NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Soon 3bk inr,held up tn,handy inr

3wd,prkd,1x1,3bk,4bk,got going wd

NEXT LEVEL - raced wide early.

Soon 3pegs,no room strgt,forget

NEXT LEVEL - held up early and middle stages of the run home. Driver K Butt advised she did not activate the removable deafeners as a consequence.

5-4bk inr,angld off tn,no gaps mid

NEXT LEVEL - paced roughly racing into the first bend having to be steadied. Lay inwards rounding the first bend striking track markers. Held up throughout the run home.

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

Thru,3bk inr,held up,useful inr

NEXT LEVEL - driver K Butt was issued a warning for using her whip in a continuous manner in the run home.

4th,3-4bk inr,5bk 800,off,honest

Eased,5bk inr,3bk otr,battld wdst

5th,5bk inr,3bk otr,off,warmd up wd

CHRISTIES ART - lay inwards near the 1700m when being restrained and contacted the sulky wheel of NEXT LEVEL losing ground. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed lameness in the left fore leg. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to resuming.

Chkd,9th otr,wd cvr rear,chkd & brk

NEXT LEVEL - hampered by breaking runners at the start. Checked by a breaking runner near the 400m and broke losing all chance.

7th,prkd,1x1 1700,dashd,close

Eased,8bk otr,5-4bk inr,pluggd inr

GOTTA ELECT BILL - raced wide early.

Soon parkd,1x1,1x2,batld on

Eased,rear otr,3-bk,wd 900,stuck on

GOTTA ELECT BILL - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver W House. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Lovely trip mrks,thru,gallant claim

GOTTA ELECT BILL - Stewards opened an investigation into the manner in which driver M Hay used his whip over the initial stages of the run home.

6th otr,wd cvr rear 300,closed hard

6th otr,3-bk,wd 600,plggd away gap

12th,5bk otr,4bk inr,battld inr

5th otr,prkd 1400,fght on resoutely

Eased,wd cvr rear 1200,4w 550,bttld

GOTTA ELECT BILL - raced wide from the 1350m and four wide from the 600m.

Up,prkd,ld 1300,joind tn,bested 150

FREEZE FRAME - Driver A Butt was questioned regarding the reasons he did not drive his horse out with any apparent vigour over the final 50 metres when positioned in third place. Mr Butt explained that the horse was doing its best at that stage of the race and, in his opinion, any further urging would not have improved its finishing position or altered the placings. After considering Mr Butt's explanation, reviewing the available footage and taking into account the margin between the third and fourth placed runners, Stewards were satisfied that his actions had not affected the result and determined that no further action was warranted other to caution Mr Butt and remind him of his obligations to drive his runner out fully to the end of the race when in a stakes-bearing position.

Prkd,into ld 1350,dictaed,bolted in

3bk otr-6bk 800,3wd cvr,solid wd

4bk otr,hookd wdr tn,steady wd

Cght wd,eased,rear otr,passed slows

FREEZE FRAME - raced wide early.

Wd cvr 8th,up prkd bell,outfinished

FREEZE FRAME - raced wide early and middle stages.

7th otr,3-bk bell,off top,stout fin

Prkd,into ld 1750,hdd top,no extra

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 800,very game str

FOREVER MIKI - raced wide early and middle stages.

Soon prkd,no cvr,ld tn,brave,nabbd

6th otr,wd cvr 500,wdst top,lethal

1x1,launchd 3wd 350,did best inr

Gun run mrks,thru,fght best shadows

5th otr,left prkd 2000,fght bravely

Mid-bk otr,3w train 600,nice fin

Soon 4bk otr,angld wd tn,tried hard

LONNEKERS - broke briefly shortly after the start hampering a trailing runner. Driver R Cameron admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly leaving the final bend when shifting ground and allowing his horse to strike the sulky wheel of DECEPTIVE LEE resulting in the tyre being punctured. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300. Mr Cameron was also issued a warning for using his whip in a continuous manner in the run home.

Soon 4pegs,off 550,tidy wn clear

Last,angld wd trn,nice widest

TACT TEVA - lay out late in the score up placing DECEPTIVE LEE in restricted room. Held up final bend and early stages of the run home.

Pressd 2 lead,trail,solid chase

Soon trail,kept trying up lane

DECEPTIVE LEE - driver M Hill was issued with a warning for using his whip in a continuous manner in the run home.

