NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

6-4bk inr,held up 350,off,honest

STICKIFINGERS - held up early in the run home.

7th,4bk inr-otr,off tn,held up,good

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

Lost ld dig,trld 1750,off 300,slick

STICKIFINGERS - Driver S Abernethy was issued a charge under Rule 869(3)(b) alleging that he drove carelessly rounding the first turn when shifting down to trail the leader when not sufficiently clear which resulted in LEO LINCOLN having to be checked and concede that position. The matter was adjourned to be heard before the upcoming meeting on Sunday 6 April. Mr Abernethy reported he had not activated the sliding blinds or deafeners due to having the field covered.

Ld out,trld 1600,thru,powered on by

Left prkd the trip,fght on solidly

STICKIFINGERS - when questioned regarding the performance Trainer/Driver M House stated that the mare had over-raced during the early and middle stages and may not of been suited to racing without cover.

Soon ld,got terms,eyed top,run dwn

Sped to ld,set terms,reeled in 125m

Prkd,ld,trld 1400,chased boldly inr

STICKIFINGERS - over-raced middle stages.

8th,4-bk inr,held up,sound on inr

STICKIFINGERS - held up early in the run home.

Into trail early,thru,fght on well

Eased,6bk otr,wdst rear tn,honest

HADRON COLLIDER - raced wide final bend.

Gate spd,ld,kickd,never in doubt

HADRON COLLIDER - lay outwards and paced roughly rounding the final bend.

1x1,3bk otr 1200,off,steady wd

1x1,prkd 1950,1x1 900,waitd,imprvd

HADRON COLLIDER - held up early in the run home.

Prkd,ld 1450,joind 600,fght,wiltd

Gate spd,ld 1800,fght,run down 30

HADRON COLLIDER - hung inwards rounding the final bend striking track markers. Driver C Hart was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

5bk otr,3wd cvr,postd 700,askd,fdd

HADRON COLLIDER - raced wide without cover from the 1100m.

Ld,trld,3bk 1000,off,smart mid

1x1-prkd,1x1 1100,off,solid mid

Prkd,1x1,3bk otr,thru mid,held up

WISH ME LUCK - held up throughout the run home. Stewards questioned driver O Thornley regarding the tactics she adopted passing the 600m when electing to shift inwards to race on the marker line. Miss Thornley explained that due to the strong tempo of the race the gelding had been under pressure to maintain its position and was laying inwards. Miss Thornley added that she believed her best option was to shift inwards and save ground however had been held up for clear running in the home straight when surrounding runners finished the race off stronger than anticipated. After considering the matter, Stewards were satisfied that Miss Thornley's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

7th otr,3-bk,wd 1600,prkd,cvr,bttld

WISH ME LUCK - when questioned regarding the performance driver B Orange was unable to provide any tangible explanation. A post-race veterinary and endoscopic examination at the request of connections revealed mucous in the trachea. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Prkd,ld,trld 1300,thru,slick on inr

Gate spd,trld,thru,smart,almost

WISH ME LUCK - over-raced middle stages.

Brk,3rd,ld 1800,fght,hdd,fght back

WISH ME LUCK - broke at the start losing ground.

Trld-3bk inr,waitd,off 150,flew mid

Up,ld,trld 2100,thru,good chase inr

Gate spd,prkd,1x1,3bk tn,good wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - hung inwards rounding the final bend.

3bk otr-1x1,off,handy in mid

WHO'S DELIGHT - lay outwards in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Soon prkd,1x1 1200,off,solid mid

WHO'S DELIGHT - raced wide early.

3-5bk otr,rear inr tn,held up,sound

WHO'S DELIGHT - held up middle stages of the run home.

Soon prkd,1x1 1100,held up,sound

WHO'S DELIGHT - required assistance from a Starting Attendant in the pre-race formation. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Over-raced middle stages. Held up final bend. Driver G Smith had difficulty activating the removable gear in the run home.

6-7th,3bk otr 1200,angld,honest wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - broke briefly at the start. Lay inwards near the 100m and had to be straightened by driver G Smith.

