NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

7th,3bk otr,up,prkd 1200,fght well

7th otr,3-bk,wd 900,prkd,ld,staunch

Soon 3bk otr,3wd cvr tn,strong mid

5th,prkd,1x1 1150,off,solid mid

QUICKER THAN QUICK - hampered by a breaking runner after 150m.

6th otr,left prkd 1400,fght bravely

Eased,3-4bk otr,wd rear tn,battld

3bk otr,3wd 600,1-paced at back

QUICKER THAN QUICK - junior driver S Hill (assisted by J Dunn) admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly near the 600m when shifting ground and contacting the sulky wheel of MIDNIGHT BABE which punctured. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Hill's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 24 August 2025 up to and including 4 September 2025 (3 days).

4-3bk otr,1x1 800,off tn,solid wd

3wd,prkd,1x1 1150,off,gritty mid

QUICKER THAN QUICK - raced wide early and middle stages. Lay inwards and paced roughly at various stages throughout.

Led,trld,3bk 900,off tn,sound inr

3bk otr,4bk 1000,wd rear tn,battld

CAPTAIN KOBE - over-raced early and middle stages.

3bk otr the trip,off,solid bid mid

4-5bk inr,imprv,4bk 700,imprvd,hdd

HEAVEN'S MARK - dictated inwards marginally by TAKETHEPLUNGE near the 100m simultaneously to CAPTAIN KOBE attempting a run to the inside resulting in CAPTAIN KOBE being placed in restricted room and over a track marker having to be steadied. After speaking to drivers J Morrison (HEAVEN'S MARK) and W House (CAPTAIN KOBE), Stewards were satisfied no one horse or driver was solely to blame and took the matter no further.

Mid,1x1 bell,ran on solidly

3bk otr,3wd,up,ld 1600,fght,nabbd

Wd,5th otr,3-bk,wd 500,2nd tn,stout

Brk,tacked on,wd cvr rear,wdr,tough

CAPTAIN KOBE - broke in the score up losing ground before settling at the rear. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. Raced three then four wide from the 800m.

Nice trip otr,wd 400,chased stoutly

Prkd,into ld 1700,tckld 300,rallied

Eased,4-bk inr 1600,off 300,flew wd

Up,ld,trld 1900,thru,honest,peakd

KOTARE KELSO - the required veterinary clearance was received.

Prkd,cvr 1700,3-bk 950,wd,stout fin

Connections advised Stewards on 17 October that KOTARE KELSO has had its hocks treated since last racing.

Soon 3bk inr,waited,tried hard inr

4bk otr,3wd cvr,postd 900,faded

C C ARDEN - raced wide early. Hung inwards and locked wheels with the weakening KOTARE KELSO near the 350m despite the efforts of driver T Chmiel before breaking and losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding.

Gate spd,ld,trld,waited,1-paced mid

KOTARE KELSO - raced wide early.

Up,ld-3bk inr 1800,waitd,no gaps

KOTARE KELSO - over-raced middle stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Eased,5bk otr,4bk inr tn,pluggd

KOTARE KELSO - paced roughly passing the 850m. Placed in restricted room late in the run home when an outside runner hung inwards.

Soon prkd,1x1 850,tight tn,imprvd

KOTARE KELSO - broke in the score up however was in position at the start. Over-raced middle stages. Paced roughly rounding the final bend.

4bk inr,held up tn,imprvd 1-off

KOTARE KELSO - over-raced middle stages. Held up final bend.

Ld out,trld 1700,thru,pounced,slick

Brk badly start,never a hope after

HEAVEN'S MARK - broke at the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the mare.

Gate spd,ld,trld 900,thru,honest

HEAVEN'S MARK - dictated inwards marginally by TAKETHEPLUNGE near the 100m simultaneously to CAPTAIN KOBE attempting a run to the inside resulting in CAPTAIN KOBE being placed in restricted room and over a track marker having to be steadied. After speaking to drivers J Morrison (HEAVEN'S MARK) and W House (CAPTAIN KOBE), Stewards were satisfied no one horse or driver was solely to blame and took the matter no further.

Slw,11th otr,wd 1300,ld 1000,kicked

HEAVEN'S MARK - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver C Dalgety. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the mare. Mr Dalgety advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Wd cvr,led bell,fght on solidly

HEAVEN'S MARK - raced wide early.

6-5bk otr,wdst rear tn,useful wd

8th otr,1x1,wd 900,ld 750,too smart

HEAVEN'S MARK - driver J Morrison reported he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

1x1,left prkd 1100,ld 200,ran clear

Wd,up prkd thru'out,outfinished

3wd,up,ld 1950,kickd,held best

HEAVEN'S MARK - raced wide early.

4bk otr-prkd 1400,askd tn,wilted

4-5bk inr,buried tn,imprvd up inr

5bk inr,4bk tn,crept closr inr

Eased,rear,1x1 bell,off,breezed by

Wd,7th otr,5-bk 900,wd 550,plggd on

JUST ASK PADDY - connections advised the gelding would be racing without front shoes. Raced wide early. Hung inwards throughout the run home.

4-5bk otr,6bk 1200,3-4wd cvr,sound

JUST ASK PADDY - raced wide with cover from the 900m.

Eased,wd rear 500,held up,late mrks

JUST ASK PADDY - held up early and middle stages of the run home. Driver N Munro advised he did not activate the sliding blinds in consequence.

3wd,prkd,1x1 1700,off,strong mid

JUST ASK PADDY - raced wide early.

7t otr,3-bk,wd,prkd,cvr,off,fght on

JUST ASK PADDY - held up early in the run home.