Trld the trip,waitd,thru,1-paced

6th,5bk inr 1200,last tn,fair inr

3bk otr-prkd 1300,up,led,grabbd

Soon 5bk otr,3wd 550,bold bid wd

Strght to ld,set terms,quite comfy

Up,prkd,doggd,led tn,too gritty

KOTARE RIMU - driver S Thornley admitted a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that he used his whip in a continuous manner in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300.

Soon trld,waitd,shot thru 150,held

1x1-5bk otr 800,3wd cvr,sound mid

4-5bk inr,off rear tn,tight,steady

KOTARE RIMU - held up early in the run home.

Prkd,ld 950,trld 800,too good (rel)

KOTARE RIMU - Stewards lodged a protest against 1st placing being awarded under Rule 869(7B) alleging the gelding had gained an advantage by racing inside the final track marker prior to the passing lane. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards, driver S Hill and trainer R Houghton, the Adjudicative Committee upheld the protest and KOTARE RIMU was relegated to 2nd placing. Junior driver S Hill (assisted by A Butt) admitted an associated charge in that he allowed his runner to improve inside a track marker thereby gaining an advantage. After hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Hill's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 17 May up to and including 29 May 2026 (3 days).

Wd,up prkd 1600,ouitkicked run home

KOTARE RIMU - over-raced when racing in the parked position through the middle stages.

Soon 3bk otr,3wd cvr 350,off,ok mid

Found 1x1,loomd,chased hard mid

Gate spd,trld,gone 600,had issue

SACETAS - weakened from the 700m hampering trailing runners. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding had suffered an atrial fibrillation. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance including the results of an ECG prior to completing one satisfactory trial before resuming.

Gate spd,ld 1700,set terms,comfy

SACETAS - driver R Harrison advised she did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Gate spd,ld 1800,very dominant

Held ld,trld 1700,thru tn,got there

Trld,cartd bk badly 500-100,forgive

SACETAS - held up by a weakening runner final bend.

3bk inr,off,ld 1300,fght,nabbed

SACETAS - lay inwards racing into the first bend striking a track marker.

3wd,prkd,1x1,up,ld 700,too strong

SACETAS - raced wide early. Over-raced for a distance passing the 1000m. Driver J Dunn advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Eased,3bk otr-1x1,up,kept coming

Wd,4bk otr,3wd,prkd 800,too brave

EUN SOGNO - raced wide early.

Up,wd,prkd 1500-tn,led,nabbd 30

EUN SOGNO - driver K Butt was issued a warning for crowding an inside runner near the 1450m which struck several track markers.

9th otr,3-bk bell,unable to quicken

EUN SOGNO - required assistance from a starting attendant in the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

4th inr,4-bk,prkd,cvr 1100,off,fght

4th inr,4-bk,3-bk 1300,dropped away

EUN SOGNO - back from position at the start. Driver A Butt was issued a warning. Lay inwards under pressure rounding the final bend. Mr Butt advised the gelding had failed to handle the bends.

4w,pressed to ld 1650,hdd 150m,fght

CATH - raced wide early.

Ld untested,got terms,too many guns

CATH - lay outwards rounding the final bend. Despite this driver S Hill was advised to make a better effort to maintain a straight course in future.

Held ld,tackld,joind tn,fght,hdd

Gate spd,led-3bk inr,off tn,flew

CATH - over-raced when being restrained passing the 1300m. Driver S Hill was issued a warning for using his whip in a continuous manner in the run home.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1600,thru,too easy

CATH - broke in the score up however was in position at the start. Junior driver S Hill (assisted by G O'Reilly) admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that he drove carelessly by allowing his runner to strike the sulky wheel of THE QUEENS GAMBIT early in the run home resulting in the tyre being 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 30 November up to and including 10 December 2025 (5 days).

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

CATH - raced wide early.

Trld-3bk inr,held up tn,wiltd inr

3rd,3bk inr 700,waited,fair mid-inr

EBONY ARDEN - over-raced middle stages.

Trld-3b inr,off tn,chased well mid

EBONY ARDEN - shifted inwards racing into the first bend crowding an inside runner. Driver T Williams was issued a warning.

Gt spd,led,attackd,flat trn,batld

TOSANA - made contact with the sulky wheel of EBONY ARDEN when attempting to take a trail near the 1300m. Driver M Hurrell was issued with a warning for the manner he drove at this stage of the race.

Soon 3w train,peeld turn,nice bid

EBONY ARDEN - raced three wide with cover throughout.

Soon 1x1,out strgt,nice bid

Gt spd,led,soon trail,tidy chase

1x1,prkd,4-bk inr,prkd 1000,ld,game