NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Into trail early,off prkd 600,tough

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - checked racing into the first bend when AKUTA shifted down to trail the leader resulting in the horse losing ground.

Wd,1x1,prkd 1300,tried hard,denied

Rear inr,off,wd cvr,posted,2nd,game

AKUTA - raced wide from the 1200m until crossing to the parked position near the 600m. Co-trainer/Driver M Purdon advised he was satisfied with the performance given the 30m handicap, the mid-race effort to get handy and the prevailing track conditions.

Led,brk 1200,ld,tackld,fght,cght 30

AKUTA - broke briefly when leading near the 1200m after its near hind leg became caught in the hopple shortener cord hampering trailing runners.

3-4bk otr,3wd,prkd,trld 700,tough

AKUTA - hampered by a breaking runner at the start. Hampered by an easing of the pace near the 2000m.

10th,3wd,ld 1100,kickd,classy

AKUTA - began awkwardly.

Slow,4bk otr,prkd 1500,ld 200,brave

AKUTA - slow to begin. Driver O Thornley was advised to make a greater effort to be in position at the start.

5th,prkd 1300,rampd up tn,smart

AKUTA - tangled away.

Trld,3-bk 1450,blkd,off,bold in mid

WE WALK BY FAITH - begun awkwardly. Held up near the 150m and shifted outwards placing JOLIMONT in restricted room which had to be steadied and with CHASE A DREAM also being hampered. Hampered near 50m when an inside runner lay outwards and held up thereafter. Driver M White wished to view the films in relation to a possible protest being lodged against the 2nd placed (SOONER THE BETTOR) on the grounds of interference in the run home. After viewing the films Mr White declined the opportunity to protest and placings were duly authorised. Driver M White admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly near the 150m when shifting ground outwards. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr White's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 10 May up to and including 23 May 2025 (4 days).

Eased,prkd rear,3-bk 1600,4w,stout

6th otr,4-bk,sent 5w top,potent fin

Rear otr,3 & 4w 550,6w top,tidy fin

Eased,rear otr,wd 11th tn,tidy late

WE WALK BY FAITH - held up early final turn.

13th otr,wd 1500,prkd,stuck gamely

Bk otr,brk brfly,parkd,1x1,

MACANDREW AVIATOR - broke briefly entering the first bend hampering a trailing runner.

Last,3w,parkd,fght strongly

Gate spd,ld,trld 1150,smart,nabbd

MIKI KNOWS - over-raced and became awkwardly placed close to the sulky of HARRISON JOHN near the 1200m before breaking losing all chance and hampering a trailing runner after there was a slight easing of the pace when MACANDREW AVIATOR was restrained to obtain cover when BEACH BALL progressed forward to lead. After speaking to drivers R Close (MIKI KNOWS) and M Williamson (MACANDREW AVIATOR) and viewing replays Stewards were unable to apportion blame to either driver or horse and took the matter no further.

Follwd 1x1,peeld 500,nice bid

3rd,led 1200,fght on well

MACANDREW AVIATOR - over-raced middle stages.

Bk otr,thru mid str,ran on ok

Up,trld 2400,waitd,went close inr

Up,ld 2300,set terms,fght,hdd 100

Prkd,1x1,wd,ld 1700,held on bravely

Eased,wd cvr rear 750,postd,kept on

AMERICAN ME - over-raced early when being restrained to the rear. Continued to over-race middle stages. Raced wide from the 700m. When questioned regarding his tactics Junior Driver H Orange, assisted by S Phelan, advised he had elected to go back early from a wide draw given he expected SEACLUSION to go forward to lead. Mr Orange further advised he had attempted to improve passing the 1400m but was unable do so because MANTRA BLUE improved forward off him with KEVIN KLINE then shifting out to lead up the running line but not progressing forward as he expected. He also added the gelding hadn't handled the bends well but was nevertheless pleased with the effort given how the race was run.

Quickly thru to ld,set terms,too gd

3rd,4th,parkd 1400,fght on well

Pressd 2 lead,joind turn,folded

5th,led,trail,just misd lane

7th,3bk otr,wd cvr tn,kept coming

ALTA METEOR - connections advised on 22 August the gelding has been treated for a respiratory infection since last racing.

1x1,prkd 2600,no cvr,felt pinch tn

ALTA METEOR - underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Weakened rounding the final bend.

Ld,trld,3bk 1250,off 250,solid mid

Prkd,ruff,ld,trld,thru,smart inr

ALTA METEOR - paced roughly rounding the first bend hampering a trailing runner.

Thru,trld,3bk inr 1300,held up,good

ALTA METEOR - held up early in the run home.

3rd,3-bk inr,prkd 1400,chkd,outfin

KANGO - hampered rounding the final turn when locking wheels with ALTA METEOR and lost ground.

Prkd,5th,prkd,1x1 900,off,solid

Brk,10th,6bk otr,cheeky from bk

DALTON SHARD - broke at the start before being hampered by a breaking runner losing ground.

Gate spd,prkd,3bk 700,angld,sound

DALTON SHARD - raced wide early.

1x1,3bk otr 600,held up,honest

7th,4bk otr,to inr tn,handy inr

6th,5-7th,well bk 400,imprvd wd

1x1,3-bk 1800,4-bk,wd cvr,no punch

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr top,fght on wdr

1x1,3bk otr 1100,3wd cvr,unwound

DALTON SHARD - driver J Dunn advised he did not activate the sliding blinds due to having the field covered.

Up,ld 2400,set terms,fght,just cght

Steppd,trld 2300,thru,ld 100,nabbd

8th early,3-bk otr,wd cvr,4w,no fin

FRANCO MAREK - weakened early in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance driver J Morrison advised he was disappointed with the effort and was unable to provide any explanation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Trld-3bk inr,up,ld 1750,held best

FRANCO MAREK - tangled away.

Gate spd,ld,trld,thru,steady inr

3-4bk inr,5bk 800,off,lackd gaps

The start was briefly delayed due to FRANCO MAREK requiring farrier attention.

1x1-3bk otr,3wd cvr,wdr tn,dashd

Up,ld,trld,3bk,4bk 1900,thru,ok

5bk otr,angld inr-otr tn,steady wd

10th inr,off,4-bk otr,5w tn,fght on

The start was delayed due to RENEGADE requiring farrier attention.

14th,wd cvr,prkd,lost ld dig,outfin

12th otr,wd cvr 1800,ld 1250,too gd

Brk,up,ld 2200,set terms,too good

RENEGADE - broke briefly at the start.

Trld-3bk inr,1x1 1250,off,solid mid

Brk,9th,5bk inr,angld,warmd up

WHO'S DELIGHT - fractious prior to the start. Broke at the start losing ground. Over-raced middle stages.

8th,4bk otr,wdr tn,useful mid-wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - tangled away.

3wd cvr,postd,prkd 700,felt pinch

WHO'S DELIGHT - raced wide early.

Soon 3bk inr,to 1x1 350,sound wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - hampered in the run home when PINSEEKER shifted up the track.

Prkd,1x1 1200,4th tn,kept coming

WHO'S DELIGHT - hung inwards final bend and in the run home.

Gate spd,prkd,1x1,3bk tn,good wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - hung inwards rounding the final bend.

3bk otr-1x1,off,handy in mid

WHO'S DELIGHT - lay outwards in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Soon prkd,1x1 1200,off,solid mid

WHO'S DELIGHT - raced wide early.

3-5bk otr,rear inr tn,held up,sound

WHO'S DELIGHT - held up middle stages of the run home.