Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Inc

3rd inr,off,ld 1700,gobbled up 150m

MIKE ROSS - Stewards investigated a possible breach of the Push Out Rule entering the first turn when MIKE ROSS raced wider on the track after CHANGE TACT shifted out from the marker line. After viewing the replays it was established that Driver T Herlihy (CHANGE TACT) had commenced his outward movement prior to MIKE ROSS (P Ferguson) reaching his sulky wheel and no further action was deemed necessary. Briefly placed in restricted room leaving the final turn.

Nice trip otr,peeled top,steady gap

1x1,3-bk,4-bk inr,off,blkd,late inr

MIKE ROSS - lay inwards entering the first bend simultaneously to DEAR GOD laying outwards with both runners having to be steadied and corrected by their drivers. Hampered by a weakening runner near the 800m.

1x1,4-bk 1200,wd 600,wd cvr,plggd

MIKE ROSS - lay in near the 500m as IDOLOU shifted ground outwards to its inside and paced roughly for several strides with trailing runners having to be steadied. Lay in again near the 350m.

5th inr,off,wd cvr 800,plggd on wdr

CAPTAINS SECRET - raced four wide for a distance near the 700m. Lay inwards approaching the 150m when being shifted wider by MIKE ROSS contacting that runner's sulky wheel and paced roughly for several strides. After hearing from drivers P Ferguson (MIKE ROSS), J Dickie (CAPTAINS SECRET) and viewing the replays Stewards were satisfied that no further action was required.

7th inr,5-bk 1750,off,bt straggler

MIKE ROSS - lay in when improving to the inside of DEMON BLUE near the 1750m and contacted track markers.

Trld out,4-bk 1200,failed to run on

MIKE ROSS - weakened in the run home.

8th otr,3-bk,wd 400,fght on in gap

MIKE ROSS - briefly hampered near the 1050m.

Ld out,trld 1450,thru,bttld solidly

6th otr,1x1,prkd,ld 1300,eyed,game

BENSON DUDE - lay outwards when leading passing the 1100m and shifted up the track.

7th inr,5-bk,off,rear top,plggd wd

BENSON DUDE - returned to the stabling area during the Preliminary after the near side spreader broke which could not be replaced.

9th otr,wd,prkd 1850,cvr,3-bk,faded

7th inr,4-bk,off 500,no final punch

BENSON DUDE - paced roughly for several strides at the start.

4th,1x1,prkd,ld,trld 1100,outkicked

Soft trip mrks,every chance,fght on

Chkd,7th,swept to ld 1350,reeled in

BENSON DUDE - checked by a breaking runner shortly after the start.

Prkd,pshd to ld 1500,held on gamely

5th otr,1x1 1750,held up,off,steady

3rd inr,brk,3-bk otr,held up,forget

BENSON DUDE - paced roughly then broke briefly entering the first turn.

5th inr,3-bk,off,failed to quicken

IM NOT THE MAID - driver N Delany was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

4th inr,3-bk 1700,off,never sparked

Tracked pacemaking wnnr,fght nicely

Eased,rear inr,failed to work close

4th,4-bk inr 1800,rear,rough,wilted

IM NOT THE MAID - paced roughly rounding the bends on several occasions. Weakened final bend.

5th inr,5-bk,1x1,wd 300,no pick-up

IM NOT THE MAID - lay in passing the 200m.

Wd,up prkd 1700,cvr 1050,no pick-up

IM NOT THE MAID - weakened late in the run home.

Wd,3-bk otr,1x1,held up,off,best wd

IM NOT THE MAID - held up final turn.

Nice sit otr,off top,closed stoutly

Prkd,into ld 1750,dictated,too game

Straight to ld,got terms,chopped bk

1x1,3-bk bell,wd 300,plggd away gap

6th,1x1 1450,off,closed stoutly wd

Eased,wd rear 1300,lost ld dig,wknd

ALWAYSBESECRET - Trainer N Chilcott was warned for presenting the filly to race with an anti-choke device which was not notified.

Drppd to trail early,thru,fght well

ALWAYSBESECRET - over-raced middle stages.

Eased,6th inr,off,wdst top,bold fin

6th pegs,3-bk bell,got split,too gd

Eased,wd cvr rear,brk 1800m,no hope

DIXIELAND DELIGHT - raced wide early before being restrained towards the rear. Broke near the 1750m losing all chance. A warning was placed on the mare's racing manners.

Eased,9th otr,5-bk,wd cvr,no pickup

Wd,pressed to ld 1500,gathered in

3-bk mrks,held up,off,bold late mid

BELL FIRE - paced roughly for a stride passing the 100m after having been shifted wider by DIXIELAND DELIGHT. Driver H Orange was spoken to advisedly in relation to the manner in which he drove in this incident.

Off pegs,7th otr,wd to ld bell,easy

ENZO - commenced to improve wide from the 500m but was then forced four wide by an inside runner. Paced roughly rounding the final turn. When questioned regarding the tactics he adopted in the middle stages Driver Z Butcher advised that he had initially commenced to follow DIXIELAND DELIGHT when that runner improved forward three wide near the 1150m but that his gelding had paced roughly so he elected to steady back down into the running line before then attempting to improve racing down the back the last time. Stewards noted Mr Butcher's comments.

Wd,8th otr,wd 500,wdr tn,strong fin

DIXIELAND DELIGHT - raced wide early before securing a position midfield in the running line.

