NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Up,trld 1700,off tn,chased well

SCRUNCH - paced roughly passing the 200m.

Gate spd,held ld,kickd,held on

6bk otr,last tn,battled at rear

CAPTAIN COOL - when questioned regarding the performance driver J Dunn advised the gelding had been unsuited to the tempo of the race and had lost ground when pacing roughly rounding the final bend. Mr Dunn added that due to this he did not activate the removable deafeners.

Wd,5th otr 1500,wd 800,ld,too tough

CAPTAIN COOL - raced wide early.

1x1,to prkd 800,brave,bestd 50

CAPTAIN COOL - trainer K Newman was issued a warning for presenting the gelding to race without a number. Paced roughly late in the score up. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 850m. Junior driver K Newman (assisted by J Dunn) admitted a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Newman's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 24 January up to and including 6 February 2025 (4 days).

Brk,5th,1x1,up,2nd tn,fght,faded

CAPTAIN COOL - broke after 150m hampering outside runners losing ground. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. Paced roughly final bend. Junior driver K Newman, who declined the assistance of a senior driver, admitted a charge under Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. After viewing replays and considering submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Newman's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 19 January up to and including 24 January 2025 (2 days).

3-4bk inr,held up,imprvd,chkd 50

IRISH DREAM - lay inwards rounding the final bend striking a track marker. Held up in the run home before pacing roughly when in restricted room inside the final 50m with the horse striking track markers. Driver C DeFilippi advised he did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence. Mr DeFilippi defended a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly by anticipating a run to the inside of BAR LOUIE resulting in his horse racing over track markers late in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr DeFilippi the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and Mr DeFilippi's driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 7 September up to and including 14 September 2025 (2 days).

Trld-4bk inr 1100,askd,dashd inr

IRISH DREAM - over-raced middle stages. Lay inwards on occasions throughout. Struck a track marker when laying in rounding the final bend.

3bk inr,4bk 1100,off rear tn,ok wd

IRISH DREAM - lay inwards final bend and early in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance co-trainer/driver C DeFilippi advised he was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Slw,9th otr,wd 700,wd cvr,5w,lethal

IRISH DREAM - fractious prior to the start requiring assistance from a Starting Attendant. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Paced roughly shortly after the start losing ground.

Gate spd,ld,3bk 1200,flat tn,wiltd

IRISH DREAM - hung inwards and contacted a track marker rounding the final bend.

5-6bk inr,off rear 700,brk 600

BETTORS ANVIL - hampered by a weakening runner near the 650m. Shifted outwards near the 600m resulting in IRISH DREAM being placed in restricted room and breaking shortly after. Held up throughout the run home. After questioning drivers S Tomlinson (IRISH DREAM) and T Williams (BETTORS ANVIL), Stewards issued Mr Williams with a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) alleging he drove carelessly when shifting outwards near the 600m when not clear resulting in IRISH DREAM being checked and breaking shortly after losing its chance. Mr Williams advised he would be defending the charge and the hearing was adjourned to the Methven TC meeting on 6 October 2024.

3bk inr,4bk 450,held up,handy wd

IRISH DREAM - fractious and reared prior to the first attempt at a start and was then hampered. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Held up by a weakening runner final bend and in the early and middle stages of the run home.

Gate spd,ld,set terms,quite comfy

TACT TEVA - driver T Williams advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

7bk otr,3wd cvr,imprvd in mid

TACT TEVA - raced wide from the 1000m.

3wd,prkd,1x1,to trl 400,smart inr

TACT TEVA - hung inwards striking track markers final bend.

Gt spd,soon led,joind,fght well

TACT TEVA - lay inwards into the passing lane early in the run home having to be corrected by driver J Cox.

Parkd,soon led,easy,sped away

4bk inr,off tn,got going mid-wd

3bk otr,prkd 1300,led tn,very brave

BERRETTINI - driver R Close advised his wheel had been contacted late in the run home and deflated after the finish line.

