NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

9th inr,6-bk 1700,5-bk,held up,tidy

6th,prkd 2200-tn,askd,fght fairly

MIKI'S COURAGE - lay outwards when being shifted down the track by COUNTRY GOLD near the 2400m and momentarily locked wheels. Over-raced middle stages.

Eased,6-7-6bk otr,bt slows wdst

COUNTRY GOLD - raced wide early. Checked by a breaking runner near the 1100m.

Trld,4-bk 1900,held up,sound on inr

COUNTRY GOLD - held up early in the run home.

5th inr,4-bk,off 400,blkd,slick inr

COUNTRY GOLD - held up final bend.

Ld out,trld 2000,thru,chased boldly

9th otr,4-bk,wd cvr 1150,no extra

COUNTRY GOLD - raced wide with cover from the 1200m.

3bk inr,held up badly tn,forgive

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

4th inr,1x1 1550,off,strong attempt

6th,prkd,4-5bk otr,thru mid tn,fair

Gate spd,prkd,askd 500,faded out

DEAL BREAKER - over-raced middle stages. Weakened final bend. Driver J Dunn advised the gelding had been striking the sulky wheel discs.

Best out,set terms,too many barrels

Prkd,cvr 1600,wd cvr 600,fght well

Soon ld,softened up,trld 700,fin on

Eased,wd cvr rear 1100,posted,faded

DEAL BREAKER - raced wide from the 1100m. Weakened final bend.

3bk otr,3wd 600,fght tn,peakd 150

DEAL BREAKER - over-raced middle stages.

Mid-bk otr,3w train,peeld tn,fair

DEAL BREAKER - raced wide early. Driver S Ottley reported she was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

Led,held lead,kickd,far too good

TEE BALL - driver R Close advised he did not activate the sliding blinds due to having the field covered.

4th,left prkd 2200,tough bid,denied

TEE BALL - hampered by a breaking runner rounding the first bend.

Gate spd,ld 1700-tn,kickd,run down

Brk early & after in rear,out of it

TEE BALL - broke at the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Broke again entering the first bend losing all chance. A warning was also placed on the racing record of the gelding. When questioned regarding the performance driver S Thornley advised he would be recommending gear changes. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

5th,1x1,up,cght 3wd,prkd,brave,cght

TEE BALL - raced wide from the 1000m.

7th,1x1 1250,askd 400,honest mid

TEE BALL - raced greenly in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Lay inwards and paced roughly final bend hampering a trailing runner losing ground,

3-4bk inr,waited tn,steady in gaps

Made ld,dictated,tckld,had reserves

Brk,rear inr,5-bk,tidy late on mrks

NORMIE STEAD - broke at the start losing ground.

Gate spd,ld,hassld,hdd 500,wilted

NORMIE STEAD - weakened from the 600m hampering trailing runners.

Trld,3-bk 1500,off,stout effort mid

Eased,10th otr,wd cvr 500,no pickup

Up,prkd,ld 2000-tn,fght,swampd

NORMIE STEAD - raced wide early.

Wd mid,up prkd 1500,fght on solidly

NORMIE STEAD - raced wide early.

Ld out,5-bk 1200,off,sound in gap

NORMIE STEAD - held up early in the run home.

Led,trld 1850,off tn,fght,bestd 100

Prkd,cvr,prkd bell,ld top,reeled in

CLASSIE LINC - crowded by an outside runner racing into the first bend having to be steadied. Over-raced middle stages.

Wd,prkd,into ld 1300,hdd trn,wilted

CLASSIE LINC - raced wide early.

Wd,chkd,wd,prkd,ld 1500,too gritty

CLASSIE LINC - hampered by a breaking runner near the 1750m.

3bk otr,4bk 1200,shuffld,imprvd wd

7th otr,4-bk 1850,wd 550,strong bid

3wd cvr,easd,8bk otr,handy wdst

CLASSIE LINC - raced wide early. Checked rounding the final bend losing ground.

Eased,wd cvr rear 450,plggd on wdst

CLASSIE LINC - over-raced middle stages.

9th,4bk otr 1300,green,handy wd

CLASSIE LINC - lay inwards over the concluding stages.