Brk,8th,swept to ld 1300,gunned dwn

WHO'S DELIGHT - broke at the start losing ground. Lay inwards and shifted into the passing lane early in the run home having to be corrected by driver J Dunn.

11th,distant,5bk otr,off,solid mid

8th,4bk otr 1100,green,strong wd

WHO'S DELIGHT - fractious prior to the start. Lay inwards over the concluding stages.

5-6th,3bk otr 1100,wd rear tn,ok

WHO'S DELIGHT - weakened in the run home. When questioned regarding the performance driver J Dunn advised the gelding had peaked on its run after starting from a 30m handicap first up from a spell, adding he expected the horse to derive considerable benefit from the race.

7th,1x1,ld 1900,fght hard,hdd 150

Gate spd,led,ran them along,nabbd

BEACH BALL - pre-race warmed.

Wrkd fwd,ld 1150,askd,run down 100

MIKI KNOWS - over-raced and became awkwardly placed close to the sulky of HARRISON JOHN near the 1200m before breaking losing all chance and hampering a trailing runner after there was a slight easing of the pace when MACANDREW AVIATOR was restrained to obtain cover when BEACH BALL progressed forward to lead. After speaking to drivers R Close (MIKI KNOWS) and M Williamson (MACANDREW AVIATOR) and viewing replays Stewards were unable to apportion blame to either driver or horse and took the matter no further.

Brk,4th,imprvd wd 400,steady mid

BEACH BALL - broke briefly at the start.

3wd,prkd 1250,askd,honest in str

BEACH BALL - over-raced early when wide on the track. Continued to over-race through the middle stages.

Gate spd,ld 1700,joind,hdd tn,faded

BEACH BALL - when questioned regarding the performance driver C Dalgety advised he was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed a high heart rate and slow recovery. Trainer K Chapman was issued a warning for being late to notify the horse would be racing without the removeable deafeners .

4-3bk otr,off tn,steady in gaps mid

MO'UNGA - broke at the start losing ground. Held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver R Close regarding his tactics rounding the final bend in particular his decision to remain on the back of BEACH BALL when clearance existed for him to shift out near the 550m and again shortly after when being covered by TACT MCLEOD passing the 400m. Mr Close advised that after losing ground at the start he believed it was more beneficial to receive cover into the race at that stage and when he attempted to shift outwards shortly after onto the back of the improving REPUBLICAN PARTY the gelding had hung outwards and paced roughly having to be steadied. After considering his explanation and viewing the films Stewards were satisfied Mr Close's actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

3wd,prkd 1300,4th,off,kept giving

VESSEM - raced wide early and middle stages.

Brk,3rd,3bk inr,up tn,honest mid

VESSEM - broke briefly at the start.

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 1200,too brave

VESSEM - over-raced middle stages.

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

VESSEM - raced wide early.

Brk,chkd,12th,wd 1150,loomed,outfin

VESSEM - broke at the start and came together with BRYCE'S MEDDLE losing ground. Raced wide from the 1200m. Weakened early in the run home.

Up,ld,trld 1750,thru,chased hrd inr

VESSEM - tangled away.

Chkd,well bk,7bk otr,massive wdst

VESSEM - hampered by breaking runners shortly after the start.

Eased,3-4bk inr,held up,flew mid

VESSEM - driver J Cox 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 submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Cox's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 8 December up to and including 17 December 2024 (5 days) and imposed a fine of $300.

7th,3wd,1x1 600,fading inr on tn

VESSEM - weakened final bend.

6th,5-7th,well bk 400,imprvd wd

1x1,3-bk 1800,4-bk,wd cvr,no punch

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr top,fght on wdr

1x1,3bk otr 1100,3wd cvr,unwound

DALTON SHARD - driver J Dunn advised he did not activate the sliding blinds due to having the field covered.

6th,to 1x1 1300,off,no extra mid

Soft trip mrks,thru,fght on stoutly

Nice trip otr,wd cvr top,bttld well

Led,trail,3-4bk,prkd bell,game bid

5th,3bk otr 900,warmd up wdst

8-9bk inr,7bk otr,no extra in str

DALTON SHARD - weakened rounding the final bend.