NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

9th,5-bk inr,held up rear,slick mid

VERDUCCI - over-raced when being restrained through the early stages. Hampered by a weakening runner and awkwardly placed close to the sulky wheel of SANTANNA MACH near the 500m. When questioned regarding the improved performance trainer/driver J Young-Grant advised the gelding had been unlucky in its most recent starts and she had altered its training regime throughout the week. She added the gelding had worked well in preparation for today's race in which it had received a run to suit with a clear run to the finish and she was not surprised by the result.

1x1,3-bk 1300,held up,bttld away wd

VERDUCCI - held up final bend.

4th inr,3-bk 1600,held up,tidy mrks

VERDUCCI - held up final bend.

5th inr,3-bk 2200,drifting 700m out

VERDUCCI - lay inwards and struck a track marker leaving the final bend.

7th otr,4-bk bell,off,never ran on

Esed,rear inr,off,1x1,wd 400,no zip

VERDUCCI - over-raced early and middle stages. Weakened early in the run home.

Trld out,4-bk 2000,off,whacked away

Ld out,3-bk 1600,thru,fght well inr

6th inr,5-bk,chkd rear,punishing wd

VERDUCCI - hampered by a weakening runner final bend and made contact with the sulky wheel of WILLY AWAY despite the efforts of driver J Young-Grant resulting in the gelding breaking and losing ground. Authorisation of 1st placing was withheld until Stewards were satisfied the gelding had complied with the Breaking Horses Regulation.

5-6bk otr,3wd cvr,4wd tn,smart mid

TAUMUTU LAD - raced wide with cover from the 1050m.

Easd,7bk otr,3wd cvr rear,bold wd

5th,5-bk inr,off,3-bk otr,useful wd

7th otr,3-bk bell,wd 750,plggd away

TAUMUTU LAD - raced wide from the 700m.

Eased,10th otr,wdst rear tn,belated

11th otr,wd cvr rear top,stout late

TAUMUTU LAD - junior driver H Orange (assisted by Z Butcher) 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 imposed a fine of $400.

8th inr,5-bk,4-bk,off,blkd,had more

TAUMUTU LAD - hampered by a weakening runner rounding the final bend. Held up late in the run home.

9th inr,5-bk,off,wdst top,punishing

TAUMUTU LAD - hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

8th otr,4-bk 800,wd cvr,closed hard

Wd cvr,up prkd 1250,outfninished

TAUMUTU LAD - raced wide early.

3-4bk otr,up,prkd 800,ld tn,hdd 50

Found 1x1,prkd,led tn,too tough

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

6bk otr,sent 3wd 650,ld 400,nabbd

1x1,up,prkd 700,very brave,almost

Gate speed to ld,green,too powerful

MOSTERT - raced greenly when leading passing the 1000m.

4bk otr,3wd,prkd 1300,askd,fght,fdd

Soon 4pegs,only batld

Last,deep pegs,3w drag bell,batld

MOSTERT - raced wide from the 1200m. Weakened leaving the final bend.

Soon parkd,up 400,dug in gamely

MOSTERT - when questioned regarding the improved performance connections advised the gelding had taken natural benefit from its fresh up run at Winton on 16 November.

Ld out,trld 1250,flat top,no pickup

5bk inr,4bk,battling 400,pluggd

6th,prkd-3bk otr,3-4wd tn,stout

Wd,prkd,ld 1900,dictated,cght late

Nice sit otr,wd 400,pounced,cut dwn

Slw,5bk inr,off,3-4bk otr,plggd inr

Blew the score-up,never a live hope

HENRY WINKLER - broke briefly in the score up and was out of position at the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Eased,rear thru'out,never fired up

HENRY WINKLER - weakened in the run home. Trainer S Smolenski advised he would be making gear changes prior to racing next.

Left prkd the majority,outfinished

Prkd,1x 1300,3bk otr,pluggd in mid

4th,4-3bk inr,held up 400-150,gd

COMMANDER JOE - hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

Eased,rear inr bell,off,stout wdst

Soon 4bk inr,buried tn,lackd gaps

COMMANDER JOE - held up throughout the run home.

8th otr,5-bk 850,wd 500,wdr,steady

KOTARE RATA - hampered by a breaking runner near the 1750m. Locked wheels briefly with COMMANDER JOE final bend.

Eased,5bk inr,4-3bk tn,off,smart

Soon trld,waited,tried hard inr

COMMANDER JOE - hung outwards in the run home.

4-5bk otr,held up rear tn,good mid

COMMANDER JOE - held up early in the run home.

