Rangiora Harness Racing Club Inc

12th,rear pegs bell,off,bt slws mid

9th inr,4-bk,flat 8th 400,no pickup

TIMES LIKE THESE - lay inwards near the 800m striking a track marker.

Brk early,10th otr,wd,ld 1500,slick

TIMES LIKE THESE - broke shortly after the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Brk,rear,6-bk inr,4-bk tn,flew mrks

TIMES LIKE THESE - broke shortly after the start losing ground.

Eased,detachd,9th,losing touch 500

TIMES LIKE THESE - weakened final bend.

Brk,9th,4bk otr,rough,detached

TIMES LIKE THESE - broke shortly after the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Over-raced middle stages.

3-4-5bk inr,waitd,imprvd mid

Held ld,eyed 700m,responded bravely

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - lay outwards throughout the run home.

Soon prkd,3bk inr 750,waitd,sound

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - over-raced when racing in the parked position through the early and middle stages. Held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver C Ferguson regarding the tactics he adopted near the 900m when electing to shift down to the marker line as opposed to remaining in the one one position. Mr Ferguson explained that he felt that his best option was to shift inwards and follow ROCKINGOOD and DEADLINE who were both favoured runners rather than remain in the one out line following NICKEL AND DIME which had improved quickly to race in the parked position through the middle stages as this would have resulted in him having to improve wide on the final bend. After considering the matter, Stewards were satisfied that Mr Ferguson's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

1x1,3bk otr 1100,chkd 500,bt slows

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - raced greenly near the 450m. Weakened leaving the final bend.

3 & 4-bk mrks,off,6th top,wd,potent

RACK'EM UP - broke in the score up however was in position at the start.

5th,prkd 1200,1x1 700,off,handy

RACK'EM UP - paced roughly in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Hung inwards throughout the run home having to be corrected by driver J Cox on several occasions. Mr Cox was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

Gate spd,trld,askd 3rd tn,tired 150

SACETAS - when questioned regarding the performance driver R May advised the gelding had travelled well but had failed to respond when placed under pressure inside the final 400m and had proved disappointing.

Wd,up prkd 1250,fght on tenaciously

SACETAS - raced wide early.

Gate spd,led,hassled,far too classy

SACETAS - trainer T Bagrie was warned for the late notification that the gelding would be racing with a pacifier.

3rd,3bk inr,4bk 1000,off,honest inr

Gate spd,ld,held ld,fght,grittiest

3bk otr,held up tn,honest mid

SACETAS - slow to leave the pre-race formation and attempted to buck early in the score up. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Held up final bend.

Thru,ld 1700,fght hard,just nabbd

3pegs,brk brfly 1900,solid innr

TREASURE COVE - lay inwards and contacted track markers near the 1850m then broke briefly losing ground.

Soon 4pegs,off 450,nice wn clear

4th,led 1800,cleard out,big

TREASURE COVE - driver T Williams reported he did not release the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

1x1,soon 1x2,out 400,chargd away

TREASURE COVE - driver T Williams reported he did not release the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

3-4bk inr,1x1 900,off,earnest mid

TREASURE COVE - over-raced middle stages.

Chkd,8th otr,5bk,wd 700,chal,denied

TREASURE COVE - hampered by a breaking runner at the start. Again hampered by a breaking runner after 150m. Raced wide from the 700m.

3-4bk otr,still last tn,no impact

TREASURE COVE - over-raced middle stages.

9th,5bk otr,3wd rear 400,honest wd

TREASURE COVE - connections advised Stewards the colt has had its joints treated since last racing. Over-raced middle stages.

1x1-4bk otr,5th tn,handy mid

Eased,4bk otr,3wd cvr 500,useful wd

Thru,tight,1x1,up,prkd,too classy

RENALDO - crowded and checked when an outside runner shifted inwards racing into the first bend with driver R May being badly unbalanced and unseated in the sulky for some distance. Mr May advised he sustained a punctured sulky tyre in this incident.

Eased,5-6bk otr,wd rear tn,handy

Soon left parkd,fght on well

1x1-5bk otr,3wd 700,chkd wd 250

RENALDO - paced roughly in the early stages. Checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.

Green,detachd,rear inr,faded bk

RENALDO - paced roughly in the score up and was out of position at the start. Weakened from the 600m. Driver K Butt advised the gelding had felt indifferent in its action. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Connections advised they will be making adjustments to the shadow roll for the second day.

3-4bk inr,off mid tn,imprvd mid

3-4bk otr,3wd cvr,off,imprvd mid-wd

Fired to ld,dictated,held on gamely

Soon prkd,no cvr,fght hard in str

Wd,prkd 1750,3wd 650,up,fght well

AMERICAN BLAZE - raced wide from the 600m.

Wd cvr,1x1 1400,3-bk,3 & 4w tn,bold

AMERICAN BLAZE - raced wide early.

Gt spd,parkd,led 400,v brave

4bk otr,3bk 800,off,useful bid wd

AMERICAN BLAZE - hampered by a breaking runner near the 850m.

5th,5bk inr 800,3bk tn,lockd wheels

MANDALA - shifted inwards marginally early in the run home and locked sulky wheels with AMERICAN BLAZE with both sulkies remaining locked until after the finish line. Following the race, driver W House (AMERICAN BLAZE) placed 5th, lodged a protest against 4th placing being awarded to MANDALA (T Williams) alleging interference in the run home. After viewing replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and both drivers the Adjudicative Committee upheld the protest and relegated MANDALA to 5th placing with AMERICAN BLAZE promoted to 4th placing. After considering the matter Stewards elected to take no action against Mr Williams due to the minimal inwards movement of his horse.