NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

7th,to 4bk inr,waitd,off,imprvd inr

I'M ANNIE - trotted roughly over the concluding stages.

Soon prkd,no cvr,fght,felt pinch

Trld,3-bk 1300,brk 450m,out of play

I'M ANNIE - broke near the 400m losing all chance.

Eased,3rd inr,losing touch 400m out

I'M ANNIE - weakened rounding the final turn.

Prkd-1x1,held up tn,useful in mid

MR MERCEDES - hampered by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.

3bk inr,held up tn,useful on inr

MR MERCEDES - lay outwards and trotted roughly early in the run home.

Untested ld,set terms,held bravely

APOLLO ELEVEN - required the assistance of a starting attendant in the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the colt.

Ld out,dictated terms,hdd 100m,fght

Prkd,into ld 1300,dictated,powerful

Ld untested,dictated,too many guns

APOLLO ELEVEN - shifted outwards passing the 1200m when leading having to be corrected.

Prkd,brk,prkd,ld bell,hdd,rival brk

TACTICO - broke rounding the first bend losing ground. Authorisation of the promoted first placing was withheld until Stewards were satisfied the gelding had complied with the Breaking Horses Regulation.

1x1-3bk otr,off 350 then brk,gone

LA VENTURE - broke rounding the final bend losing all chance.

Gate spd,led,kickd,run down 100

Led,trld,3bk 550,got going on inr

LA VENTURE - broke briefly in the score up however was in position at the start.

Prkd,led 1200,kickd tn,fght,cght 50

Prkd,3-bk inr 1500,off 300,bold fin

LA VENTURE - trotted roughly in the early stages.

1x1,sent 3wd 500,led,held best

Prkd,ld 1500,trld 550,off,shot clr

EYES WIDE OPEN - co-trainers H & A Cullen were issued with a warning after presenting the gelding with blinds which were not notified.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1700,askd,fght on

Trld the trip,clr tn,1-paced inr

Chkd/brk 1800,not in touch after

DONOVAN - checked and broke entering the first bend when becoming awkwardly placed to the inside of MACY ROYALE and contacted the sulky wheel of T K SUPERSONIC hampering a trailing runner losing all chance. Stewards questioned drivers T Williams (DONOVAN) and K Cameron (MACY ROYALE) regarding this incident where it was established that when DONOVAN was being restrained when racing greenly T K SUPERSONIC hung outwards slightly entering the bend and this resulted in DONOVAN being tightened between runners with no one horse or driver deemed to be at fault.

Gate speed to ld,dictated,hdd 200m

Soon led,little peace,fght,nabbed

Led,held ld,trld 550,rough,honest

DONOVAN - trotted roughly for a distance passing the 600m and hung outwards. Driver T Williams reported the gelding had resented the track kickback and he would be recommending gear changes.

Brk start,5bk otr,3-4wd,brk tn

DUKE OF BOURBON - broke late in the score up losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the colt. Broke again leaving the final bend losing all chance. A warning was also placed on the racing record of the colt.

Eased,rear,1x1 400,off,pounced,brk

DUKE OF BOURBON - trotted roughly near the 150m having to be steadied. Broke inside the final 50m and failed to settle. Stewards lodged a protest against 1st placing being awarded under Rule 870(5) alleging the gelding was lapped on at the finish by TACTICO. Connections did not contest the protest and DUKE OF BOURBON was relegated to 2nd placing by Stewards. Stewards lodged a further protest against this runner's relegated 2nd placing under Rule 870(4) in that the gelding gained an advantage by failing to lose ground whilst in the break which was contested by the connections. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Driver Z Butcher, the Adjudicative Committee upheld the protest and DUKE OF BOURBON was relegated to 3rd placing.

Slw,5th inr,prkd 700,game,thwarted

DUKE OF BOURBON - fractious early stages of the score up and was out of position at the start. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion from a mobile prior to resuming. Lay inwards and was awkwardly placed close to the sulky wheel of ELLIE DIAMOND when being shifted wider near the 250m.

4th inr,prkd 700,cvr,trld tn,too gd

DUKE OF BOURBON - back from position throughout the score up. Driver S Phelan was issued with a warning. Had to shift ground on two occasions over the early stages to avoid breaking runners.

Brk badly,rear,1x1 bell,wd,bold(dq)

DUKE OF BOURBON - broke shortly after the start and galloped for a considerable distance losing ground. A warning was placed on the colt's barrier manners. Stewards lodged a protest against this runner's 2nd placing under Rule 870(3) and the Breaking Horses Regulation alleging the colt had broken in excess of 150m over the early stages. Connections did not contest the protest and DUKE OF BOURBON was disqualified by Stewards.