Rangiora Harness Racing Club Inc

4-3bk otr,held up tn,sound mid

3bk otr,up 3wd 600,no punch mid

STAR MAGIC - hampered by a breaking runner rounding the first bend.

5-6bk inr,5bk tn,off,steady inr

STAR MAGIC - hampered near the 2400m.

6bk inr,4bk tn,thru & brk 200

STAR MAGIC - had to be steadied when awkwardly placed close to the sulky of CEE WHO'S BETTOR when there was an easing of the pace near the 250m and broke losing all chance hampering an outside runner.

Eased,brk,6bk inr,4bk tn,brk 200

STAR MAGIC - broke after 100m losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Lay in and raced inside a track marker near the 1300m. Broke again near the 200m losing its chance. When questioned regarding the performance driver G Smith advised the horse had become unsettled after breaking at the start and paced roughly on several occasions. Mr Smith was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

4-5bk otr,angld wd,smart wd

Trld,3bk 1000,4bk,off tn,tight,brk

KINK - held up final bend. Checked and broke near the 75m when racing to the inside of PHILADELPHIA FILLY. After questioning drivers P Davis (KINK) and A Cameron (PHILADELPHIA FILLY) and viewing the replays, it was established that WRIGGLES RUFUS which was racing in advance of KINK had shifted outwards marginally simultaneous to PHILADELPHIA FILLY shifting inwards marginally resulting in KINK being placed in restricted room and breaking. After considering the matter, Stewards were unable to apportion blame to any one horse or driver and accordingly took the matter no further.

3bk otr,1x1-3wd tn,tight,steady

KINK - briefly held up early in the run home.

4-5bk inr,angld wd rear,warmd up wd

KINK - hampered by a weakening runner near the 500m.

3wd,prkd 1500,asked,weakened

KINK - raced wide early.

3-4bk otr,6bk 1150,crept closer

3wd,3bk otr,shuffld,4bk,distant tn

3wd,prkd 1500,3bk,gone by 600

NOT REALLY BLONDE - raced wide early. Paced roughly when weakening passing the 600m hampering a trailing runner. Driver R Cameron advised the mare failed to handle the track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery.

1x1-4bk otr,held up tn,imprvd wd

NOT REALLY BLONDE - held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Prkd,1x1 1600,clear 350,battled

Soon trld,urged 600,faded badly

NOT REALLY BLONDE - connections advised the mare has been served since last racing. Weakened final bend hampering trailing runners.

3bk inr,4bk 1400,paddling 400,weak

NOT REALLY BLONDE - gave ground from the 500m and lay in under pressure striking several track markers. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Prkd,1x1 1200,3bk,tiring from tn

1x1,5bk otr 700,thru mid tn,fair

BETTOR REACTION - over-raced middle stages.

Prkd,ld 1500,joined tn,wilted str

BETTOR REACTION - shifted outwards under pressure leaving the final bend having to be straightened by driver T Chmiel.

3wd,prkd 1400,askd tn,felt pinch

BETTOR REACTION - raced wide early.

Prkd-1x1,5bk otr 700,waitd wd,good

3wd,5bk otr,wdst tn,1-paced

BETTOR REACTION - raced wide early.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1400,held up,sound

3-4wd,prkd,1x1 900,clr tn,pluggd

HARRY BELAFONTE - raced wide early.

Brk,detachd,7bk inr,imprvd inr

HARRY BELAFONTE - broke shortly after the start hampering trailing runners losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

4bk otr,3-5wd tn,steady,peaked

6bk otr,3wd cvr,wd cvr tn,sound wd

HARRY BELAFONTE - crowded by a breaking runner after 200m.

Eased,7-6bk otr,3wd cvr,imprvd wd

Soon 3bk inr,waitd,imprvd up inr

KENNEDY - held up early in the run home.

Found 1x1,to trl tn,battld inr

Up,prkd 2400,no cvr,askd,fght,faded

Soon trld,sweet trip,tried hard inr

3-4bk inr,held up tn,no punch

KENNEDY - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home. Driver J Curtin advised the removable deafeners were not activated in consequence.

1x1-4bk otr,off 4-5wd tn,steady

KENNEDY - over-raced middle stages.

6-5bk otr,to inr tn,sound,held up

DULCINEA - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home.

4bk inr,off tn,held up,handy inr

DULCINEA - hampered by a breaking runner near the 2000m. Held up early in the run home.

