NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

1x1,left prkd 2100,tough bid,denied

ASSISI LOVER - co-trainers R & J Dunn were issued a warning for being late to present the mare on course.

Trld the trip,askd tn,honest inr

5bk otr,4bk 600,angld,honest wd

OHOKA COBRA - raced wide early.

Trld-3bk inr,prkd 900,flat tn,wiltd

OHOKA COBRA - when questioned regarding the performance driver S Ottley advised the colt had over-raced through the middle stages and had been unsuited to racing parked.

Gate spd,ld 1800,joind,fght,hdd

Prkd,1x 1000,off,1-paced mid

6bk otr,5bk 800,wdst tn,honest wd

MYSTERY BEACH - the over-check slipped during the running.

3bk otr,up,prkd 800,fght,bestd

Chkd badly,always detachd after

MYSTERY BEACH - checked after the start when an outside runner shifted inwards abruptly losing all chance.

Eased,5-6bk inr,inr tn,weak inr

MYSTERY BEACH - over-raced middle stages. Struck the final track marker prior to the passing lane. Driver A Butt was issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice.

Soon 1x1,peeld 500,fght well

MYSTERY BEACH - over-raced in the middle stages.

Eased,6bk inr,rear otr,no dash mid

Easd,last,3w drag,postd 700,brave

FLASHPOINT - slow over the early stages. Hung outwards over the concluding stages and became awkwardly placed close to the sulky of MYSTERY BEACH having to be steadied.

Ld,trld 1800,thru,chased hard inr

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.

Soon trld,thru,led 150,just cght

DEADLINE - hampered by an easing of the pace near the 1400m.

Gate spd,trld-3bk inr,held up,ok

DEADLINE - held up leaving the final bend.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1250,askd,sound

DEADLINE - lay inwards and struck a track marker near the 1100m.

Soon 3bk inr,paddling 500,wilted

POSEIDON - weakened final bend.

Thru,1x1-3bk otr-1x1,off,sound

8th,4bk otr,well bk tn,1-paced

3bk otr-1x1-5bk 700,plain inr

POSEIDON - pre-race warmed. Paced roughly late in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Weakened final bend. When questioned regarding the performance trainer/driver G Smith advised he would be returning the horse to the trials prior to resuming.

Led,trld 1500,thru,no threat inr

CRYSTAL - weakened final bend. When questioned regarding the performance driver C Butt advised in his opinion the filly had failed to back up from its previous start last week. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

5-4bk otr,3-4wd tn,strong bid mid

CRYSTAL - raced wide early.

Gate spd,up,ld 1300,fght,hdd 150

BLAZING KNUCKLES - over-raced early.

Up,trld 1700,waited,steady inr

Wd,pressed on,prkd 1300,gallant bid

WHATZ MY CHOICE - raced wide early and middle stages.

Chkd badly start,nvr in touch after

WHATZ MY CHOICE - checked after the start when an outside runner shifted inwards abruptly losing all chance.

Follwd 1x1,drag up 400,ok fin wider

1x1-3bk otr,up,ld 900,fght,cght 100

BETTOR OFF - hung outwards and paced roughly late in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the filly. Paced roughly for a distance after the start. Attempted to pull up near the 900m resulting in an easing of the pace hampering trailing runners. Lay outwards rounding the final bend and then shifted ground outwards having to be straightened near the 150m.

6-5bk otr,wd cvr tn,big dash wdst

BETTOR OFF - Authorisation of placings was withheld until Stewards had viewed the photo finish and confirmed the Judge's call of a dead heat for 1st place between ABSOLUTE BABE and BETTOR OFF after being unable to identify the nose of BETTOR OFF which was obstructed by the nose flap. Co-trainers S & A Telfer (represented by T Williams) admitted a charge under Rule 864(2)(a) and the Approved Gear Regulation after BETTOR OFF raced in unapproved gear due to the nose flap protruding past the horse's nose. After hearing submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $600.

4bk otr,sent 3wd 500,cheeky mid

3rd,3bk inr,waited,honest inr

ROYAL BELLE - hampered by an easing of the pace near the 1400m.

Soon trld,held up 600,off,fair inr

ROYAL BELLE - fractious prior to the start. Hampered by a weakening runner near the 500m.

3rd,3-4bk inr,brk,flat,battled

INTERRORGATOR - over-raced middle stages. Hampered near the 1100m. Lay outwards near the 650m despite the efforts of driver J Dunn checking ROYAL BELLE which broke losing ground. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. Held up throughout the run home. Mr Dunn advised he did not activate the removable deafeners and sliding blinds in consequence.

Up,ld-4bk inr 1600,off,handy mid

ROYAL BELLE - driver K Hadfield was warned for the manner he drove after 100m when crowding inside runners.

Into trail,4-bk 1700,off,steady wd

3rd,3bk inr,off tn,ld 300,cght 20

1x1,chkd,1x1,3bk,chkd,1x1,3wd,ok

ROYAL BELLE - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend. Checked by a breaking runner near the 1100m.

3-4bk inr,off 450,useful mid-wd

ROYAL BELLE - driver K Hadfield advised he was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

4bk otr,3wd cvr tn,honest bid wd

COURTNEY FORCE - awkwardly placed close to the sulky of ROYAL BELLE near the 550m after a slight easing of the pace. Cleared from the unruly for future mobile starts. Driver D Reardon was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

3-4bk inr,cartd 700,held up,imprvd

NILA MAREE - over-raced middle stages. Held up final bend and again in the middle stages of the run home.

Gate spd,ld 1800,askd,fght,hdd 100

Gate spd,ld,trld 1300,off,smart bid

NILA MAREE - shifted outwards near the 250m hampering TWEEDY. Driver O Thornley was issued a warning.

Early speed,trld,thru,honest inr

Brk,detachd,7th,3bk otr,up,solid

NILA MAREE - broke at the start losing ground.

Rough,trld,shffd,5bk,angled,tidy wd

NILA MAREE - paced roughly in the early stages having to be steadied hampering a trailing runner.

3wd cvr,up,ld 1100,fght hrd,hdd 70

NILA MAREE - raced wide early. Shifted outwards leaving the final bend. Driver B Orange advised the filly had been hanging outwards throughout causing him some difficulty.

Trld,3bk inr 1150,held up,no gaps

NILA MAREE - held up throughout the run home.

Gate spd,ld,fght hard,just cght 50