NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Wd,into ld 1250,dictated,reeled in

Up,led 1800,stackd thm up,held best

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 ld,set terms,fght hard,hdd 100

Prkd,ld 1500,hdd 200,fght on

Soon 1x1,off wdr tn,chased hard mid

ROCKINGOOD - trainer B Hill was issued a warning for presenting the gelding to race without the notified blinds. Hampered by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.

1x1,prkd,1x1,off 450,chased gamely

ROCKINGOOD - lay inwards near the 50m placing THE MANDALORIAN in restricted room. Authorisation of 3rd placing was withheld until driver R Holmes (THE MANDALORIAN) placed 4th, had reviewed the replays of the run home and confirmed his chances of finishing ahead of ROCKINGOOD had not been affected. Driver R May advised he would be recommending gear changes prior to ROCKINGOOD racing next.

3wd,ld,hassld,trld 900,honest inr

ROCKINGOOD - raced wide early.

5bk otr,brk 1100,rear otr tn,battld

ROCKINGOOD - hung outwards in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early. Jumped a shadow near the 1100m and broke losing ground. Trainer B Hill advised he would consider returning the horse to the trials prior to resuming.

8th otr,wd cvr,posted 550,outkicked

SHAKE A LEG - raced wide from the 800m.

6bk otr,up,prkd 650,ld 400,comfy

SHAKE A LEG - lay inwards in the score up and was out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver B Orange. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early.

Into 1x1,4-bk 950,wd 450,bttld away

10th otr,wd cvr 600,wdr,plggd away

11th otr,wd cvr,held up mid,tidy wd

SHAKE A LEG - hampered rounding the final bend.

Eased,wd rear 800,5w top,strong fin

3-4bk otr,5bk 900,3-4wd,honest wd

SHAKE A LEG - when questioned regarding the performance trainer S Reid advised the gelding may be feeling the effects of recent racing and he would be sending the horse for a spell.

Brk start,couldn't quite catch up

SHAKE A LEG - broke in the score up losing all chance. Placed on the unruly for future mobile starts.

Eased,rear otr,held up,never a hope

BAD HABITS - held up early and middle stages of the run home and paced roughly. Stewards questioned driver S Ottley regarding the tactics she adopted during the middle stages. Miss Ottley explained that the tempo had quickened near the 1000m mark, causing her runner to lose several lengths. As a result, she elected to shift inwards to save ground, given her runner was under pressure to maintain its position. Miss Ottley added the horse had then become held up rounding the final bend and in the run home behind tiring runners. After considering her explanation and viewing the replays Stewards were satisfied her actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

3-4bk inr,off 400,angld,steady wd

1x1,3-bk,wd 400,4w top,breezed past

Soon 6bk otr,wdst rear tn,solid wd

Chkd,5th,5bk inr,off 450,gd in gaps

BAD HABITS - hampered by a breaking runner shortly after the start.

Trld-3bk inr,held up tn to line

BAD HABITS - held up throughout the run home. Driver R Close advised he did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence.

4-5bk inr,off 600,3wd cvr,imprvd

3bk otr,angld wd,workd closer wd

DAVE DULEY - held up for a distance passing the 400m and shifted ground outwards briefly locking wheels with BAD HABITS near the 300m. Held up throughout the run home.

3wd,prkd,ld bid,prkd,askd tn,tired

BAD HABITS - raced wide early. Weakened leaving the final bend. When questioned regarding the performance driver C Ferguson advised the gelding had worked hard in the early stages and was not suited to racing in the parked position with the effort taking its toll.

Mid-bk otr,into1x1,pouncd,knckd off

3-4bk inr,waited tn,tried hard str

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

RENALDO - over-raced middle stages. Held up early in the run home.

Trld,3-bk 1650,off,closed boldly wd

1x1-4bk otr,5th tn,handy mid

Eased,4bk otr,3wd cvr 500,useful wd

Thru,tight,1x1,up,prkd,too classy

RENALDO - crowded and checked when an outside runner shifted inwards racing into the first bend with driver R May being badly unbalanced and unseated in the sulky for some distance. Mr May advised he sustained a punctured sulky tyre in this incident.

