Rangiora Harness Racing Club Inc

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.

Eased,4bk inr 1400,waitd,sound inr

CRYSTAL - held up final bend.

Led,trld 1500,thru,no threat inr

CRYSTAL - weakened final bend. When questioned regarding the performance driver C Butt advised in his opinion the filly had failed to back up from its previous start last week. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

5-4bk otr,3-4wd tn,strong bid mid

CRYSTAL - raced wide early.

Prkd,cvr 1100,wd 400,ran on stoutly

4th inr,5-bk 1300,off top,no pickup

Broke start,always detatched

SPEED WRITER - broke at the start losing considerable ground

1x1-4bk otr 750,held up,battled

Brk start,bk otr,angld trn,batld

ROCKOUTRAY - broke at the start and shifted outwards making contact with the sulky of SPEED WRITER losing ground. Lost a front boot in the early stages.

Soon 3bk inr,waitd,held up in str

SPEED WRITER - held up middle and latter stages of the run home.

3bk inr,prkd 900,askd tn,felt pinch

SPEED WRITER - driver R Holmes defended a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly leaving the final bend when allowing his horse to shift inwards checking BUDDHA (R Close) which broke. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and both drivers, Mr Holmes elected to change his plea to admit the charge and the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Holmes' driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 10 March up to and including 24 March 2024 (5 days).

10th otr,4-bk bell,just fair in mid

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - out of position at the start. Driver S Clarke was issued a warning. Mr Clarke reported the gelding had cast the off front shoe prior to the start.

6th,5-bk inr,off,wdst tn,bttld away

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - driver S Clarke was issued a warning for using his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

Blew start,tacked on,rear inr,tidy

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - reared shortly after the start losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

4th inr,4-bk 2100,off,useful in mid

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - held up over the concluding stages.

5th,5-bk inr 1600,failed to fire up

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - driver S Clarke defended a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly after 200m by shifting ground inwards when insufficiently clear of RULE AGAIN and FLOOZY SUZY which were both crowded and checked resulting in RULE AGAIN breaking and losing ground. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and drivers S Clarke (THE TOWN OF LIGHT) and R Close (RULE AGAIN) the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and Mr Clarke's driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 9 March up to and including 19 March 2025 (2 days).

Brk,4bk otr,urged wd,bt slows

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - broke at the start losing ground. Driver H Stewart was warned for using her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

3bk otr,1x1,3bk 1000,no threat str

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - raced wide early. Raced greenly when being dictated wider on the track by an inside runner leaving the final bend.

5th,5-4bk inr,off tn,honest mid

THE TOWN OF LIGHT - driver S Clarke was warned for using his whip free of the rein early in the run home.

Soon 3bk inr,off tn,tried hard mid

1x1,left prkd 2100,tough bid,denied

ASSISI LOVER - co-trainers R & J Dunn were issued a warning for being late to present the mare on course.

Trld the trip,askd tn,honest inr

Trld,3-bk 1600,thru tn,stout on inr

Across to trail,3-bk 1300,no pickup

3-bk mrks to trn,off,ran on stoutly

1x1,left prkd 1400,keen,outfinished

MIDSUMMER DREAMING - over-raced middle stages.

Brk hopelessly early,pulled up (dq)

MIDSUMMER DREAMING - fractious prior to the start. Broke shortly after the start hampering a trailing runner losing all chance and was retired from the race. Placed on the unruly for future standing starts.

5th,prkd,5bk inr,4-3bk otr,battld

MIDSUMMER DREAMING - hampered by a breaking runner near the 800m. Weakened final bend.

Sped to ld,3-bk 1350,plggd in gap

4th inr,4-bk 1500,held up,no spark

MIDSUMMER DREAMING - fractious prior to the start causing a delay. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Held up early and middle stages of the run home. Lay inwards near the 200m having to be straightened by driver S Thornley.

Prkd,cvr,5th inr,1x1 500,wd,no dash

4bk inr,paddling tn,faded badly inr

MIDSUMMER DREAMING - weakened rounding the final bend.

Gate spd,trld,thru,chased well str

OHOKA COBRA - driver D Dolan was issued a warning for using her whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

5bk otr,4bk 600,angld,honest wd

OHOKA COBRA - raced wide early.

Trld-3bk inr,prkd 900,flat tn,wiltd

OHOKA COBRA - when questioned regarding the performance driver S Ottley advised the colt had over-raced through the middle stages and had been unsuited to racing parked.

Gate spd,ld 1800,joind,fght,hdd

Prkd,1x 1000,off,1-paced mid

Chkd,brk,rear inr,off,passed slows

ARISTA - trainer D Keast advised the horse has been gelded since last racing. Hampered by a breaking runner shortly after the start and broke briefly.

Up,prkd,3bk otr,wd cvr tn,battld

3bk otr,thru mid tn,sound mid

ARISTA - driver R Holmes was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

8bk otr,flatfootd,detachd,pluggd

TALLANDFAST - required the assistance of a Starting Attendant when leaving the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the filly. Raced wide early. Weakened final bend.

3bk inr,held up tn,off,imprvd mid

Last,always rear,never ran on

Found 1x1,pushd 3wd 800,battld

TALLANDFAST - raced three wide without cover from the 700m.

Trld-3bk inr,4bk 800,1-paced inr

LOCHDARRAGH - weakened final bend.

Brk early,tailed off,out of action

LOCHDARRAGH - broke shortly after the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Trld-3bk inr,prkd 1200,fght hard

Wd,brk 1850,nvr in touch after

LOCHDARRAGH - broke after 150m losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding.

Brk,detachd 8th,no threat at bk

LOCHDARRAGH - broke at the start losing considerable ground. Weakened final bend. Driver C Dalgety advised a sulky tyre deflated in the early stages. Mr Dalgety was issued a warning to start wider on the track when drawn unruly in future.

3wd,up,ld 1100,tackld,fght,cght 50

LOCHDARRAGH - hung outwards in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early.

Wd,into ld 1600,dictated,reeled in

3rd,3bk inr,waited,honest inr

Eased,buried mrks,off,passed slows

HONOUR BRIGHT NOTE - over-raced middle stages and became awkwardly placed close to the sulky of VERDUCCI near the 1200m.