Auckland Trotting Club Inc

Brk,up prkd,ld,trld 1400,thru,game

LITTLE SPIKE - broke at the start losing ground.

8th otr,imp mid,wd cvr,irresistible

LITTLE SPIKE - required assistance by an attendant after becoming fractious when parading. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners.

Brk,rear inr,off,wdst tn,bttld away

LITTLE SPIKE - broke briefly at the start. Forced four and five wide when attempting to improve from the 400m.

Trld,off,ld 1600,trld 900,stout inr

Trld,3-bk 1300,stout on inr,no gaps

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.

Brk,4th inr,6-bk,1x1 1200,off,stout

THE SURFER - broke briefly at the start.

Trld-4bk inr,held up tn-100,sound

THE SURFER - cast the near fore shoe near the 1100m. Held up until late in the run home. Driver S Ottley advised she did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence.

Soon prkd,no cvr,fading from 600

THE SURFER - hung inwards final bend when weakening hampering a trailing runner.

6th,4-5-4bk inr,waitd,steady inr

THE SURFER - held up early in the run home.

Slw,prkd the majority,stuck bravely

THE SURFER - over-raced throughout.

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

4bk otr,3bk,3-4wd tn,honest mid

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - raced wide early.

7-8bk otr,3wd cvr,solid bid mid

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - tangled away. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 2450m.

Brk,rear inr,1x1,prkd 900,ld,nutted

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - broke at the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Brk,6th inr,4-bk,off,3&4w 450,stout

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - broke briefly at the start losing ground. Over-raced early and middle stages.

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.

Rear,1x1,prkd,ld 1400,too many guns

9th otr,5-bk,wd cvr 800,wdr,stout

Brk,5th,5-bk inr,off,4w tn,bold fin

JOLIMONT - broke briefly at the start. Lay in briefly approaching the 200m when improving four wide.

3rd inr,prkd,ld 950,hdd top,kept on

7th otr,3-bk bell,wd 400,bttld away

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).

3bk inr,off,prkd 1300-tn,fght well

MERLIN - driver Z Butcher admitted a breach of the Push Out Rule 869(4)(6)(b)(c) in that he shifted outwards racing into the first bend forcing MACANDREW AVIATOR and REPUBLICAN PARTY wider on the track. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Butcher's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 21 November up to and including 28 November 2025 (2 days).

3-4bk otr,3wd cvr 700,solid up inr

MERLIN - forced to race four wide near the 950m. Lay inwards rounding the final bend. Held up for a short distance near the 200m.

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 600,fght,toughest

MERLIN - had to be steadied near the 1900m after an easing of the pace.

3-5bk otr,6bk 700,angld,tidy,peakd

Rear otr,swept to ld 1300,reeled in

SOONER THE BETTOR - driver H Orange dropped his whip near the 700m when activating gear. Commenced to over-race for a distance from the 600m when MERLIN shied and shifted up the track causing Mr Orange considerable difficulty. Lay inwards striking track markers rounding the final bend.

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.

4bk otr,3-4wd 450,no impact wdst

Up,led,trld 2800,thru,sound,peakd

Up,ld 2000,tackld,ld,fght hard,cght

AKUTA - pre-race warmed.

4th,up,ld,trld 1400,thru,honest

AKUTA - the required veterinary clearance was received.

7th,up,prkd 1200,askd,felt pinch

AKUTA - when questioned regarding the performance co-trainer/driver M Purdon advised he was disappointed with the gelding's effort despite racing parked for a distance. Mr Purdon further added that not having raced for nearly one month may have been a contributing factor. A post-race veterinary examination including an endoscopy at the request of connections detected a degree of internal exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage that may have affected the horse's performance. A veterinary clearance will be required prior to racing next.

Soon parkd,levelled up trn,classy

Slow,7th,3wd cvr,postd,prkd,hdd

AKUTA - broke briefly at the start.

Into trail early,off prkd 600,tough

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

Wd,1x1,prkd 1300,tried hard,denied