NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

3-4bk inr,off,held up tn,honest mid

4-6bk otr,last tn,tried hard wdst

Eased,5bk inr,held up,cheeky,tight

STAR MAGIC - had difficulty obtaining a clear run over the concluding stages. Driver H Sail advised he did not activate the removable deafeners or sliding blinds in consequence. Mr Sail added that one hopple shortener had failed to activate due to the cord becoming entangled.

4bk otr-inr,held up,useful up inr

STAR MAGIC - trainer G Smith advised Stewards the gelding has had a coffin joint treated since last racing. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room until late in the run home. Driver G Smith advised he did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence.

Bk otr,3w train,postd 600,batld

1x1-4bk otr 1100,sent 3wd,big dash

1x1,3bk otr 1100,flat tn,steady

Easd,4bk inr,1x1,prkd 1200,askd,fdd

PRIDES CONTESSA - paced roughly shortly after the start.

Eased,5bk inr 1000,waited,battld

PRIDES CONTESSA - slow to leave the pre-race formation and was a distance back from the unruly position at the start. Driver M Cations was issued a warning. Cleared from the unruly for future mobile starts.

7th,4bk inr 800,off,sound,held up

PRIDES CONTESSA - struck several track markers entering the first bend. Driver M Cations was issued a warning. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home.

3wd,prkd 1400,askd tn,felt pinch

PRIDES CONTESSA - driver A Beecroft was issued a warning for being late to arrive at the start area. Raced wide early. Weakened rounding the final bend hampering a trailing runner. When questioned regarding the tactics he adopted through the middle stages Mr Beecroft advised the mare had proved disappointing after being saved for one run last week and he had elected to race closer to the speed today however the mare had failed to finish the race off in a competitive manner. After hearing Mr Beecroft's explanation Stewards noted his explanation.

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

PRIDES CONTESSA - paced roughly in the score up and was back from the unruly position at the start. Driver A Beecroft was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

4-3bk otr,up 3-4wd tn,steady wd

AVENGER - out of position at the start. Driver S Thornley was issued a warning.

Soon 1x1,3w,1x1,hld up 400,solid

AVENGER - held up final bend.

4-5bk otr,thru mid tn,held up wd

AVENGER - held up throughout the run home. Stewards questioned driver W House regarding his decision to shift inwards near the 600m. Mr House explained that at the time he shifted inwards ALMIGHTY CLEVER which he was trailing was under pressure and believed it was his best option to shift inwards in an attempt to save ground instead of being forced to race wider. After considering Mr House's explanation and viewing the replays, Stewards were satisfied his decision at the time was not unreasonable and took the matter no further.

3bk otr,up,ld bid 1100,prkd,fght

Prkd,1x1 1300,up 3wd tn,handy mid

5-4bk otr,3wd,postd,prkd,fght well

Thru,trld-3bk inr,sound,held up

THE HIGHLANDER - placed in restricted room and raced over track markers near the 1500m. Held up throughout the run home.

Rough,5-6-5bk inr,3bk tn,tight,ok

THE HIGHLANDER - broke shortly after the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Hung inwards and struck a track marker near the 1500m. Driver J Buckland-Stevens was issued a warning for using her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

1x1,prkd,1x1 700,honest,peaked

Eased,4bk inr,held up,off,imprvd

3-4bk otr,6bk 800,waitd,imprvd mid

3bk inr,off,tried hard inr-mid

Soon 3bk inr,off mid tn,honest wd

Soon 3pegs,no room late

KINK - held up for clear racing room in the run home. Driver P Davis reported he did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence.

Wd,eased,6-5bk inr,1-paced mid

KINK - raced wide early.

Soon 3bk inr,waitd,1-paced inr

6th,1x1-3bk otr,off,steady imprv wd

A false start was declared when WRIGGLES RUFUS broke a crupper in the score up. There was a delay to the restart when WRIGGLES RUFUS required replacement gear to be fitted. This gear was inspected and found to be in previously good condition.

