NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

5th otr,1x1,3-bk,wd top,lacked dash

Last,3w train,angld wd,fair fin

IMPRESSIVE SHARD - fractious prior to the start. Broke after a slight easing of the pace near the 1650m hampering trailing runners losing ground. Raced wide with cover from the 1050m and briefly raced wider on the track and paced roughly when an inside runner shifted outwards at this stage.

9th inr,off,wdst top,bt stragglers

IMPRESSIVE SHARD - paced roughly at various stages throughout. When questioned regarding the performance driver S Tomlinson advised the mare had been hanging during the running.

Wd cvr,prkd,cvr,3-bk,no final kick

IMPRESSIVE SHARD - raced wide early.

Gt spd,trail thrghout,no kick

Soon 1x1,boxed on in strgt

Slw,rear otr,bttld past beaten ones

Trainer B Mowbray advised Stewards on 3 December that IMPRESSIVE SHARD has had a hock treated since last racing.

Ld out,trld 1600,thru,too slippery

A false start was declared when IMPRESSIVE SHARD broke in the score up hampering a trailing runner. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the filly. Driver M Williamson elected to remain in his allocated barrier position for the restart.

10th otr,wed cvr 90,wdst tn,big fin

IMPRESSIVE SHARD - trainer B Mowbray was issued a warning for failing to have mudguards affixed to his sulky.

9th pegs,5-bk bell,off,held up,tidy

WISHING FOR U - held up for the majority of the run home.

Wd,up prkd 1700,unable to stick on

Soon trld,held up 500,off,sound inr

WISHING FOR U - held up by a weakening runner final bend.

Wd,up prkd 1500,ld 450,gobbled up

Slw,7th inr,5-bk,off,bttld away mid

WISHING FOR U - over-raced and was awkwardly placed close to the sulky of FOLIEJON STAR after a slight easing of the pace near the 1800m. Paced roughly near the 50m having to be steadied.

Prkd,ld,trld 1200,thru,too powerful

Blew the start,tacked on,no extra

WISHING FOR U - broke at the start and shifted outwards abruptly checking an outside runner with a trailing runner also being hampered losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Soon prkd,no cvr,urgd 500,wiltd

HES SANTAS EXCUSE - shifted outwards as the start was effected hampering outside runner.

Wd,prkd,lost ld dig,beaten 600m out

HES SANTAS EXCUSE - weakened final bend

Sped to ld,set terms,hdd 200m,stuck

Ld out,trld 2300,urged top,bttld on

Ld out,trld 1250,thru,no final kick

Soon ld,dictated terms,hdd 300m out

Nice trip otr,peeled,ran on solidly

Wd cvr,prkd,cvr 1300,off,no pickup

HES SANTAS EXCUSE - raced wide early.

Eased,11th otr,5-bk 800,wd tn,plggd

HES SANTAS EXCUSE - raced wide early.

8th otr,3-bk,angled wd 600,stuck on

Soon trld,flat 400,found no extra

Soon 3pegs,flat and gone 500

B B CRUNCH - weakened final bend.

4th,parkd 550,only batld

3-4pegs,steady chase

Eased,4bk otr,well bk tn,1-paced

B B CRUNCH - raced greenly shortly after the start having to be steadied.

Pressd 2 lead,joind,too big

Wide,parkd,dug in gamely

DAME WEST - Stewards questioned driver C Ferguson regarding the tactics he adopted during the running, in particular when easing and allowing an outside runner to take cover near the 1100m. Mr Ferguson explained that when B B CRUNCH, a favoured runner he was following, went forward to attempt to take the lead at this stage of the race he wanted his filly to maintain cover for as long as possible during the race, hence the reason he restrained to allow EBONEZY to shift inwards and give him cover. Stewards noted and accepted Mr Ferguson's comments on this matter.

Trail thrghout,hld up trn,

B B CRUNCH - held up rounding the final bend.

Soon trld,waitd,thru,chased hard

Trld-3bk inr,waitd tn,steady inr

4th,4-5bk inr,4bk otr,last tn,sound

Prkd,ld,trld 2000,off top,just fair

Wd,eased,wd cvr rear 450,useful wdr

6th,6-bk inr,off,wd top,plggd away

3bk inr,4bk 700,urged & tiring 350

MAJOR PERFORMER - connections advised the mare would be racing in season. Weakened final bend.

Ld out,3bk 2100,trld,3-bk,off,solid

3bk inr,1x1 1200,flat tn,no extra

MAJOR PERFORMER - held up early in the run home. A hopple side carrier came adrift during the running. This gear was inspected and found to be sufficiently taped with trainer T Yesberg deemed not to be at fault.

Trld the trip,battling tn,wiltd inr

6bk otr,3wd cvr rear,honest wdst

HEAVEN FORBID - hampered by inside runner at the start.

