Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Inc

Brk,4th inr,4-bk,off,bttld away mid

LITTLE SPIKE - fractious prior to the start. Broke briefly at the start.

6-5bk otr,4-5wd cvr tn,soared,just

Ld out,trld 2400,thru,chased boldly

LITTLE SPIKE - lay inwards just short of the winning post placing an inside runner in restricted room briefly.

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

Chkd,7th inr,off,held up rear,tidy

JOLIMONT - checked by an inside runner shortly after the start losing ground.

Trppd wd,up prkd 800,fght on gamely

JOLIMONT - raced wide early and middle stages before crossing to the parked position near the 800m.

Chkd,5th inr,4-bk,off,bttld solidly

JOLIMONT - hampered and broke briefly at the start.

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.

Chkd,6th,6-bk inr,1x1,3bk,wdst,bold

AKUTA - checked by an inside runner shortly after the start losing ground.

Trld,3-bk 2400,closed stoutly mrks

AKUTA - raced over the final track marker in the run home when outside runner lay inwards.

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.

Brk,rear inr,off,wd,prkd,outkicked

MERLIN - broke at the start and shifted out despite the efforts of driver Z Butcher checking outside runners losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the horse.

Thru to ld 2400,allowed terms,slick

MERLIN - driver Z Butcher reported that he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

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.