Auckland Trotting Club Inc

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

Brk,tacked on,wd cvr rear,stout fin

JOLIMONT - back from position when the barriers were released then broke at the start losing ground.

Cght wd,up prkd 1100,ld 150m,too gd

JOLIMONT - raced wide early.

Reared,5th inr gap,off,wd top,stout

JOLIMONT - reared as the start was effected hampering trailing runners. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Brk,5th inr,off,wd 150,potent burst

JOLIMONT - broke for several strides at the start.

Chkd,9th inr,off,wdst tn,bttld clsr

JOLIMONT - hampered at the start. Hampered again when having to be steadied near the 1100m. Driver J Stormont had difficulty activating the deafeners early in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance Mr Stormont stated after getting too far back in the running from its 30m handicap the gelding had been unable to make up much ground with the fast closing sectionals.

Prkd,into ld 1200,dictated,powerful

5th inr,prkd 2300,lost ld dig,faded

JOLIMONT - lay in when weakening final turn placing an inside runner in restricted room.

Ld out,trld 1200,thru,whacked away

SOONER THE BETTOR - pre-race warmed.

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

Quickly to ld,allowed terms,run dwn

Wd,prkd,cvr 1100,held up,strong mid

SOONER THE BETTOR - lay inwards early stages of the run home when Driver S Phelan was activating the removable deafeners and then had some difficulty obtaining clear running.

Trld,off to ld 1450,attckd,too game

Prkd,into ld 1450,dictated,untested

SOONER THE BETTOR - driver C Hackett advised that she did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Eased,9th inr,4-bk,off,sound,no gap

MO'UNGA - held up late in the run home.

3-bk mrks,held up,chkd 120m,rallied

CHASE A DREAM - locked wheels for several strides with MO'UNGA near the 120m.

Eased,4-bk inr,keen,off,tidy in mid

MO'UNGA - over-raced early and middle stages. Contacted several track markers near the 1300m when in restricted room after an outside runner lay in. Held up late in the run home.

Gt spd,led,trail,hld up trn,chargd

MO'UNGA - lay outwards rounding the final bend.

8th,bk otr,angld widest,solid

Gate spd,ld 1500,kickd tn,stylish

MO'UNGA - driver R Close advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Brk,5bk otr,4bk,off,smart thru mid

MO'UNGA - broke at the start losing ground. Held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver R Close regarding his tactics rounding the final bend in particular his decision to remain on the back of BEACH BALL when clearance existed for him to shift out near the 550m and again shortly after when being covered by TACT MCLEOD passing the 400m. Mr Close advised that after losing ground at the start he believed it was more beneficial to receive cover into the race at that stage and when he attempted to shift outwards shortly after onto the back of the improving REPUBLICAN PARTY the gelding had hung outwards and paced roughly having to be steadied. After considering his explanation and viewing the films Stewards were satisfied Mr Close's actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

Prkd,led,trld 1600,thru,too easy

MO'UNGA - driver R Close advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Up,led 2300,slippd clear tn,easy

MO'UNGA - driver R Close advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

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

3rd inr,3-bk,thru 150,stout on mrks

LITTLE SPIKE - held up early final turn.

6th inr,off,wd 600,4w,ld 400,too gd

LITTLE SPIKE - required assistance from an attendant in the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners.

Wd,4-bk otr,3-bk 1300,off,emphatic

1x1 the trip,off tn,solid bid,hdd

3wd,eased,7bk otr,thru,held up,flew

LITTLE SPIKE - fractious prior to the start requiring assistance from a Starting Attendant. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early. Held up early in the run home.

Rear otr,3 & 4w 550,6w top,tidy fin

Eased,rear otr,wd 11th tn,tidy late

WE WALK BY FAITH - held up early final turn.

Gate spd,ld 1800,kickd,held on

Trld,3bk inr 1950,held up,flew inr

WE WALK BY FAITH - held up early in the run home.

6th,3-5bk otr,wd cvr tn,big wdst

WE WALK BY FAITH - over-raced middle stages. Held up final bend. When questioned regarding the improved performance trainer H Cullen advised the gelding had been working well and derived benefit from a change in gear.

Wd,prkd,cvr,4-bk 1200,7th 400,bttld

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed.

Wd,up prkd 1800,outfinished 150 out

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed. Raced wide early. When questioned Driver C Dalgety advised that the early effort when wide and then being left without cover outside the leader when the front was not available had taken its toll

Eased,wd cvr rear top,closed boldly

REPUBLICAN PARTY - lay in near the 1300m. Lay in again rounding the final turn.

Eased,rear inr,off,wdst tn,did best

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed.

Gun run mrks,off top,fght best late

The start was briefly delayed due to the shadow roll on REPUBLICAN PARTY requiring replacement.

Out fast,led 2200,joind,strong

REPUBLICAN PARTY - driver C Dalgety was warned for crossing the reins and performing a celebratory gesture late in the run home.

7th,prkd 1150,fght well to line

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.

Wd,4-bk otr,wd 600,ld 150,reeled in

MERLIN - raced wide early stages. Over-raced and lay outwards near the 1300m becoming awkwardly placed on the back of VILLAGE REBEL and contacted the wheel. Raced wide from the 600m.

6th,3bk otr,up,prkd 600,gritty fght

3wd,prkd 1350,up,too powerful

MERLIN - raced wide early.

3rd,ld,trld 1900,off tn,fght,peakd

1x1,shffd 5-bk,wdst rear tn,bt slws

Wd,pshd to ld 1200,run dwn 100m out

Gate spd,ld,trld 1400,fght well

Gate spd,ld 1250,kickd tn,held well

Up,3rd,up,ld 1500,fght,bested 150

RAKERO ROCKET - over-raced middle stages.

Brk badly,tackd on,inr 500,fair mid

PINSEEKER - hampered at the start. Briefly locked sulky stays with RAKERO ROCKET near the 200m.

Led,trld 1900,waitd,did best inr

RAKERO ROCKET - struck and punctured the sulky tyre of DON'T STOP DREAMING near the 250m. Authorisation of 1st placing was withheld until firstly driver B Orange (DON'T STOP DREAMING) placed 4th had viewed the replays and confirmed he did not wish to proceed with a protest and secondly Stewards were satisfied that given the margin at the finish there were no grounds for a protest to be lodged by Stewards. Driver G Smith admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly when shifting ground and striking the wheel of DON'T STOP DREAMING near the 250m. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Smith's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing tonight up to and including 17 December 2024 (4 days).