9th otr,4-bk,angled tn,fght on well

3-4pegs,ran on,tight rm late

Trld-3bk inr,held up tn,no dash inr

COBA CHARGED - held up final bend. Driver S Thornley reported he had difficulty steering the gelding throughout and would be recommending gear changes.

Brk badly early in 10th,pulled up

COBA CHARGED - broke near the 1600m hampering a trailing runner losing ground. Driver S Thornley advised that the gelding's bit had shifted causing him difficulty.

4bk inr,rear otr 600 & faded out

COBA CHARGED - weakened final bend.

5th otr,1x1,3-bk,wd 950,prkd,ld,ezy

COBA CHARGED - trainer J Pearson was issued a warning for failing to have mudguards affixed to his sulky.

Ld,trld 2300,waitd,tried hard mid

COBA CHARGED - lay inwards and struck a track marker rounding the final bend.

Soon ld,set terms,kickd,hdd 150

Trld,3bk inr 2200,off tn,good mid

3-4th,prkd 1400,kept fighting str

COBA CHARGED - hampered by a breaking runner at the start.

Brk,trld,3-bk,off,ld 1400,too tough

Soon ld,allowed terms,cut dwn late

Brk,3rd inr,4-bk,prkd 1700,stuck on

CARLIN - broke at the start losing ground. Over-raced middle stages.

8-9bk otr,rear tn,bt stragglers

CARLIN - over-raced in the early stages when being restrained. Weakened final bend.

Led,trld,3bk 1100,held up,handy mid

CARLIN - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home.

Soon ld,trld 950,thru,too many guns

Wd,made ld,3-bk 1250,off,plggd away

Brk,rear,imp 3-bk inr,off,sound gap

CARLIN - broke at the start losing ground.

Bk otr,3w,1x1,ok thru mid

CARLIN - broke at the start losing ground. Raced wide early. Hampered by a slight easing of the pace near the 1650m.

Brk,9th otr,5-bk,wd cvr rear,strong

CARLIN - broke briefly at the start losing ground.

5-6bk inr,4bk otr,well bk,bt slows

MIKI'S COURAGE - lay outwards when being shifted down the track by COUNTRY GOLD near the 2400m and momentarily locked wheels. Over-raced middle stages.

Eased,4-bk inr,off,wd cvr rear,bold

Wd,8th otr,held up rear,late dig wd

MIKI'S COURAGE - raced wide early. Paced roughly at various stages.

Nice trip otr,peeled,ran on stoutly

5-6bk otr,wdst rear tn,pluggd wdst

3-4bk inr,held up tn,bt slows inr

MIKI'S COURAGE - held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Up,ld 1900,joind tn,swampd 150

MIKI'S COURAGE - when questioned regarding the performance driver J Dunn advised he was disappointed with the effort and could offer no explanation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Ld out,trld 1800,thru,closed boldly

Trld,off,ld 2200,no peace,fght,cght

ZOOM X - weakened from the 800m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Stewards questioned driver M Jones regarding his tactics during the running. Mr Jones advised he elected to challenge MIKI'S COURAGE for the lead rounding the first bend in an attempt to obtain a position on the marker line, from which he could then restrain and obtain cover, as he felt the gelding would be unsuited to racing parked. Mr Jones added that when it became apparent racing into the back straight on the first occasion that he would be unable to cross, he desisted from his challenge and steadied the gelding. Mr Jones further stated that despite the early work he was disappointed with the gelding's effort. After considering his explanation and the distance over which Mr Jones challenged for the lead, Stewards were satisfied his tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

7th inr,off,wd cvr,wdr,chkd,strong

THE BETTOR MAJOR - raced wide with cover for a distance from the 1000m. Hampered by an inside runner which shifted outwards in the run home resulting in the gelding's hind leg making contact with the sulky wheel of KOWHAI NUGGET near the 100m.

Cght 3wd,prkd 1200,on retreat 600

THE BETTOR MAJOR - raced wide early. Weakened final bend hampering a trailing runner.

Eased,5bk inr,buried tn,honest inr

THE BETTOR MAJOR - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver S Tomlinson. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early. Over-raced middle stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Eased,3bk inr,flat 400,imprvd mid

Cut breeze thru'out,ground ldr down

4th,4-bk inr 1500,off,ran on in gap

THE BETTOR MAJOR - over-raced middle stages.

