Auckland Trotting Club Inc

Eased,4-bk inr,off,blkd,strong mid

OBADIAH DRAGON - had some difficulty obtaining clear running early in the home straight.

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr rear,beat slows

9th pegs,5-bk bell,held up,no dash

OBADIAH DRAGON - held up final turn. Raced over the final track marker when in restricted room.

3-bk mrks to trn,off,blkd,useful wd

OBADIAH DRAGON - had difficulty obtaining clear running early and middle stages of the home straight.

7th otr,wd,ld 1100,swamped 100m out

6th otr,1x1 2100,off,fght on nicely

3rd inr,3-bk,off,fght mid,never clr

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - paced roughly for several strides shortly after the start losing ground. Over-raced middle stages. Lay in at various stages. Held up throughout the run home with Driver T Mitchell not activating the removable deafeners as a result.

Prkd,4-bk inr 1700,3-bk,carted,done

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - lay in rounding the first turn. Badly hampered by a weakening runner rounding the final turn losing its chance

6th pegs,4-bk,off 400,bttld away wd

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - over-raced middle stages.

7th pegs,5-bk,impr inr 400,off,bold

1x1,wd 1200,posted,ld 500,run down

APPLE OF MY EYE - Trainer Z Meredith advised Stewards that the mare would be racing in season. Checked and broke when racing to the inside of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER near the 450m losing its chance.

Prkd,urged to ld 1500,gathered in

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - when questioned regarding the performance Driver T Mitchell stated that the mare had been required to work early to cross to the lead near the 1500m and then received mid-race pressure when CAULFIELD came forward in search of the parked position.

Wd,prkd,ld,trld 1600,off,up shadows

SUNSHINE SHELBY - Co-Trainer P Blanchard reported that the gelding received a punctured sulky tyre entering the first turn.

Eased,11th pegs,6-bk,off,steady mid

SUNSHINE SHELBY - briefly jostled for a position in the running line entering the first turn.

Speared to ld,dictated,run dwn 100m

SUNSHINE SHELBY - Co-trainers P & V Blanchard were warned for not having the correct colours available.

Into trail early,thru 200,sound inr

SUNSHINE SHELBY - held up early final turn.

4th inr,4-bk,off,wd cvr 500,no more

SUNSHINE SHELBY - raced keenly early. When questioned regarding the performance Driver P Ferguson stated that he was disappointed with the run but felt the gelding had not handled the track conditions.

Wd,eased,3bk otr,1x1,wd 450,ld,cght

SUNSHINE SHELBY - the removal of the notified sliding blinds at the request of connections was approved by Stewards due to the change from a mobile to a moving start.

Nice trip otrr,no daylight,had more

BENJAMIN BUTTON - held up early and middle stages of the run home.

5th,4-bk inr,off,punishing thru mid

7th pegs,4-bk,off,closed nicely mid

BENJAMIN BUTTON - raced in restricted room leaving the back straight the final time and had to be steadied passing the 400m. It was established that Drivers D Grundmann (BENJAMIN BUTTON) and N Delany (BAILEYS PITCH ) had both shifted ground simultaneously to attempt to take up a position in the running line with blame unable to be solely attributed to either driver. Held up early stages of the run home.

Eased,rear,5-bk inr,off,bt slws mid

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.

Gun run mrks,thru lane,too powerful

6th otr,wd 550,1x1,off,rattled home

The start was briefly delayed due to the sulky on TWISTA having to be replaced.

4th inr,4-bk bell,failed to quicken

Eased,rear otr,3-bk,wd cvr,brk rear

TWISTA - broke leaving the final turn losing ground and was not persevered with.

7th otr,3-bk,wd 600,wdr,gallant bid

TWISTA - raced wide without cover from the 600m.

Chkd,10th inr,6bk,off,blkd,tidy fin

TWISTA - hampered entering the first turn and raced over track markers. Had some difficulty obtaining clear running early in the home straight.

Wd,pressed on,ld 1400,gathered in

LEO LINCOLN - raced wide early. Shifted out marginally on straightening for the run home.

Trld,3-bk 1800,closed stoutly mrks

LEO LINCOLN - held up early final turn.

3-bk mrks to trn,fght nicely on inr

LEO LINCOLN - lay in near the 1800m contacting several track markers with one marker being dislodged by the trailing AYE AYE CAPTAIN. Had difficulty obtaining clear running early in the home straight.

Nice trip otr,peeled top,too strong

4th inr,3-bk,prkd 1500,outfinished

SKIPPER - restrained to the rear early but commenced to over-race and was taken forward three wide near the 1600m. Had to be steadied near the 300m after shifting to the marker line when LEO LINCOLN moved down on to the leader's back. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 200m. When questioned regarding his failure to shift out to a three wide position approaching the 400m prior to being covered by FIFTH AND FINAL Driver T Herlihy stated that he was mindful that his runner had over-raced when caught wide over the early and middle stages. Mr Herlihy further stated that he had been aware that POTTER had commenced to weaken so felt his best option was to look to improve down on to the leader's back but that position was then taken up by LEO LINCOLN resulting in SKIPPER being held up briefly. Stewards noted Mr Herlihy's comments and took the matter no further.

3-bk mrks to trn,closed boldly pegs

7th otr,3-bk 1400,held up,off,tidy

MY COPY - had some difficulty obtaining clear running early in the home straight.

Made ld,trld 1800,thru,fght soundly

7th otr,4-bk 1800,wd cvr 300,steady

6th otr,1x1 1300,4w top,closed well

6th otr,3-bk,wd 450,breezed on past

Eased,rear otr,3-bk,wd cvr,plggd on