NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Soon trld,hung,waitd tn,battld inr

4bk otr,rear inr tn,offerd little

VERLANDER - weakened in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance driver K Butt advised she was disappointed with the effort and could offer no explanation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

5bk otr,detachd 500,battld rear

VERLANDER - weakened from the 600m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

3rd,4th,parkd 700,rallied well

4-5bk inr,off rear 500,angld,battld

Soon 1x1,1x2,thru mid,no go

Left parkd,1x1,pushd out 700,gone

ALMIGHTY CLEVER - sustained a punctured sulky tyre near the 800m after being shifted wider on the track when weakening, simultaneous to the trailing CLASSIC MISSION shifting ground inwards. After hearing from drivers C Dalgety (ALMIGHTY CLEVER) and K Tomlinson (CLASSIC MISSION), Stewards were satisfied no one horse or driver was at fault and accordingly took the matter no further. A post-race veterinary examination of the gelding revealed no obvious abnormality.

Eased,4-5bk otr,wd rear tn,stuck on

ALMIGHTY CLEVER - when questioned regarding the performance driver M Williamson advised the gelding had been unsuited to the strong tempo throughout.

Soon 5bk inr,battling tn,faded str

ALMIGHTY CLEVER - weakened final bend.

Eased,8bk otr,3wd cvr,honest mid-wd

IDEAL CHEVRON - out of position at the start. Driver K Butt was issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice. In taking this course of action Stewards were mindful that Miss Butt had been warned recently in relation to this rule.

Brk start,6-7bk inr,held up tn,fair

IDEAL CHEVRON - broke shortly after the start and shifted inwards checking an inside runner losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

4-8bk otr,rear inr tn,bt slows inr

Trld-3bk inr,prkd,1x1,trld tn,just

3wd,prkd,1x1,up tn,honest,peakd

3-4bk inr,3bk tn,imprvd in gaps

MILLWOOD GODDESS - Stewards questioned driver J Dunn regarding the tactics he adopted in the early stages when HI HOPES was able to shift inwards ahead of his runner. Mr Dunn advised that after initially urging his horse forward with the whip the mare had paced roughly and had hung outwards resulting in him having to steady his horse. After considering Mr Dunn's explanation which was supported by the video replays, Stewards took the matter no further.

Brk,11th,6bk otr,held up,imprvd mid

HI HOPES - broke at the start losing ground. Held up middle and late stages of the run home. Junior driver S Hill advised he did not activate the removable deafeners as a result. A post-race veterinary examination revealed signs of slight muscle tie up. Stewards questioned Mr Hill (assisted by M Williamson) regarding his decision to shift inwards near the 300m which resulted in his runner being held up over the concluding stages. After hearing his explanation Stewards issued a charge under Rule 868(2) alleging he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to win or obtain the best possible placing with Mr Hill defending the breach. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from both drivers and Stewards, the Adjudicative Committee dismissed the charge.

1x1-3bk otr,3wd cvr,warmd up wdst

Eased,6-5bk otr,wdst tn,pluggd wd

4-5bk inr,held up,off,no gaps mid

HI HOPES - held up throughout the run home. Driver S Hill advised he was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

5bk otr,3wd 600,made bid,peakd,fdd

HI HOPES - raced wide early.

5bk inr,3-4bk otr,held up,zippy inr

KRYSTAL DELIGHT - held up early in the run home and again over the concluding stages. Shifted inwards near the 300m and struck the sulky wheel of WOLF OF WALL STREET. Driver B Hope was issued a warning. In taking this course of action Stewards were mindful there had been no consequential effects.

Eased,4bk inr,waitd,handy up inr

KRYSTAL DELIGHT - out of position at the start. Driver B Hope was issued a warning.

Prkd,ld 1300,hdd,trld tn,tried hard

Soon 3bk inr,held up,imprvd up inr

1x1,prkd 1200,flat tn,felt pinch

KRYSTAL DELIGHT - over-raced when racing in the parked position through the middle stages.

3bk otr,3wd cvr 900,loomd,big wd

KRYSTAL DELIGHT - raced wide with cover from the 1100m.

3bk otr,4bk 1000,3bk,solid wd

5bk inr,6bk 700,5bk tn,steady mid

TOPAZ - held up final bend.

1x1,3bk otr 800,3wd 400,solid mid

3-4bk inr,3bk 1300,angld,sound

KNOCKSHANBALLY - shifted inwards racing into the first bend resulting in TOPAZ having to be restrained. Over-raced middle stages. Weakened leaving the final bend. Junior driver A Drake, who declined assistance from a senior driver, admitted a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly by allowing his horse to shift inwards racing into the first bend when insufficiently clear of TOPAZ which was checked and lost its rightful racing position. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Drake's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing tonight up to and including 26 May 2024 (2 days).

