NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Brk 1900,distant,pulled up

SWEET ESPRESSO - struck the sulky wheel of LONGVIEW TUI after 100m and paced roughly with the horse galloping after breaking the near side hopple loop and was retired from the race. Driver R Close defended a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly when shifting ground shortly after the start and striking the sulky wheel of LONGVIEW TUI. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr Close, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and Mr Close's driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 31 August up to and including 11 September 2025 (4 days).

6th,4-bk inr 1300,3-bk,off top,bold

Eased,4-bk inr,5-bk,off,wd cvr,tidy

SWEET ESPRESSO - held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Gun run mrks,angled top,closed well

Eased,5bk inr,flat tn,bt slows

Soon trail,steady up lane

Eased,4-6bk inr,off,tried hard wd

7th,3bk inr 1200,off 300,solid wd

Gate spd,trld,thru,chased well inr

BETTER BE QUICK - lay inwards and had to be straightened near the 150m.

5bk otr,3wd,prkd,1x1,off,strong

3wd,6bk otr,wd rear tn,sound mid-wd

BETTER BE QUICK - raced wide early. Held up early in the run home. Driver R May advised he did not activate the sliding blinds in consequence.

Gate spd,ld 1700,fght,run down

Up,ld,trld,3bk,flat 450,off,sound

Up,prkd,ld,trld 1300,held up,sound

BETTER BE QUICK - driver J Dunn was issued a warning for striking the final track marker prior to the passing lane.

3wd,ld,trld 1400,thru,fght,peakd

3wd,led 1300,fght,run down 100

BETTER BE QUICK - hampered by a breaking runner after 200m. Lay outwards throughout the run home.

Prkd,ld 1500,set terms,swampd 150

3rd,left prkd 1300,ld,trld,no extra

MIKI SKIPPER - raced wide early.

Brk run-up,into trail,thru,bold inr

A false start was declared due to MIKI SKIPPER proving fractious leaving the pre-race formation checking a trailing runner. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Driver J Dunn elected to remain in his allocated barrier position for the restart.

Gate spd,trld,took lane,solid inr

Soon ld,tackld 800-tn,fght,hdd 150

MIKI SKIPPER - lay outwards at various stages throughout causing driver J Dunn some difficulty.

4bk otr,3wd cvr,prkd 850,fght well

Up,ld 1900,trld 1500,off tn,honest

MIKI SKIPPER - required the assistance of a Starting Attendant in the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Lay outwards rounding the final bend and shifted up the track hampering a trailing runner.

Slw,7th inr,4-bk,off,wd 600,no more

RILEY JOHN - weakened leaving the final bend. When questioned regarding the performance driver G Smith advised he was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.

Wd,rear otr,wd cvr,made ground wdst

7th otr,3-bk 1750,useful effort mid

RILEY JOHN - lay inwards rounding the final bend. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the middle stages of the run home.

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

Led,trld 1650,fght tn,smart inr

Left prkd,cvr 800,off,closed boldly

JOHN STEWART - over-raced middle stages. Hung inwards at various stages throughout causing driver R May difficulty. Held up early in the run home.

9th inr,6-bk 2100,5-bk top,tidy mid

Ld untested,dictated,tckld 400,cght

Off pegs,1x1 1700,off,ran on boldly

WOODLEA ROCKS - hampered by an easing of the pace near the 1200m.

Thru to 1x1,left prkd 1100,stuck on

Ld out,dictated terms,hdd 150m,fght

5bk otr,8th,4bk otr 600,good at bk

3-4th,4bk inr,off rear tn,bt slows

3bk inr,4bk 1300,off 3wd cvr,sound

1x1-4bk otr 900,3wd 500,imprvd

Gate spd,prkd-3bk,fading 500

WOODLEA ROCKS - raced wide early. Weakened final bend.

Trld-3bk inr,urgd tn,tried hard

5th,3bk otr 1200,5th tn,sound wd

4th,3bk inr,waited,fair bid inr

ROYAL BELLE - lay in final bend.

Trld,chkd,trld,off tn,fght,peakd

ROYAL BELLE - hampered by a breaking runner racing into the first bend. Driver K Hadfield advised that the mare had paced roughly in the run home.

3bk otr,held up 1x1 350,honest inr

ROYAL BELLE - paced roughly racing into the first bend. Held up by a weakening runner final bend.

4bk otr,sent 3wd 500,cheeky mid

3rd,3bk inr,waited,honest inr

ROYAL BELLE - hampered by an easing of the pace near the 1400m.

Soon trld,held up 600,off,fair inr

ROYAL BELLE - fractious prior to the start. Hampered by a weakening runner near the 500m.

3rd,3-4bk inr,brk,flat,battled

INTERRORGATOR - over-raced middle stages. Hampered near the 1100m. Lay outwards near the 650m despite the efforts of driver J Dunn checking ROYAL BELLE which broke losing ground. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. Held up throughout the run home. Mr Dunn advised he did not activate the removable deafeners and sliding blinds in consequence.

Up,ld-4bk inr 1600,off,handy mid

ROYAL BELLE - driver K Hadfield was warned for the manner he drove after 100m when crowding inside runners.

Into trail,4-bk 1700,off,steady wd

Eased,4bk otr-inr,held up,ok inr

DIDJAMAKEANIMPRINT - paced roughly near the 1500m.

Chkd,rear inr,prkd 600,cvr,wd,fght

DIDJAMAKEANIMPRINT - hampered by a breaking runner racing into the first bend.

Eased,4bk inr,held up tn-150,sound

A false start was declared when LONGVIEW TUI broke in the score up and shifted inwards checking DIDJAMAKEANIMPRINT and SMOKING ASHES. A warning was placed on the barrier record of LONGVIEW TUI. Driver S Thornley elected to remain in his allocated barrier position for the restart. DIDJAMAKEANIMPRINT underwent a veterinary examination and was cleared to take part in the restart.

Brk in score-up,no hope after

DIDJAMAKEANIMPRINT - broke in the score up losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

8th,5bk inr,4bk 300,imprvd inr