NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Soon 3bk otr,waitd,thru,hung,ok

6th otr,1x1,4-bk 1000,held up,solid

STYLE COUNCIL - held up early in the run home. Cleared from the unruly for future standing starts.

5th otr,chkd wd,prkd 1700,ld,gritty

STYLE COUNCIL - briefly crowded by an outside runner shortly after the start.

3bk inr,off tn,lackd gaps,sound

1x1-3bk otr,held up 400,solid wd

STYLE COUNCIL - hampered by a weakening runner near the 500m.

Wd,1x1,prkd 1400,game bid,thwarted

Trld,3-bk bell,held up,off,fght mid

STYLE COUNCIL - placed in restricted room entering the first bend having to be restrained by driver H Sail. Held up final bend.

Gun run mrks,thru lane,tried hard

3 & 4-bk mrks,off,wd cvr rear,sound

4-5bk otr,3-4wd cvr,useful mid

Left prkd,cvr 1300,off tn,fght well

THE BETTOR MAJOR - locked wheels briefly with KOWHAI NUGGET in the run home. Driver M Maynard was issued a warning for using his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

Brk,rear inr,plggd away along mrks

THE BETTOR MAJOR - broke at the start hampering a trailing runner losing ground.

7th inr,off,wd cvr,wdr,chkd,strong

THE BETTOR MAJOR - raced wide with cover for a distance from the 1000m. Hampered by an inside runner which shifted outwards in the run home resulting in the gelding's hind leg making contact with the sulky wheel of KOWHAI NUGGET near the 100m.

Cght 3wd,prkd 1200,on retreat 600

THE BETTOR MAJOR - raced wide early. Weakened final bend hampering a trailing runner.

Eased,5bk inr,buried tn,honest inr

THE BETTOR MAJOR - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver S Tomlinson. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early. Over-raced middle stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Eased,3bk inr,flat 400,imprvd mid

Cut breeze thru'out,ground ldr down

4th,4-bk inr 1500,off,ran on in gap

THE BETTOR MAJOR - over-raced middle stages.

5th,5bk inr,4bk 1000,sound in mid

AUNTIE DEB - driver A Faulks dropped his foot from the sulky footrest when activating gear near the 200m.

5th,found 1x1,angld,steady mid

10th otr,wd 750,posted,no final zip

AUNTIE DEB - over-raced middle stages. Raced wide from the 700m.

6th otr,prkd,cvr 1150,wd 625m,slick

3-4th,4bk inr,off 350,smart bid wd

Wd cvr rear,up prkd 600,bttld well

AUNTIE DEB - raced wide with cover in the early and middle stages.

Soon 4bk otr,pushd 3-4wd,tired

AUNTIE DEB - forced to race wide from the 800m. Weakened from the 600m.

Tardy,4bk inr bell,off,blkd,belated

AUNTIE DEB - slow in the early stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Rough,5-bk inr,wd rear 600,no dash

AUNTIE DEB - driver C Negus admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that she drove carelessly near the 1500m by displaying a lack of control when attempting to activate the hopple shorteners resulting in her horse racing inside several track markers and pacing roughly. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300. Mrs Negus advised she had been unable to activate the hopple shorteners after becoming entangled.

Soon 3bk inr,askd 350,1-paced inr

Trppd wd,up prkd 1300,bttld well

THE BETTOR MAJOR - locked wheels briefly with KOWHAI NUGGET in the run home. Driver M Maynard was issued a warning for using his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

Eased,wd rear 1300,posted,sustained

FOLIEJON STAR - shifted outwards shortly after the start when driver C Negus was activating gear. Again shifted outwards rounding the final bend when activating gear briefly hampering KOWHAI NUGGET and PUTERE BOY. Mrs Negus was issued a warning for failing to show sufficient control when activating gear on the gelding. Continued to shift outwards throughout the run home hampering outside runners. Mrs Negus admitted a breach of Rule 869(4) and the Home Straight Regulations in that she failed to maintain a straight course in the run home which hampered outside runners. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300. Mrs Negus was also issued a warning for using her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion and in a continuous manner in the run home.

Eased,5bk inr,off,3wd cvr,steady wd

KOWHAI NUGGET - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver B Hope. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Brk,12th gap,6-bk inr,tidy fin mrks

KOWHAI NUGGET - broke at the start and shifted outwards abruptly checking outside runners losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Held up final bend.

Brk,9th otr,4-bk bell,never sparked

KOWHAI NUGGET - broke at the start losing ground. Weakened final bend.

11th,6-bk inr 1000,failed to run on

KOWHAI NUGGET - began awkwardly. Hung inwards and struck track markers rounding the final bend when weakening. Driver H Sail reported the gelding had hung on several occasions during the running.

Eased,rear inr,prkd 1300,ld tn,easy

5th otr,left prkd 1400,dug deepest

Wd,1x1,3-bk 1300,wd 650,1x1,wd,bold

5bk otr,3-4wd cvr,tried hard wdst

Wd,eased,wd 11th 750,wdr,too tough

DAWN TO DARK - raced wide early.

Eased,wd 1850,prkd,1x1,wd,prkd,game

HUGO - hampered by a weakening runner final bend. Driver J Dunn was questioned regarding the tactics he adopted when electing to shift outwards near the 650m. Mr Dunn advised that when he shifted outwards the one out line had commenced to improve and he elected to follow the improving DAWN TO DARK into the race however simultaneously BETTERWITHBLING shifted inwards to the three wide line resulting in him becoming held up behind the weakening MOONLITE CC. After hearing from Mr Dunn and viewing the replays, Stewards were satisfied that his explanation was not unreasonable at the time.