Gate spd,ld,trld 2100,thru,good

5th,1x1 800,angld,sound in mid

Eased,6bk otr,well bk tn,steady

3-5bk otr,imprvd inr tn,chkd/brk

WRIGGLES RUFUS - hampered by a weakening runner near the 600m. Struck the sulky wheel of OPO and raced inside several track markers near the 150m when racing in restricted room losing ground. Stewards questioned drivers B Orange (JAZZY STYX), T Chmiel (U R THE ONE), J Dunn (OPO) and W House (WRIGGLES RUFUS) regarding this incident before adjourning the matter for further consideration.

3bk otr,5bk 900,to inr tn,honest

Eased,4bk inr,off rear tn,pluggd

5bk otr,6bk 1300,wd rear tn,paddld

1x1-3bk otr,angld 3wd 300,sound wd

10th,5bk otr,wdst rear tn,dashd wd

Prkd,ld 1300,no peace,fght,peakd

1x1,3bk otr,3wd 700,fght,peakd

3-4bk otr,hookd wdst tn,strong wdst

EXECUTIVE BANNER - paced roughly at various stages. Lay inwards throughout the run home. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities other than minor swelling on the inside of the near hind canon bone.

4bk otr,5bk 1300,wd cvr tn,smart

EXECUTIVE BANNER - raced greenly on several occasions in the middle stages and rounding the final bend.

Ld-3bk inr,4bk 1200,3bk tn,off,flat

EXECUTIVE BANNER - over-raced and hung outwards passing the 1150m.

3-5bk inr,off mid tn,honest inr

EXECUTIVE BANNER - lay outwards rounding the final bend placing an outside runner in restricted room. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of trainer R Houghton revealed lameness in the off hind leg. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to resuming.

3wd,prkd,3bk otr,3wd cvr,plain

EXECUTIVE BANNER - hampered by a weakening runner leaving the final bend.

3wd,4bk otr,wdst tn,handy wdst

2nd,trld 1400,held up,thru,solid

THE NIGHT FOX - pre-race warmed.

Eased,3-5bk otr,3wd 600,no zip

THE NIGHT FOX - hung outwards for a distance after the start and was then placed in restricted room racing into the first bend. Over-raced middle stages.

Up,ld 1800,kickd tn,run down 50

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 700,fght hard,fdd

4-3bk otr,angld out,earnest wd

Gate spd,trld,thru,earnest bid inr

1x1,3bk otr 1300,3wd 500,fght,peakd

Prkd,1x1,rough 400,weakened out

Gate spd,ld,trld 1400,held up,sound

3-4wd,prkd,1x1 900,clr tn,pluggd

HARRY BELAFONTE - raced wide early.

Brk,detachd,7bk inr,imprvd inr

HARRY BELAFONTE - broke shortly after the start hampering trailing runners losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Up,ld,held ld,askd,fght,bested

Trld-4bk inr 1200,off rear,bt slows

ONELOVEONELIFE - over-raced middle stages. Became awkwardly placed inside SWEET SPIRIT and raced roughly for a distance near the 600m. Driver M Maynard was shown a replay and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground.

4bk otr-inr,thru,1-paced on inr

Found 1x1,off tns,short bid mid

3bk inr the trip,waitd,wilted inr

ONELOVEONELIFE - driver S Manawatu was issued a warning for being late to arrive at the start area.

4th,prkd 1150,urgd tn,felt pinch

ONELOVEONELIFE - weakened in the run home.

5bk otr,6bk 1300,drifting by 400

HILDA MAUD - weakened final bend.

Trld-4bk inr,5bk 1500,off,pluggd

HILDA MAUD - crowded by an inside runner leaving the final bend.

Brk,5bk otr,up,1x1,held up,fair

4-3bk otr,angld wd tn,tried hard wd

Eased,5bk otr,3wd cvr,bt slows mid

HILDA MAUD - over-raced early stages.

Trld-3bk inr,off tn,unleashed mid

HILDA MAUD - held up early in the run home. When questioned regarding the improved performance trainer A Washington advised the mare had been racing without luck in recent starts and had received an economical run throughout. Driver R Close was issued a charge under 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 with the hearing being adjourned to the NZ Metropolitan TC meeting on 23 August due to Mr Close having left the course.