Eased,5-6bk otr,wd rear tn,handy

Soon left parkd,fght on well

1x1-5bk otr,3wd 700,chkd wd 250

RENALDO - paced roughly in the early stages. Checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.

4-6bk otr,wdst rear tn,warmd up wd

HUGO - lay inwards and briefly locked wheels with COMMANDER JOE passing the 300m.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1900,thru,sound

HUGO - lay outwards in the run home and paced roughly passing the 75m.

Gate spd,ld-3bk inr 1600,off 400,gd

HUGO - raced wide early. Shifted outwards rounding the final bend checking outside runners. Stewards questioned drivers S Thornley (HUGO), G O'Reilly (TROUBLESHOOTER) and S Ottley (TACT TEENA) regarding this incident and after hearing their evidence issued Mr Thornley with a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) and the Shifting Ground Regulations alleging he drove carelessly when shifting outwards near the 400m checking TROUBLESHOOTER and TACT TEENA with TACT TEENA breaking and losing all chance. Mr Thornley (assisted by K Barron) defended the charge and after viewing the replays and hearing evidence from all parties, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and Mr Thornley's driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 25 April up to and including 30 April 2025 (2 days).

3bk inr,held up 400,tight,off,sound

HUGO - held up final bend and early in the run home.

3bk inr,off 350,handy in mid

Rough/brk start,detachd,wd rear,fdd

HUGO - broke in the score up and was out of position at the start. Broke again as the start was effected losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Weakened leaving the final bend.

3-5bk inr,5bk otr,held up tn,imprvd

HUGO - held up final bend and early in the run home. Paced roughly passing the 200m.

Gate spd,trld,thru,got there inr

4th ,prkd 1600,ld 400,rough,run dwn

HUGO - paced roughly rounding the final bend.

Slw,wd rear 1200,prkd,brk,outkicked

HUGO - paced roughly in the early stages losing ground. Broke briefly near the 300m hampering a trailing runner losing ground.

Soon 1x1,up 3wd tn,kickd clr,hld on

Soon 3bk otr,up,chased hard wd

Trainer A Telfer advised Stewards on 5 May that AKATEA has had its hocks treated since last racing.

8th otr,4-bk bell,wd cvr 500,steady

5th inr,off 1150,wd 650,gallant bid

Wd,prkd,cvr 1450,off,held up,no zip

Chkd,6th otr,1x1,wd,prkd,too strong

AKATEA - hampered first bend.

6th,5bk inr,off,wd cvr rear,belated

AKATEA - Driver A Harrison reported that the bit had shifted during the running placing her at some disadvantage.

Trld,3-bk 1400,carted,passed slows

AKATEA - Co-Trainer S Telfer was warned for being late to notify the filly would be racing with blinds instead of the notified sliding blinds. Hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

3bk inr,off,prkd 1400,brave,close

Gate spd,ld 1850,kickd,held on late

Brk start,6-4bk otr,warmd up wd

MUNROE'S MATE - broke in the score up losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Gate spd,ld,fght bravely str,hdd 90

3-4bk otr,up,prkd 1200,fght,peakd

MUNROE'S MATE - cleared from the unruly for future mobile starts.

7-6-5bk otr,3wd 650,smart,hdd 50

MUNROE'S MATE - raced wide from the 800m.

Soon 1x1,steady work in mid

MUNROE'S MATE - lay inwards rounding the final bend when being forced wider on the track, placing an inside runner in restricted room.

Scored up wildly,distant,no hope

MUNROE'S MATE - broke in the score up losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Trld,4bk inr 900,held up,off,tidy

I'M ROCKIN - held up final bend and early in the run home.

5th,soon prkd,1x1 1200,held up,good

I'M ROCKIN - held up final bend.

3wd,prkd,1x1,3bk 700,held up,good

I'M ROCKIN - raced keenly middle stages. Held up by a weakening runner final bend. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home.

