NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

Up,led,3bk 1800,waited,steady inr

Trld-3bk inr,waitd,off,never clear

ULTIMATE COUNSEL - held up for clear racing room throughout the run home.

Cut breeze the majority,effort told

ULTIMATE COUNSEL - weakened in the run home.

Made ld,dictated terms,swallowed up

Brk,trld,3-bk 1700,stout along inr

ULTIMATE COUNSEL - began awkwardly.

Prkd,3-bk inr,4-bk,3-bk,blkd,fin on

ULTIMATE COUNSEL - held up rounding the final bend. Shifted outwards passing the 100m briefly placing an outside runner in restricted room before hanging outwards over the concluding stages. Junior driver N Burton, assisted by driver J Cox, was shown the replay of this incident and issued with a warning for improving into a run where insufficient room existed. Miss Burton was also questioned regarding her lack of vigour over the concluding stages. After considering her explanation, viewing the replays and hearing from Mr Cox, Miss Burton was issued with a warning to ensure she drives her runner out to the end of the race where circumstances permit. In taking this course of action Stewards were mindful of Miss Burton's lack of race day experience and that the horse was hanging outwards causing her some difficulty.

Lead bid,trld 1550,thru,gritty inr

Into trail early,thru,chal,thwarted

4th inr,4-bk 1900,off 450,outfin wd

10th otr,wd 600,4w top,fght on well

6bk otr,3wd,prkd,1x1,held up in str

FRANCO ELVIS - raced wide early. Jostled for a position with SHE'S A JEWEL in the early stages. Held up throughout the run home. Driver G Thornley advised she did not activate the sliding blinds and removable deafeners in consequence.

7th otr,3-bk,off top,closed stoutly

5th,5-bk inr,prkd 1500,beaten 400m

FRANCO ELVIS - driver H Sail advised he was unable to activate the removable deafeners due to the cord becoming entangled.

3wd,ld 2100,trld 1600,thru,steady

Trld,off 400,solid bid mid,bested

Soon 3bk inr,angld out tn,easy wd

Trld,1x1,prkd,1x1,off,solid bid mid

FRANCO ELVIS - paced roughly over the concluding stages.

Prkd,ld 2000,bested tn,faded inr

FRANCO ELVIS - weakened leaving the final bend and struck a track marker. Driver B Hope was issued with a warning. When questioned regarding the performance Mr Hope advised the gelding had failed to handle the track conditions.

3-4bk inr,battling 600,faded back

SEASIDE POND - weakened from the 600m. When questioned regarding the performance trainer/driver J Cox could offer no explanation and was disappointed with the effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. Mr Cox advised he will have blood tests taken from the gelding in the coming days and Stewards will follow up the results.

3rd inr,4-bk 2000,off,ran on in mid

Nice trip otr,peeled top,just plggd

The start was delayed due to SEASIDE POND and WHO'S YOUR DRAGON charging the barrier strand despite the efforts of their respective driver's. A warning was placed on the barrier record of both runners.

Trld,3-bk 1700,held up,off,late mid

SEASIDE POND - fractious and reared prior to the start. Held up early and middle stages of the run home. Driver K Butt was warned to exercise greater care when shifting ground near the 150m after briefly hampering an outside runner.

Soon 3bk otr,off,chased hard wd

1x1-4bk otr,hookd wd tn,smart wd

Prkd,into ld 1700,hdd top,no answer

ULTIMATE COUNSEL - broke at the start losing ground. Awkwardly placed close to the weakening SEASIDE POND rounding the final bend. Held up early in the run home.

3rd,3bk inr,waited,chased well mid

SEASIDE POND - fractious prior to the start causing a delay. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

4th,up,ld 1700,set terms,too classy

SEASIDE POND - paced roughly after 150m.

Bk otr,3w solo bell,postd,batld

SEASIDE POND - raced three wide without cover from the 1200m. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 900m.

4-bk pegs to tn,off,beat stragglers

Brk,prkd 1600,askd,kept giving mid

HEAVEN - broke at the start losing ground.

7th inr,3-bk,4-bk,closed nicely inr

Trld out,4-bk 1000,off,blkd,no dash

5-6bk otr,5bk inr 800,imprvd inr

HEAVEN - underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Paced roughly in the run home.

6th otr,1x1,3-bk,whacked away mid

Brk brfly,deep pegs,ran on,tite rm

HEAVEN - broke at the start losing ground. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Hampered by a breaking runner near the 1650m. Held up for the majority of the run home.

8th,8-bk inr,off,4-bk otr,wd,strong

HEAVEN - broke briefly at the start.

3bk otr,4bk 1150,waitd,good,held up

HEAVEN - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home and lay inwards.

