Driver Z Butcher stated that although he had received a good run when trailing on the outer, he had been further back off the leader when the tempo increased than he would have liked after COLD CHISEL hadn't taken him forward as he had hoped. Mr Butcher added that he was satisfied with the manner in which MERLIN had finished the event off given the circumstances.

Eased,rear,3-bk inr,off,blkd,fin on

SOONER THE BETTOR - pre-race warmed. Over-raced middle stages. Shifted ground marginally under pressure near the 150m placing MERLIN and MO'UNGA in restricted room momentarily.

Wd cvr,prkd,cvr 1200,3rd,stout mrks

MERLIN - raced wide early and middle stages before crossing to the parked position near the 1400m.

8th otr,wd cvr 400,wdr top,bold fin

MERLIN - pre-race warmed. Driver Z Butcher was questioned in relation to an incident near the 1100m where KANGO was able to shift away from the marker line. Mr Butcher stated that Driver D Butcher (KANGO) had been clear to commence the shift with MERLIN then improving to be outside that runner's wheel before he was able to steady the entire back down into the running line. Mr Butcher also advised that the off side shortener pin had released prematurely prior to him activating the remaining shortener pin near the 1000m.