6-5bk otr,6bk 1000,very smart wd

TOPAZ - hampered near the 1200m.

3-4-5bk inr,weaved tn,tidy inr

TOPAZ - checked by a breaking runner after 200m and struck several track markers. Held up final bend.

4bk otr,3wd cvr 700,off,handy mid

BETTOR LOVER - driver R May advised the gelding had hung rounding the final bend and in the run home causing him difficulty. Mr May defended a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that he used his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr May the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and imposed a fine of $250.

Soon 4bk otr,hemmd in tn,steady

BETTOR LOVER - trainer B Hill advised the gelding has had its joints treated since last racing. Held up for clear racing room in the run home.

5th,prkd 1300,pushd 3wd,faded 200

BETTOR LOVER - raced three wide without cover from the 800m.

3wd,prkd,no cvr,brief bid tn,fdd

BETTOR LOVER - raced wide early.

5bk otr,3wd cvr,postd 3wd,battld

BETTOR LOVER - raced wide from the 1400m.

Prkd,1x1,3bk otr 800,off,solid mid

1x1-3bk otr,to trl tn,no pick-up

LORD MUDRICK - shifted outwards in the run home when being driven out hampering an outside runner. Driver C Butt 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 penalty submissions the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Butt's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing tonight up to and including 2 June 2024 (2 days). Mr Butt defended a breach of Rule 869(4) and the Home Straight Regulations alleging he failed to maintain a straight course in the run home resulting in MIKI BENNETT being hampered. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr Butt, the Adjudicative Committee upheld the charge and suspended Mr Butt's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 2 June up to and including 9 June 2024 (2 days).

4-5-6bk otr,3wd rear 450,bt slows

LORD MUDRICK - driver C Butt was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

6th,4-3bk otr,3wd 600 & wilted

LORD MUDRICK - weakened final bend.

4-5-4bk otr,chkd 1050 & pulld up

LORD MUDRICK - severely checked near the 1050m by a fallen runner with the gelding breaking and unbalancing driver C Butt and was retired from the race.

7-6bk otr,wd cvr tn,got going wd

Soon ld,joind 600,fght,swamped

OPO - driver M Maynard was warned for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

Trld the trip,waited,honest inr

Trld-4bk inr 1200,off 3wd tn,steady

OPO - crowded by an outside runner approaching the first bend. Over-raced middle stages.

1x1-3bk otr,3wd cvr,handy up inr

3-4bk inr,held up tn,sharp in gaps

4-5bk otr,3wd,prkd,1x1,steady

Prkd,led 1300,swalllowed up in str

WHITE STAR ORLANDO - over-raced early stages.

Prkd,keen,1x1 then chokd tn 1100

WHITE STAR ORLANDO - over-raced early stages before commencing to race fiercely for a distance passing the 1400m when driver C Dalgety attempted to restrain the horse to obtain cover. Choked down passing the 1100m and was taken wider on the track before falling shortly after severely checking trailing runners. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a small abrasion above the gelding's left eye which was treated. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming. Driver C Dalgety was examined by St John personnel and cleared of injury.

4-6bk otr,rear inr tn,one-paced

WHITE STAR ORLANDO - raced wide early.

Soon trld,waited,thru,dashd,just

3bk otr,up 3wd tn,tried hard mid

WHITE STAR ORLANDO - hampered by a weakening runner final bend. Driver C Dalgety advised he sustained a punctured sulky tyre during the running.

Gate spd,ld,trld,cartd 600,sound

ACENTO - hampered by a weakening runner near the 900m.

5bk otr,3wd,prkd 800,ld,bestd 150

7-8th,1x1-3bk otr,stoic thru mid

CHOCO LOU - driver C DeFilippi admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly near the 1100m when allowing his horse to strike the sulky wheel of ACENTO with the tyre puncturing. After viewing the replays and hearing penalty submissions, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $250.

1x1 the trip,3-4wd tn,strong wd

3-4bk inr,buried tn,honest inr

Slow,5-6bk otr,rear,held up,steady

ACENTO - broke at the start losing ground. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home.

Trld-4bk inr 1300,5bk 600,plggd wd

NED KELLY - hampered by a weakening runner near the 900m.

4-5bk otr,3wd cvr tn,dashd wdst

3-4bk inr,5bk 1300,always bk

NED KELLY - over-raced middle stages.

Soon 1x1,up 3wd tn,steady mid

Trld-3bk inr 1300,dashed best inr

NED KELLY - lay outwards throughout the run home. Driver M Williamson advised he did not activate the removable deafeners as a consequence.

Held ld,tackld,trld 1000,3bk,wiltd

NED KELLY - hung outwards at various stages during the running causing driver J Gray some difficulty. Weakened in the run home.