3bk otr-1x1,3wd,held up,good inr

MIKI'S COURAGE - held up early in the run home.

3bk otr,4bk 1900,waitd,tidy inr

3wd,prkd,askd 700,driftd bk 450

MIKI'S COURAGE - raced wide early. Again raced wide from the 800m. Weakened final bend.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1300,thru,almost

Slw,12th otr,wd cvr 1300,prkd,stuck

MIKI'S COURAGE - out of position at the start. Driver R Harrison was issued a warning.

4-6bk otr,3wd,prkd 900,ld tn,hdd

Up,ld 2200,kickd,gritty,nabbd

MIKI'S COURAGE - briefly locked wheels with SHEPHERDS DELIGHT after 100m.

Trld,4-bk 1400,off top,solid,no gap

MIKI'S COURAGE - held up over the concluding stages. Driver J Dunn reported he did not activate the sliding blinds in consequence.

4bk otr,5bk 1000,wd trn,smart wd

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages.

5bk otr,3wd,ld 900,fght,hdd 100

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages. Shifted in marginally near the 100m.

Brk run-up,wd cvr rear top,no punch

TAKETHEPLUNGE - paced roughly in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Rear,3wd cvr,prkd,ld 800,swampd

TAKETHEPLUNGE - broke in the score up however was in position at the start. Raced wide early.

Eased,wd rear 750,2nd top,fght well

Trld-3bk inr,held up,smart up inr

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages. Briefly held up near the 100m.

4bk otr,3wd 550,solid bid mid

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages.

8-7bk otr,thru mid tn,smart,tight

TAKETHEPLUNGE - held up early in the run home and again over the concluding stages.

Ld-3bk inr,3bk otr,off,swoopd 100

Last,3w,led bell,fadd late

SECRET AGENT MAN - raced wide through the middle stages.

Bk otr,launchd 450,solid chase

SECRET AGENT MAN - out of position at the start. Driver N Williamson was issued with a warning.

3-4bk inr,held up,angld 150,big mid

SECRET AGENT MAN - held up by a weakening runner final bend. Again held up in the middle stages of the run home. Stewards questioned driver N Williamson regarding his decision to shift wider on the track passing the 150m when clearance existed in the passing lane. Mr Williamson explained he was aware driver M Williamson (COMMANDER BEN) had only commenced to shift inwards near the 150m and he believed he would be blocked for clear racing room if he had continued with an attempt to gain a run in the passing lane. Mr Williamson added he then decided to shift outwards and had finished strongly once gaining clear running inside the final 100m. After considering his explanation and viewing the replays Stewards were satisfied his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

Bk otr,3w,parkd 800,ran away

4th-5th,parkd 1600,up trn,too big

Gt spd,led,trail bell,only jst misd

Trld-3bk inr,angld off tn,smart wd

THE COALMAN - hampered near the 300m having to be steadied.

Brk start,wd,15th otr,7-bk,btn 700m

THE COALMAN - broke at the start losing ground. Raced wide early. Weakened from the 600m.

5th inr,5-bk,prkd 1850,outfinished

7th,7-bk inr,off,ran on stoutly mid

THE BETTOR MAJOR - Stewards investigated a possible breach of the Push Out Rule near the 1500m when THE BETTOR MAJOR raced wider on the track. After viewing the replays it was established that THE COALMAN had shifted wider prior to THE BETTOR MAJOR reaching its sulky wheel and no further action was deemed necessary.

3bk otr-1x1,3bk 900,3wd,fght ok

3bk inr,4bk 1150,off,held up,good

THE COALMAN - held up early in the run home.

3-5bk inr,off rear 600,wdr tn,sound

Up,prkd,ld 2000,set terms,held best

3bk otr,dist prkd,1x1 600,ok inr

6th,1x1,prkd,ld,trld 1900,slick inr

THE COALMAN - attempted to ease after reaching the lead near the 1800m despite the efforts of driver R May.

Up,ld 1950,fght tn,run down 100

1x1-4bk otr,3wd 550,short bid,fdd

Ld out,trld 2250,thru lane,whooshka

The race was stopped by Stewards under Rule 211A(1) shortly after the start when CLONAKILTY shifted inwards and contacted ZOOM X with driver S Ottley being dislodged and the gelding escaping driverless for a short distance before being recaptured. Both horses were examined by the Veterinarian and cleared to take part in the re-run. Driver S Ottley was examined by St John personnel and cleared of injury. CLONAKILTY was sent to the unruly position by the Starter where the gelding will remain for future standing starts.

Up,1x1,off tn,kept coming,just

9th inr,5-bk 1300,held up,tidy mrks

ZOOM X - held up early in the run home.

Gt spd,led,soon trail,best lane

Soon trld,waitd,thru,smart up inr

Mid,led 1500,easy,zippd home

ALWAYS BE BATMAN - lay inwards at stages throughout.

Soon 3pegs,1 off run,solid

Last,angld widest,chargd late

ALWAYS BE BATMAN - raced lethargically for a distance passing the 1500m losing ground despite the efforts of driver M Williamson.

Bk otr,angld trn,green,ran on ok

ALWAYS BE BATMAN - over-raced middle stages. Hung inwards throughout the run home causing driver B Orange difficulty, who has recommended gear changes to connections.

Gt spd,wd,parkd,fght on well

ALWAYS BE BATMAN - raced wide early.

Eased,6th,prkd 1200,fght tn,faded

ALWAYS BE BATMAN - lay inwards on several occasions throughout the running.

Eased,rear otr,3-bk,wd 600,fght wdr

Parkd,denied lead x 2,led 500,big