NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Found 1x1,up 3wd tn,kept coming

FRANCO SINATRA - the boring pole became detached early in the run home. Co-trainers C & C Dalgety were issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice for failing to affix this gear so as not to come adrift.

5bk otr,3wd,3bk otr,cartd bk tn,gd

FRANCO SINATRA - hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

5bk otr,3wd rear 400,massive wdst

12th otr,wd cvr,prkd 850,wilted out

FRANCO SINATRA - when questioned regarding the performance driver C Dalgety advised he was disappointed with the effort and was unable to provide any explanation. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed no abnormalities. Connections advised they will have blood tests taken from the gelding in the coming days and Stewards will follow up the results.

Follwd 1x1,peeld trn,steady wrk

1x1,6th,1x1-3bk otr,off,tight,sound

Wd,prkd 1650,cvr 1000,off,stern bid

FRANCO SINATRA - raced wide until reaching the parked position near the 1700m.

6th,1x1 2200,3wd 500,brief bid

6th,imprvd,prkd 1200,fght,peakd

5th,up,ld 1200,fght,held on best

5-4bk otr,hookd wdst,tried hard wd

MACANDREW AVIATOR - raced wide early.

10th,5bk inr,held up,imprvd inr

MACANDREW AVIATOR - held up final bend.

6th,into 1x1,peeld 400,solid

MACANDREW AVIATOR - driver H Douglas reported that only one hopple shortener had released due to the cord breaking.

Gt spd,denied lead,trail,solid innr

MACANDREW AVIATOR - a post-race veterinary examination and endoscopic procedure at the request of connections revealed the gelding to have a high respiratory rate and poor recovery. Follow up blood tests will be conducted on MACANDREW AVIATOR and connections undertook to notify the Stewards of any findings.

Led,soon trail,tidy bid lane

3rd,3bk inr,held up tn,imprvd inr

13th otr,wd 1500,prkd,stuck gamely

Bk otr,brk brfly,parkd,1x1,

MACANDREW AVIATOR - broke briefly entering the first bend hampering a trailing runner.

4bk otr,3wd cvr 700,4th tn,tidy

DREAMS ARE FREE - hampered by a breaking runner near the 1150m.

Brk start,bk otr,led 2000,sped hm

DREAMS ARE FREE - broke briefly at the start losing ground.

Slow,tackd on,last,nice fin wide

DREAMS ARE FREE - fractious prior to the start then tangled away losing ground. When questioned regarding the performance, driver N Williamson advised that after beginning slowly, he had worked hard to make up ground and given the fast closing sectionals was unable to improve further, adding he was not disappointed with the horse's effort.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1300,held up,good

DREAMS ARE FREE - held up final bend.

Brk,tacked on,wd cvr rear,sound mid

DREAMS ARE FREE - broke at the start losing ground. Held up early in the run home and again over the concluding stages. Driver N Williamson advised he did not activate the removeable deafeners in consequence.

8bk otr,3wd cvr,off,1-paced mid

4-5bk otr,3wd cvr,3bk otr-inr,plggd

3wd,prkd,1x1,3bk otr 600,off,useful

MO'UNGA - driver R Close was spoken to for the manner in which he eased the pace near the 1900m resulting in several runners having to be steadied.

Up,led,trld 1500,thru,faded on inr

3-4-5bk inr,3bk otr,angld,honest

MO'UNGA - when questioned regarding the performance trainer R Todd advised he was not disappointed given the quick sectionals of the race.

5th,5bk inr 1850,held up tn,fair

MO'UNGA - held up final bend. When questioned regarding the performance driver R Close advised the race had not been run to suit and he was not overly disappointed given the closing sectionals.

3bk otr,7th,3-4bk otr,wd,flew,just

Slow,9th,5bk otr,inr tn,held up,gd

MO'UNGA - hampered by a breaking runner at the start. When questioned regarding the performance driver B Butt advised he was satisfied with the effort given the manner in which the race unfolded with a fast closing last sectional. Mr Butt further advised the gelding had lost momentum when held up briefly leaving the final bend after electing to shift back to the inside to save ground.

6th otr,1x1,3-bk 1050,wd 350,stout

3-bk mrks to trn,thru 200,strng bid

3-4bk inr,off mid 700,held up,tidy

ALTA METEOR - tangled away.

Led,trld,3bk 1400,waitd,good inr

ALTA METEOR - held up early in the run home.

Up,3-4bk inr,prkd,1x1-3bk otr,solid

Connections advised Stewards on 22 October that ALTA METEOR has had its joints treated since last racing.

3-4th,up,ld 1850,joind tn,fght,hdd

Soon ld,set terms,kickd,held well

ALTA METEOR - driver T Williams reported he became unbalanced in the sulky after his foot briefly slipped from the footrest passing the 100m.

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

ALTA METEOR - connections advised on 22 August the gelding has been treated for a respiratory infection since last racing.

1x1,prkd 2600,no cvr,felt pinch tn

ALTA METEOR - underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Weakened rounding the final bend.

Ld,trld,3bk 1250,off 250,solid mid

Led,trld,3bk 1100,waitd,steady inr

Brk,9th,5bk inr,off,imprvd mid

WAG STAR - broke at the start losing ground. Held up early in the run home.