3wd,led,trld,3bk 1450,held up,tidy

HEAVEN - raced wide early. Hampered by a weakening runner final bend. Held up leaving the final bend and struck the final track marker prior to the passing lane. Driver G O'Reilly was issued a warning.

7th,4bk otr 1000,detached tn,wilted

VINRULES - required assistance from a Starting Attendant prior to the start. Out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver A Edge. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding. Weakened rounding the final bend. Mr Edge advised the removable deafeners did not activate due to the cord breaking.

8th otr,6-bk,wd cvr,wdr,wilted out

VINRULES - raced wide from the 1200m.

9th otr,flat 1200,folded,pulled up

VINRULES - over-raced middle stages. Weakened at the 1100m and was retired from the race. Driver J Dunn advised he believed the gelding had choked down. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

3bk otr,up,prkd 600,askd tn,tired

VINRULES - raced wide early.

Soon 5bk otr,thru mid tn,sound mid

VINRULES - out of position at the start despite the efforts of driver R Close. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Slow,5bk otr,wd rear tn,unwound wd

6-5bk otr,angld wd,tried hard wd

VINRULES - raced wide early.

Trld-3bk inr,4bk 1100,off,dashd inr

VINRULES - trainer A Edge was issued a warning for presenting the gelding to race with removable deafeners and blinds which had not been notified. Came together with MEMPHIS BLASTER shortly after the start.

Eased,11th otr,6-bk,beat stragglers

Wd,made ld 1700,set terms,hdd,stuck

Gate spd,led,set terms,fght,cght

Fired to ld,trld 2000,couldn't fire

8th otr,1x1,wd 800,prkd,cvr,steady

Won early ld battle,trld bell,stout

BUDDY REIGN - when questioned regarding the improved performance trainer K Musso advised the gelding had been racing from wide barrier draws and was able to capitalise from an inside barrier today and had received an economical run in a handy position.

11th otr,5-bk,off,lacked zip wd out

9th otr,4-bk,wd top,bt stragglers

Wd,up prkd,cvr 1400,3-bk,off,steady

Chkd,detachd,6bk inr,bt slows mid

ITZ MAGICAL MEG - broke and shifted outwards as the start was effected making contact with the sulky of MELANDO CHIEF before checking BUDDY REIGN and BIG MAMA MORRIS losing all chance. Placed on the unruly for future mobile starts. Driver G O'Reilly advised the mare had cast the near fore shoe at the start.

3-bk mrks to trn,thru,outfinished

Ld,trld 1700,thru,chased hard,close

Sped to ld,trld 1050,off,bttld away

Soon 4pegs,only fair when clear

Gate spd,ld,trld,2nd tn,folded up

BELMONT VALOR - lay inwards early in the run home briefly making contact with HE'S A BAY despite the efforts of driver C Thornley.

Up,ld,trld 1400,askd tn,no kick

HE'S A BAY - weakened leaving the final bend.

Soon 4pegs,inside runs,fair tite rm

HE'S A BAY - broke at the start losing ground. Over-raced middle stages. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the run home.

Chkd/brk,13th inr,6-bk.off,bt slows

HE'S A BAY - checked by a breaking runner shortly after the start and broke losing ground. Held up early in the run home.

Prkd,cvr,4-bk bell,4 & 5w 400,solid

Slw,9th inr,rear 600,beat slows wd

9th otr,chkd,1x1 800,off,strong bid

Left prkd,cvr 1100,off tn,stout fin

Ld,trld,off,ld 1900,cut dwn 150 out

Brk,rear inr,off,blkd,belated burst

FESTUS HAGGEN - broke at the start losing ground. Held up middle stages of the run home.

Trld-4bk inr,held up,imprvd up inr

FESTUS HAGGEN - began awkwardly.

5bk inr,6bk 1400,waited,steady inr

3-bk mrks to trn,whacked away pegs

6th pegs,4-bk 1600,off,whacked away

Eased,4-5bk inr,chkd 600,battld

MELANDO CHIEF - weakened final bend.

Eased,12th otr,6-bk bell,no pick-up

MELANDO CHIEF - weakened final bend.

4th,3-bk inr,4-bk bell,solid on inr

12th otr,angled wd top,passed a few

8th inr,5-bk 1200,off,no zip in mid

Wd,across to 4-bk inr,held up,plggd

MELANDO CHIEF - held up early in the run home.

3-4bk inr,off 500,tidy,lockd wheels

ITZ MAGICAL MEG - broke and shifted outwards as the start was effected making contact with the sulky of MELANDO CHIEF before checking BUDDY REIGN and BIG MAMA MORRIS losing all chance. Placed on the unruly for future mobile starts. Driver G O'Reilly advised the mare had cast the near fore shoe at the start.

5-4-5bk otr,shuffld mid,got going