Slw,wd rear 1300,posted,btn 900 out

HEAVEN FORBID - trainer R Cameron was issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice for presenting the gelding to race without the notified fixed deafeners. Raced wide without cover from the 1300m. Weakened from the 800m.

9th inr,6-bk,chkd,brk 1800m,p/up

HEAVEN FORBID - hampered and broke after a slight easing of the pace near the 1800m losing all chance and was retired from the race.

Eased,wd cvr 9th 450,punishing wdst

HEAVEN FORBID - hung inwards rounding the final bend and in the run home. Trainer/driver R Cameron advised he would be making gear changes prior to racing next. Cleared from the unruly for future mobile starts.

Eased,rear inr,4-bk 500,plggd away

Wd mid,up prkd 1450,fght on nicely

HEAVEN FORBID - trainer R Cameron was issued a warning for presenting the gelding to race without the notified anti choke device. Raced wide early.

11th otr,6-bk,held up rear,bt slows

HEAVEN FORBID - hung inwards rounding the final bend causing driver R Cameron difficulty. Held up throughout the run home.

7th otr,4-bk,wd cvr 600,wdr tn,bold

Blew the score-up,no hope,pulled up

The start was delayed due to HEAVEN FORBID being fractious and rearing before falling to the track with a change of sulky required. HEAVEN FORBID underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start.

Cght prkd,1x1 650,askd tn,tired str

MOSTERT - over-raced and struck the sulky wheel of ROYAL BELLE near the 1650m despite the efforts of driver C Dalgety.

Wd,up prkd thru'out,jostled 400,fdd

ROYAL BELLE - driver K Hadfield was issued a warning for the manner he drove near the 2100m when easing the pace in an abrupt manner which hampered a trailing runner.

3rd,trld,3-bk 2000,off,whacked away

Trld,3bk 1100,prkd 650,ld top,tough

ROYAL BELLE - hung inwards and struck track markers near the 1500m.

3bk inr,trld 1800,felt pinch inr

ROYAL BELLE - hampered by a breaking runner shortly after the start. Weakened final bend hampering trailing runners.

Trld,3bk inr 1600,held up,steady

ROYAL BELLE - hampered final bend.

6-7bk inr,off rear,wd cvr,1-paced

4bk inr,off mid 500,held up,honest

ROYAL BELLE - held up final bend.

Trld,3bk inr 1800,honest up inr

ROYAL BELLE - driver K Hadfield was warned for the manner he drove racing into the first bend when crowding an inside runner.

Gate spd,ld,tackld tn,fght gamely

1x1-3bk otr,3wd 350,solid mid-wd

ROUTE SIXTY SIX - driver W House advised he was unable to activate the sliding blinds due to the cord breaking.

3bk inr,4bk 1100,waitd,imprvd mid

ROUTE SIXTY SIX - over-raced in the score up. Over-raced and hung outwards for a distance near the 900m. Held up early in the run home.

Gate spd,trld,waitd,short bid inr

3bk inr,4bk 1800,off,held up,smart

ROUTE SIXTY SIX - briefly crowded by an outside runner racing into the first bend. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Gate spd,trld,3bk 950,held up,tidy

ROUTE SIXTY SIX - held up middle stages of the run home.

3bk inr,5bk 1050,5bk otr,cheeky wd

5-6th,1x1 1300,off 150,steady mid

Nice trip otr,peeled 550,too strong

3-4pegs,off bell,nice work late

ROUTE SIXTY SIX - lay out rounding the bends.

Eased,5bk otr,3wd 600,3rd tn,peakd

Soon trld,off 4th 400,useful mid

3-4bk inr,1x1 800,tiring by tn

LARISSA BEAUDIENE - weakened from the 450m.

Bk otr,innr 400,ran on ok

Prkd,led,trld,3bk 800,4th tn,fair

POISON IVY - over-raced when being restrained to obtain cover for a distance passing the 1400m. Continued to over-race placing driver O Thornley in some difficulty and as a result made contact with the back of the sulky of LARISSA BEAUDIENE and broke before falling near the 600m dislodging driver O Thornley checking SHADOW CREEK, HERE COMES MARTY, DOVER TERRACE and JOHN STEWART with driver M Williamson being dislodged from the sulky of JOHN STEWART. POISON IVY escaped driverless before being recaptured and was transported from the track in the Horse Ambulance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a head injury with the mare being treated before being referred to the Canterbury Equine Clinic for further assessment. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to completing one trial to the satisfaction of Stewards before resuming. Driver O Thornley was examined by St John personnel and cleared of injury to fulfill her remaining driving engagement.

Eased,wd rear 1300,prkd,ld 150,just

LARISSA BEAUDIENE - raced wide early.

Made ld,trld 1350,thru,fght on mrks

LARISSA BEAUDIENE - when questioned regarding his decision not to utilise the passing lane, driver S Hill reported the filly had been hanging outwards rounding the final bend and in the run home so he elected to shift up the track near the 300m to obtain clear running when the opportunity arose.