3bk otr-1x1,off tn,1-paced mid

4bk inr,1x1,3bk otr,off,flew mid

Up,trld-3bk inr,off,held up,tidy

I'M ROCKIN - held up early in the run home.

Trld,3-bk 2100,off,bold late claim

Brk badly early in 4th,out of play

I'M ROCKIN - broke after 100m losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Prkd,ld 2100,waltzed away str

Soon 4bk otr,angld,handy mid-wd

10th otr,wd cvr rear top,stern late

5th otr,prkd,into ld 1300,ran clear

ESMARELDA - lay outwards throughout the run home.

Brk hopelessly early,out of action

ESMARELDA - broke at the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the mare.

Gt spd,trail,peeld late,easy

TUA LIPA - driver E Barron reported she did not release the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Soon 1x1,zipped up,easy

TUA LIPA - driver E Barron reported that only one removable deafener had released.

3pegs,brk 1200,tackd on late

TUA LIPA - paced roughly through the early and middle stages losing considerable ground. Returned to the birdcage with blood present on the near foreleg. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the gelding to have wounds to both heels on the near foreleg consistent with striking itself during the running. Trainer S Matheson advised the gelding will now be sent for a spell. When questioned regarding the performance of the favoured runner driver S Ottley advised the gelding had paced roughly on the bends and this had been detrimental to its chances.

4th,led 1800,kickd well,nabd late

Gt spd,led,trail,3bk,hld up str

TUA LIPA - paced roughly rounding the final bend.

Gt spd,led,trail,dashd lane

Last thrghout,angld trn,tidy wide

TUA LIPA - paced roughly briefly passing the 450m.

Chkd,5th,1x1,wd to ld 1300,run down

MAJOR HIPSTER - hampered by a breaking runner at the start. Weakened early in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance driver S Hill could offer no explanation and was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

Brk,quickly ld,allowed terms,kicked

MAJOR HIPSTER - broke at the start. Stewards lodged a protest against 1st placing being awarded under Rule 870(4)(d) alleging the gelding had failed to lose ground when in a break at the start and had gained an advantage. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and junior driver S Hill (assisted by M Williamson) the Adjudicative Committee dismissed the protest. Mr Hill was advised to make a greater effort to restrain his breaking runner.

Ld out,dictated terms,too tenacious

Ld out,trld,3-bk 2000,blkd,fght inr

MAJOR HIPSTER - junior driver S Hill was issued a warning for striking and racing inside a track marker early in the run home when attempting to improve where insufficient room existed.

4th inr,4-bk 1700,off,bold mid,blkd

MAJOR HIPSTER - had difficulty obtaining clear running throughout the run home. Driver S Hill reported he did not release the removable deafeners in consequence.

5th inr,3bk 2100,got split,bold bid

Eased,wd cvr rear,wdst top,bt slows

Brk,5th inr,1x1,prkd 1500,drppd out

MAJOR HIPSTER - broke and shifted outwards at the start hampering an outside runner losing ground. Weakened from the 600m. When questioned regarding the performance driver S Hill advised the gelding had over-raced and been striking a knee. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Soon led,easy time,sped away

Ld bid,prkd,1x1 1200,battld

5th,1x1 1450,off,fght hard,bestd

To pegs,5bk inr,waitd,imprvd inr

Eased,5bk inr,4bk tn,honest inr

Eased,4-5bk inr,losing touch 600

DOCTOR TIM - weakened final bend.

Eased,5bk otr-inr,off tn,held up,ok

DOCTOR TIM - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room early in the run home.

9th,4bk otr,3wd,postd,felt pinch tn

DOCTOR TIM - raced wide from the 1100m. Weakened final bend.

Eased,3 & 4-bk mrks,3-bk,off,potent

3 & 4-bk mrks,off,useful fin wd out

4th inr,4-bk,left 3rd,trld,fght inr

DOCTOR TIM - Driver K Coppins was warned for using her whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home.

Eased,rear inr,4-bk,plggd away mrks