5-4bk otr,3wd cvr tn,handy wd

DULCINEA - held up final bend and in the early stages of the run home.

3wd,4-3-4bk otr,wd tn,handy wd

DULCINEA - raced wide early.

Soon trld,waitd,thru,dashd,almost

4-5bk inr,off,3wd cvr,handy wd

Eased,3wd cvr,8bk otr,no threat wd

SARGENT BEST - when questioned regarding the performance trainer/driver M Williamson advised the gelding had raced lethargically throughout and he was very disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Wide,postd 3 wide,faded out

SARGENT BEST - raced four wide around the first bend and then three wide from the 1400m with cover and then without cover from the 1250m for the remainder of the event. Weakened from the 400m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Junior driver B Fodie (assisted by R Close) was questioned by Stewards regarding the tactics she adopted when racing wide throughout before weakening. Miss Fodie advised it was her intention to push forward and be near the lead and she believed the horse felt lethargic throughout and due to this had been unable to obtain a forward position. After considering her explanation, Stewards adjourned the matter to give it further consideration.

Eased,4bk inr,angld 150,big,almost

SARGENT BEST - held up early and middle stages of the run home.

1x1-3bk otr,4bk,3wd cvr,held up

SARGENT BEST - held up throughout the run home.

Prkd,3bk otr 900,angld,chased hard

Prkd,1x1 1600,up 3wd tn,solid mid

SARGENT BEST - raced wide early.

3-4bk inr,5bk 600,off,held up,dashd

EBURY STREET - held up final bend. Driver T Bamford was warned for using his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

Rear otr,5bk inr,off 450,sound,fdd

EBURY STREET - out of position at the start. Driver T Bamford was issued a warning. Lay inwards near the 1300m striking track markers.

5-7bk otr,off wdst,strong out wd

3wd,6bk otr,up,prkd,wilted str

Trld-3bk inr,held up tn-150,handy

EBURY STREET - held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned junior driver H Sail (assisted by R May) regarding the non activation of the removable deafeners. Mr Sail advised that the mare had been hampered when held up early in the run home and he was wary of the horse tending to lay outwards over the concluding stages. Notwithstanding this Mr Sail was reminded of his obligations to activate gear when a clear run exists and not to leave his drives open to query in future. When assessing this matter Stewards took into account Mr Sail's limited race day experience.

Trld-3bk inr 2000,held up,tidy inr

EBURY STREET - driver H Sail advised he was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

3wd cvr the trip,4wd tn,smart wd

COURAGE REACTOR - raced wide with cover throughout.

Prkd,1x1 1300,up tn,useful mid

4bk otr,5bk 800,wd rear tn,sound

COURAGE REACTOR - raced wide early.

Nice trip otr,unable to quicken up

COURAGE REACTOR - raced keenly in the score up and in the early stages.

Wd,1x1 2100,wd 1350,posted,folded

COURAGE REACTOR - the required Veterinary clearance was received. Raced wide early before obtaining a position in the running line near the 2100m. Obliged to race three wide without cover from the 1350m when unable to secure the position outside the leader which was being held by the over racing EDDIE OSEI. Weakened rounding the final turn. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed no abnormality.

Prkd-1x1,3-5bk otr 800,unwound wd

COURAGE REACTOR - had to be steadied when there was an easing of the pace near the 800m.

Cght prkd,no cvr,brave,bested 100

BETTERTHANDIVA - driver L Dobbs defended a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr Dobbs the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved. After submissions on penalty, Mr Dobbs' driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 5 May up to and including 19 May 2024 (5 days).

3bk otr,chkd,4bk,5wd tn,warmd up

BETTERTHANDIVA - hampered by a breaking runner near the 2000m.

Soon 3bk inr,struggling 500,gone

BETTERTHANDIVA - over-raced in the score up and early stages when being restrained. Weakened final bend. Driver L Dobbs will be spoken to in the coming days regarding the manner in which he used his whip rounding the final bend and in the run home.

Gt spd,led,challengd,stopd trn

LORD FANTASY - hampered final bend by a weakening runner. Stewards questioned driver B Williamson regarding the manner he drove in the early stages. Driver Williamson explained that after surrendering the lead to BETTERTHANDIVA near the 1600m he elected to shift ground outwards near the 1300m in an attempt to regain the lead believing BETTERTHANDIVA would surrender the lead to a more favoured runner at that stage of the race after working hard early. Stewards, after considering his explanation, were satisfied that Mr Williamson's actions were not unreasonable given the circumstances.