Eased,3-5bk otr,wd rear tn,tidy wd

5th,prkd,1x1 1200,off tn,steady

Gate spd,tld,trld,waitd,honest inr

Up,ld,trld 1500,off,dashd,held best

3-4bk otr,3wd,postd,felt pinch str

5bk otr,wd rear tn,big dash wdst

Eased,rear otr,wd 600,wdst,bt slows

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - raced wide early. Again raced wide from the 650m. When questioned regarding the performance driver R Close advised the gelding had been obliged to race wide on the final bend after being unable to improve in the middle stages due to the strong tempo and he was pleased with the effort.

Ld out,trld 1650,thru,breezed on by

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - over-raced middle stages.

Held ld,eyed 700m,responded bravely

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - lay outwards throughout the run home.

Soon prkd,3bk inr 750,waitd,sound

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - over-raced when racing in the parked position through the early and middle stages. Held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver C Ferguson regarding the tactics he adopted near the 900m when electing to shift down to the marker line as opposed to remaining in the one one position. Mr Ferguson explained that he felt that his best option was to shift inwards and follow ROCKINGOOD and DEADLINE who were both favoured runners rather than remain in the one out line following NICKEL AND DIME which had improved quickly to race in the parked position through the middle stages as this would have resulted in him having to improve wide on the final bend. After considering the matter, Stewards were satisfied that Mr Ferguson's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

1x1,3bk otr 1100,chkd 500,bt slows

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - raced greenly near the 450m. Weakened leaving the final bend.

Mid,led bell,joind,too big

Pressd 2 lead,had on,far too big

Bk otr,3w,led bell,too classy

3wd,1x1,up,ld 1100,fght,smartest

SHE'S CRUNCHY - attempted to ease approaching the 1000m resulting in an easing of the pace hampering trailing runners. Driver N Williamson advised the filly had raced greenly on several occasions when objecting to the water on the inside of the track. A warning was placed on the racing record of the filly.

Soon 4bk otr,wd cvr tn,crept closer

Wd,made ld,trld 1350,thru,fght well

MALAKAI - the rein bar was removed prior to the start after warming up unfavourably. Lay inwards leaving the final bend striking track markers.

4-5bk inr,off rear tn,honest inr

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

Gate spd,ld,trld 1500,fght hard inr

1x1,1x2 bell,3w cvr,wider,fair

MALAKAI - raced three wide with cover from the 800m.

Gt spd,led,joind,kickd hard

3bk otr,sent 3wd 500,kept coming

MALAKAI - lay inwards and paced roughly near the 1100m.

Trld,off,ld,trld 1900,off,led,held

MALAKAI - the boring pole was removed prior to the start due to warming up unfavourably.

6bk otr,up,prkd 1100,fght,bestd 100

Soon 3bk otr,up tn,chased hard

Prkd,ld,trld 1300,thru,pounced,held

3-bk mrks,held up,off 300,late inr

Wd cvr mid,up prkd 1200,bttld well

MIDNIGHT MIKI - raced wide early.

Eased,11th inr,off,pshd 4w,fght gap

LINCOLN LOU - Driver A Poutama was questioned in relation to the manner in which he shifted ground near the 1100m when moving MIDNIGHT MIKI wider. Mr Poutama advised that his colt had overreacted when shifting out faster than anticipated which resulted in MIDNIGHT MIKI becoming unbalanced for several strides. Stewards took the matter no further other than to note the circumstances.

6th otr,1x1 1600,off,sound effort

Eased,4bk otr,up,prkd 900,fght hard

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

Held ld,tackld 1200-tn,bravest

Gate spd,ld,3bk 1100,off,big mid

Up,trld,3bk inr 1100,no threat 400

CRUNCH TIME - weakened from the 600m. When questioned regarding the performance driver B Orange advised the gelding had raced lethargically. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Gt spd,parkd,1x1 bell,batld strgt

Wide,parkd,1x1,solid bid

CRUNCH TIME - raced wide until reaching the parked position passing the 850m.

Wd,3-bk otr,1x1 1400,prkd 600,tough

CRUNCH TIME - raced wide early.

Gate spd,led,kickd tn,held well