Brk,7th gap,4-bk otr,3-bk,no dash

1x1,3-bk 900,wd cvr top,ran on gap

6th otr,prkd,cvr 1150,wd 625m,slick

3-4th,4bk inr,off 350,smart bid wd

Wd cvr rear,up prkd 600,bttld well

AUNTIE DEB - raced wide with cover in the early and middle stages.

Soon 4bk otr,pushd 3-4wd,tired

AUNTIE DEB - forced to race wide from the 800m. Weakened from the 600m.

Tardy,4bk inr bell,off,blkd,belated

AUNTIE DEB - slow in the early stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Rough,5-bk inr,wd rear 600,no dash

AUNTIE DEB - driver C Negus admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that she drove carelessly near the 1500m by displaying a lack of control when attempting to activate the hopple shorteners resulting in her horse racing inside several track markers and pacing roughly. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300. Mrs Negus advised she had been unable to activate the hopple shorteners after becoming entangled.

Soon 3bk inr,askd 350,1-paced inr

Nice trip otr,peeled 450,bttld well

3wd,easd,4bk otr,3bk tn,steady wdst

5th otr,chkd wd,prkd 1700,ld,gritty

STYLE COUNCIL - briefly crowded by an outside runner shortly after the start.

3bk inr,off tn,lackd gaps,sound

1x1-3bk otr,held up 400,solid wd

STYLE COUNCIL - hampered by a weakening runner near the 500m.

Wd,1x1,prkd 1400,game bid,thwarted

Trld,3-bk bell,held up,off,fght mid

STYLE COUNCIL - placed in restricted room entering the first bend having to be restrained by driver H Sail. Held up final bend.

Gun run mrks,thru lane,tried hard

3 & 4-bk mrks,off,wd cvr rear,sound

4-5bk otr,3-4wd cvr,useful mid

3 & 4-bk otr,off top,ran on soundly

Chkd,10th otr,4bk bell,off,bttld on

STYLE COUNCIL - checked by a breaking runner after 150m.

Last,angld turn,only batld

Gt spd,led,soon trail,honest chase

4bk otr,3wd cvr 400,got going wd

5th,to 3bk inr 450,off tn,steady

3-4bk otr,3wd cvr tn,imprvd wd

A false start was declared when the number on QUEEN OF SWORDS detached in the score up with trainer A Fitzgerald deemed not to be at fault.

3rd,cght prkd,1x1 700,felt pinch

QUEEN OF SWORDS - raced wide early.

4-5bk otr,3wd,1x1 1100,gone by 400

QUEEN OF SWORDS - weakened from the 500m. When questioned regarding the performance driver C Dalgety could offer no explanation and was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

4bk inr,off tn,held up,angld,smart

QUEEN OF SWORDS - held up rounding the final bend.

7th otr,3-bk,wd 650,fght on solidly

SHANNON B - trainer M House was charged a $25 colour fee for failing to have the correct colours available. Raced wide early and middle stages. Shifted inwards near the 1700m crowding QUEEN OF SWORDS. Driver T Duley was issued a warning for attempting to shift an inside runner down the track when not in a position to do so. Weakened near the 650m hampering a trailing runner.

3wd cvr,prkd,1x1,prkd,askd,pluggd

QUEEN OF SWORDS - raced wide early.

Trld,3bk inr 1350,askd,steady inr

TEMPO WARRIOR - over-raced middle stages.

Found 1x1,askd tn,tight,fair mid-wd

TEMPO WARRIOR - over-raced middle stages.

3-4th,to prkd 1200,fght very gamely

TEMPO WARRIOR - crowded late in the run home.

5th,4-bk inr 2100,failed to quicken

Led,trld 1700,off tn,dashd,missed

8-9th,4bk otr,3bk 700,wdr,battld

10th otr,5-bk,wd top,bttld closer

Soon ld,eyed 1200,too many barrels

5th otr,left prkd 1850,flat 500,fdd

TEMPO WARRIOR - weakened rounding the final bend.

Chkd early,5-bk mrks,bttld away inr

TEMPO WARRIOR - checked by a breaking runner shortly after the start and broke losing ground.