5bk otr,6bk,wd rear tn,warmd up wd

Brk,7th inr,1x1 850,off,closed hard

WAG STAR - broke at the start losing ground. Shifted inwards having to be straightened near the 150m. Driver C Ferguson 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 Ferguson's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 10 October up to and including 16 October 2025 (3 days).

Brk,6bk inr,5bk otr,sound thru mid

WAG STAR - tangled away.

Brk brfly,bk otr,angld trn,nice wrk

WAG STAR - broke briefly at the start.

7-8bk otr,wdst rear tn,cheeky wdst

1x1-5bk otr,3-4wd 400,dashd wd

WAG STAR - raced wide from the 500m.

Up,ld 2800,joind,fght,swampd

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-raced warmed.

5th,prkd,ld 1400,too many guns

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed. Raced wide early. Driver C Dalgety advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

4bk otr,3wd,ld 1500,kicked,stylish

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed.

6th,sent fwd,ld 1600,kickd,held thm

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed. Tangled away. Driver C Dalgety advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

8th,prkd 2100-tn,gritty bid,peakd

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed.

4th,prkd,into ld 1450,too many guns

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed.

Crossed,off to ld 2150,held bravely

REPUBLICAN PARTY - Driver C Dalgety advised that a corner of the dust sheet detached during the running.

7th otr,5-bk,wdst top,closed boldly

REPUBLICAN PARTY - pre-race warmed. Lay inwards and raced roughly having to be steadied near the 450m.

3wd,prkd 2400-tn,fght,very brave

LEAP TO FAME - raced wide early.

Up,led,trld 2800,thru,sound,peakd

Up,ld 2000,tackld,ld,fght hard,cght

AKUTA - pre-race warmed.

4th,up,ld,trld 1400,thru,honest

AKUTA - the required veterinary clearance was received.

7th,up,prkd 1200,askd,felt pinch

AKUTA - when questioned regarding the performance co-trainer/driver M Purdon advised he was disappointed with the gelding's effort despite racing parked for a distance. Mr Purdon further added that not having raced for nearly one month may have been a contributing factor. A post-race veterinary examination including an endoscopy at the request of connections detected a degree of internal exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage that may have affected the horse's performance. A veterinary clearance will be required prior to racing next.

Soon parkd,levelled up trn,classy

Slow,7th,3wd cvr,postd,prkd,hdd

AKUTA - broke briefly at the start.

Into trail early,off prkd 600,tough

BETTER KNUCKLE UP - checked racing into the first bend when AKUTA shifted down to trail the leader resulting in the horse losing ground.

Wd,1x1,prkd 1300,tried hard,denied

Rear inr,off,wd cvr,posted,2nd,game

AKUTA - raced wide from the 1200m until crossing to the parked position near the 600m. Co-trainer/Driver M Purdon advised he was satisfied with the performance given the 30m handicap, the mid-race effort to get handy and the prevailing track conditions.

3-4bk otr,3wd cvr 700,solid up inr

MERLIN - forced to race four wide near the 950m. Lay inwards rounding the final bend. Held up for a short distance near the 200m.

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 600,fght,toughest

MERLIN - had to be steadied near the 1900m after an easing of the pace.

3-5bk otr,6bk 700,angld,tidy,peakd

Rear otr,swept to ld 1300,reeled in

SOONER THE BETTOR - driver H Orange dropped his whip near the 700m when activating gear. Commenced to over-race for a distance from the 600m when MERLIN shied and shifted up the track causing Mr Orange considerable difficulty. Lay inwards striking track markers rounding the final bend.

6th otr,1x1 1550,wd 350,bold effort

MERLIN - Co-Trainer B Purdon advised Stewards that it was connections' intention to drive the entire for one run given he was first up after a lengthy spell and the 20m handicap. This information was passed on to the Commentator for public dissemination. When questioned regarding the performance Driver Z Butcher stated that although he had received a good run when trailing on the outer, he had been further back off the leader when the tempo increased than he would have liked after COLD CHISEL hadn't taken him forward as he had hoped. Mr Butcher added that he was satisfied with the manner in which MERLIN had finished the event off given the circumstances.

Eased,rear,3-bk inr,off,blkd,fin on

SOONER THE BETTOR - pre-race warmed. Over-raced middle stages. Shifted ground marginally under pressure near the 150m placing MERLIN and MO'UNGA in restricted room momentarily.

Wd cvr,prkd,cvr 1200,3rd,stout mrks

MERLIN - raced wide early and middle stages before crossing to the parked position near the 1400m.

8th otr,wd cvr 400,wdr top,bold fin

MERLIN - pre-race warmed. Driver Z Butcher was questioned in relation to an incident near the 1100m where KANGO was able to shift away from the marker line. Mr Butcher stated that Driver D Butcher (KANGO) had been clear to commence the shift with MERLIN then improving to be outside that runner's wheel before he was able to steady the entire back down into the running line. Mr Butcher also advised that the off side shortener pin had released prematurely prior to him activating the remaining shortener pin near the 1000m.