Soon trld,3bk inr 1100,waitd,sound

DAWN TO DARK - held up final bend.

1x1,3-bk,4-bk 950,held up,bttld on

DAWN TO DARK - held up early in the run home.

11th otr,5-bk,wd cvr 400,bttld away

Brk,rear inr,off,failed to quicken

DAWN TO DARK - broke at the start losing ground. Over-raced middle stages.

4-bk otr,wd 1050,4th top,outkicked

DAWN TO DARK - raced wide from the 1000m.

Eased,rear inr,off,wd cvr top,stout

9th,4bk inr 1200,off,held up,tight

QUEEN OF SWORDS - awkwardly placed close to the back of THE COALMAN leaving the 400m resulting in the mare being held up for a distance. Held up again late in the run home. Driver A Fitzgerald was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

11th inr,6-bk bell,held up,plggd on

Last,angld turn,only batld

Gt spd,led,soon trail,honest chase

4bk otr,3wd cvr 400,got going wd

5th,to 3bk inr 450,off tn,steady

3-4bk otr,3wd cvr tn,imprvd wd

A false start was declared when the number on QUEEN OF SWORDS detached in the score up with trainer A Fitzgerald deemed not to be at fault.

3rd,cght prkd,1x1 700,felt pinch

QUEEN OF SWORDS - raced wide early.

4-5bk otr,3wd,1x1 1100,gone by 400

QUEEN OF SWORDS - weakened from the 500m. When questioned regarding the performance driver C Dalgety could offer no explanation and was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

4bk inr,off tn,held up,angld,smart

QUEEN OF SWORDS - held up rounding the final bend.

5bk otr,rear inr tn,imprvd in gaps

Brk badly start,never caught up

JUSTA RIPPA - broke at the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Led,trld,3bk 700,waitd,short bid

JUSTA RIPPA - held up final bend.

Soon trld,waitd,sound,peakd 100

3rd inr,3-bk 2300,fght hard on mrks

Lead bid,easd,4bk inr,1-paced inr

JUSTA RIPPA - over-raced middle stages.

7th inr,5-bk,off,wdst top,too slick

Speared to ld,set terms,kicked away

JUSTA RIPPA - driver H Sail was advised to make a greater effort to maintain a straight course in the run home.

Eased,9th inr,off,3-bk otr,wd,slick

Led,trld 1350,waitd,thru,honest

Trld-3bk inr,to 1x1 650,steady wd

3wd,prkd,1x1 1200,prkd,ld,hdd 100

BEACHBREAK - raced wide early.

Brk badly start,brk 2200,distancd

BEACHBREAK - broke at the start losing ground. Broke again rounding the first bend losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed a laceration on the left front leg which was treated.

Trail,3pegs bell,ran on,no room lat

BEACHBREAK - held up throughout the run home.

Gt spd,parkd,fought on bravely

BEACHBREAK - paced roughly near the 100m.

Trld,3bk inr,4bk 750,held up,tidy

BEACHBREAK - held up final bend and early and middle stages of the run home.

10th otr,brk,wd 1200,prkd,too tough

EVIDENTLY - shifted inwards shortly after the start placing BEACHBREAK in restricted room. Driver J Curtin was issued a warning. Raced wide early.

6th,5-bk inr 2000,off,ran on wd out

Brk,4bk inr,off & held up 600,tight

LONNEKERS - broke at the start losing ground. Held up final bend and throughout the run home.

Prkd,eased,rear,1x1,flat tyre,wknd

LONNEKERS - weakened rounding the final bend. Driver R Cameron advised he sustained a punctured sulky tyre on the final bend.

9th otr,3-bk,wd 1400,prkd,fght well

3wd,prkd,3bk otr 1000,steady mid

LONNEKERS - raced wide early.

Brk,8-9th,5bk otr,off,got going wd

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

5-4th,prkd 1300,askd tn,felt pinch

Brk 2500,detachd,10th,5bk inr,wiltd

LONNEKERS - broke in the early stages losing considerable ground. Lay inwards when weakening leaving the final bend.

3bk inr,to 1x1 1900,up tn,unleashd

LONNEKERS - pre-race warmed.

Gt spd,led,attackd,foldd

TABASCO - weakened final bend. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. Stewards questioned junior driver M Hill, assisted by senior driver M Hurrell, regarding his tactics during the race, in particular his decision not to relinquish the lead and take a trail in the middle stages when the opportunity existed. Mr Hill explained that his instructions were to lead if possible which he was able to do after 400m. Mr Hill further stated that he tried to restrain his runner when STILL ROCKIN (R Gutsell) made an attempt on the lead near the 1600m and although gaining an advantage STILL ROCKIN was unable to get a full length in front. This occurred on several other occasions over the next 800m. When questioned Mr Gutsell confirmed that STILL ROCKIN was difficult to drive and with the gelding wearing a murphy blind on the near side it relaxes when it cannot see other horses. Stewards accepted the explanations of both drivers and took the matter no further other than to note the circumstances.

Soon 1x1,out turn,only steady

Bk otr,3w,parkd bell,game bid

Led,trail,3bk,parkd,fght ok

Deep pegs,off 400,chargd late

TABASCO - held up final bend.

10th,4bk otr,3wd,prkd 900,fght,hdd

TABASCO - broke at the start losing ground. Checked by a breaking runner near the 2100m.

6th,prkd 1900-tn,no cvr,very brave

Strgt 2 lead,joind str,fght hard

Brk brfly,mid otr,peeld,soon batld

TABASCO - broke at the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Mid-bk otr,angld trn,ran on fairly

TABASCO - broke at the start losing ground.