1x1,3bk otr 1200,off,imprvd mid

Wd,up prkd,cvr bell,chkd,off,ran on

COMMANDER JOE - raced wide early. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 1100m.

6th,3bk otr,3wd cvr 600,short bid

CHICAGO SKY - awkwardly placed close to the sulky of BETTOR THAN LIZZY having to be steadied leaving the 600m.

Cght wd,up prkd 2000,too much class

BETTOR THAN LIZZY - raced wide early.

Ld out,4-bk bell,held up,stout mrks

BETTOR THAN LIZZY - held up final bend and again over the concluding stages.

Gt spd,led,duel,folded strgt

Soon 1x1,hld up trn,fair wn clear

Prkd,1x1 1300,3bk 800,tiring tn

Left parkd thrghout,folded str

Prkd,1x1 1500,3bk 700,sound mid

Eased,5bk inr,buried tn,honest inr

THE BETTOR MAJOR - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver S Tomlinson. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Raced wide early. Over-raced middle stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home.

Eased,3bk inr,flat 400,imprvd mid

Cut breeze thru'out,ground ldr down

4th,4-bk inr 1500,off,ran on in gap

THE BETTOR MAJOR - over-raced middle stages.

Brk,7th gap,4-bk otr,3-bk,no dash

1x1,3-bk 900,wd cvr top,ran on gap

9th,5bk otr,detachd,bt stragglrs

Last,always at rear,fair fin

Brk badly start,brk 2200,distancd

BEACHBREAK - broke at the start losing ground. Broke again rounding the first bend losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination at the request of connections revealed a laceration on the left front leg which was treated.

Trail,3pegs bell,ran on,no room lat

BEACHBREAK - held up throughout the run home.

Gt spd,parkd,fought on bravely

BEACHBREAK - paced roughly near the 100m.

Trld,3bk inr,4bk 750,held up,tidy

BEACHBREAK - held up final bend and early and middle stages of the run home.

10th otr,brk,wd 1200,prkd,too tough

EVIDENTLY - shifted inwards shortly after the start placing BEACHBREAK in restricted room. Driver J Curtin was issued a warning. Raced wide early.

Wd,prkd,brk,wd,prkd,brk,wd,late dab

BEACHBREAK - broke near the 1700m losing ground. Broke again near the 1400m hampering a trailing runner and was restrained to the rear of the field. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding. Driver T Chmiel advised in his opinion the horse had failed to handle the grass track.

4th,prkd 1150,urgd 350,felt pinch

Bk otr,3w,parkd bell,led in,2 big

BEACHBREAK - paced roughly and shifted inwards just prior to the start placing an inside runner in restricted room, which broke in consequence. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Again paced roughly shortly after the start for a distance. Driver T Williams reported he would be recommending gear changes.

Brk,12th gap,6-bk inr,tidy fin mrks

KOWHAI NUGGET - broke at the start and shifted outwards abruptly checking outside runners losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Held up final bend.

Brk,9th otr,4-bk bell,never sparked

KOWHAI NUGGET - broke at the start losing ground. Weakened final bend.

11th,6-bk inr 1000,failed to run on

KOWHAI NUGGET - began awkwardly. Hung inwards and struck track markers rounding the final bend when weakening. Driver H Sail reported the gelding had hung on several occasions during the running.

Eased,rear inr,prkd 1300,ld tn,easy

5th otr,left prkd 1400,dug deepest

Wd,1x1,3-bk 1300,wd 650,1x1,wd,bold

3-5bk inr,detachd 700,on retreat

KOWHAI NUGGET - 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. Weakened from the 600m hampering a trailing runner. Driver S Ottley reported she had steering difficulties throughout.

Brk,9th,5bk otr,flat 400,battld

KOWHAI NUGGET - broke at the start losing ground. Lay inwards leaving the final bend when weakening.

Chkd,9th otr,4-bk,wd cvr 500,no fin

KOWHAI NUGGET - checked by a breaking runner shortly after the start. Driver S Ottley advised she was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

Wd,prkd,cvr 1400,3-bk,wdst,tidy fin

BIGGLES - raced wide early. Held up final bend.

7th,1x1-4bk otr,angld,dashd mid-wd

BIGGLES - driver R Holmes was issued a warning for using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion and in a continuous manner in the run home.

Trld,3bk inr 2100,thru,1-paced

Led,trld,3bk 1500,whackd away inr

4th,3bk inr,1x1 800,off,honest mid

Ld out,3-bk 1900,couldn't spark up

Eased,rear otr,never made an impact