Ld,trld 1750,thru lane,chased hard

Ld out,trld 1450,thru,pounced,stoic

Eased,wd rear,prkd 1300,outfinished

Eased,8th otr,5-bk,wd cvr 550,sound

AUCTIONEER - lay in throughout the score up and was back from position at dispatch. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. Lay in near the 400m despite the efforts of Driver T Mitchell checking an inside runner. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming.

Wd,3-bk otr 1400,wd 500,chkd & brk

AUCTIONEER - broke after contacting the sulky wheel of ULTIMATE MACH near the 500m when that horse commenced to shift ground outwards checking trailing runners and losing all chance. When questioned Driver T Mitchell advised that AUCTIONEER had lay in when being steadied to take a trail on ULTIMATE MACH which resulted in the contact occurring. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing manners.

Eased,4-bk otr 1600,7th top,tidy wd

Gate speed to hold ld,kicked,cut bk

AUCTIONEER - lay outwards under pressure throughout the run home. Driver T Mitchell was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion early in the run home.

9th otr,4-bk,wd 450,failed to spark

AUCTIONEER - cleared from the unruly for future mobile starts. Weakened in the run home.

Eased,rear otr,prkd,cvr,no pick-up

Eased,rear otr,plggd clsr thru mid

Eased,rear,4-bk inr,3-bk top,potent

DREAMS OF ERIC - paced roughly in the run home.

Wd,into ld 1750,dictated,reeled in

Ld out,trld 1800,thru,stout on mrks

Esaed,5-bk inr,off,wd cvr,plggd wdr

DREAMS OF ERIC - back from position at the candy pole. A warning was placed on the colt's barrier manners.

Ld out,trld bell,thru,outkicked inr

CAULFIELD - when questioned regarding the performance Driver D Butcher advised that he was disappointed with the effort in what was the gelding's first start back from a spell following on from a moderate trial leading into the event. Mr Butcher further advised that CAULFIELD probably won't resume for several weeks.

Won early ld duel,hdd 150m,bttld on

Prkd,cvr 1600,3-bk,wd rear,tidy fin

Fired to ld,set terms,tckld,kept on

Left prkd the majority,stuck gamely

5th otr,1x1,prkd 1250,up in shadows

4th,4-bk inr,off,wdst rear tn,stout

CAULFIELD - a hopple side carrier came adrift during the running. No action was taken against caretaker trainer S Dickson after it was established that tape had been applied to all carriers.

Gun run mrks,thru lane,

Straight to ld,set terms,gunned dwn

Prkd,ld,trld,3-bk,prkd 450,outkickd

RUN MASON RUN - Driver S Abernethy was reminded of his obligation to drive his runner out fully to the finish line where circumstances permit.

8th otr,imp 4w 600,fght on in gap

RUN MASON RUN - raced four wide from the 600m.

Ld untested,handed 1500,bold on inr

RUN MASON RUN - over-raced through the middle stages. Lay in late in the run home contacting a track marker.

Wd,up prkd 1500,stuck to task well

RUN MASON RUN - raced wide early.

Trld,3-bk 1600,off,stout effort mid

RUN MASON RUN - held up early final turn.

Gate speed to hold ld,dictated,cght

8th otr,4-bk,wd 400,bttld away gap

6th otr,1x1 1600,off top,no pick-up

RUN MASON RUN - lay inwards shortly after the start checking an inside runner. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners.

6th otr,5-bk 1250,wd top,beat slows

CRACKER ROCK - shifted ground outwards near the 200m checking CAPTAIN ZENZI which broke with resultant interference to RUN MASON RUN which also broke with both these runners losing all chance. Driver D Butcher admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly in this incident. After viewing the replays and considering submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Butcher's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 7 February up to and including 13 February 2025 (2 days). When questioned regarding the performance Mr Butcher stated that the gelding had got too far back in the running after going back from its wide barrier draw early.

Gate speed to dictate,hdd 350,faded

Wd,eased,rear inr,off,no final zip

HEAVEN HIGH - lay inwards at various stages and in particular rounding the final turn when contacting track markers losing ground. Driver M Ranger advised that the gelding had locked on the outside rein placing her at a considerable disadvantage. A warning was placed on this runner's racing manners.

Prkd,cvr bell,flat 500,brk,pulld up

HEAVEN HIGH - raced in restricted room near the 300m and then broke when to the inside of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, which lay in despite the efforts of Driver T Mitchell. HEAVEN HIGH was then retired from the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with Trainer O Gillies in the coming days.

Gate speed to dictate,kicked,too gd

HEAVEN HIGH - shifted out early in the run home when Driver M Ranger activated the removable deafeners briefly hampering an outside runner but was immediately corrected.

Eased,wd 1100,wd cvr rear 700,bold

HEAVEN HIGH - raced wide early before being restrained to the rear. Driver J Darby was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. Mr Darby was also warned to make a greater effort to maintain a straight course in the run home in future.

Ld out,trld 1450,thru,outfin on inr

Ld out,trld 1150,thru,closed boldly

Wd,prkd,cvr 1500,wd 400,breezed by

Eased,5-bk inr,prkd 1050,too gritty

1x1,left prkd 1800,stuck on bravely

HEAVEN HIGH - over-raced middle stages when outside the leader.