Oamaru Harness Racing Club Inc

Thru,4bk inr,off tn,honest in gaps

VINCENT REACTRESS - had to be steadied when CAUGHT THE EYE shifted outwards over the concluding stages. Driver W House was issued a warning to concede his position when being shifted wider.

Eased,1x1-3bk otr,1x1 450,honest

Prkd,torrid ld bid,ld 1200,hdd tn

3 & 4-bk mrks,held up,ran on nicely

6th,6-bk inr,4-bk,held up,tidy mid

VINCENT REACTRESS - held up over the concluding stages. The near side hopple broke during the running. This gear was inspected and found to be in previously good condition.

12th otr,wd cvr top,ran on stoutly

Mid otr,angld trn,ran on ok wide

Bk otr,angld trn,ran on too late

Stewards spoke with drivers N Williamson (UTAH JAZZ) and W House (VINCENT REACTRESS) regarding their runners being back off the gate at the dispatch. Both drivers advised that due to the speed of the mobile in the score up and it being positioned wider on the track they were both reluctant to chase their respective runners from outside barriers after being placed in restricted room rounding the bend. After speaking with Starter B Ward and viewing the replays Stewards accepted their explanation in relation to this matter.

6-5th,to 1x1 800,off,sound mid

3bk ot,4bk 1000,wd cvr,flew,just

Ld,trld,off,ld 1100,attckd,run down

GENERAL JEN - pre-race warmed. Over-raced middle stages.

Eased,wd rear,prkd 850,booted clear

Ld,trld,3bk,up,ld 800,did it easy

CAPTAINS MISTRESS - held up rounding the final bend and early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver N Williamson regarding the tactics he adopted during the running. Mr Williamson explained that after working hard in the early stages to obtain the lead from a wide draw, he was then challenged by the improving QUEEN TYRON near the 1200m and decided to take a trail to give his filly some respite. Shortly thereafter, GENERAL JEN improved forward to take the lead near the 900m resulting in a marked increase in tempo. Mr Williamson stated that he elected not to shift wider near the 800m to race in the parked position as he believed this would have been detrimental to his filly's chances given the early effort expended. He further explained that he was held up rounding the final bend due to a decrease in tempo, but once clear in the home straight the filly had finished off strongly. After considering the matter, Stewards were satisfied that Mr Williamson's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

Gate spd,ld,trld,thru,kickd,easy

GENERAL JEN - over-raced middle stages.

3wd,prkd,1x1,flat 400,battled

ALLETS - checked by a breaking runner near the 900m. Awkwardly placed close to the sulky wheel of GENERAL JEN near the 350m and shifted inwards simultaneously to ARAFURA attempting a run to the inside resulting in ARAFURA racing in restricted room. Stewards questioned drivers J Dunn (ALLETS) and C Ferguson (ARAFURA) regarding this incident and after viewing the films Stewards were satisfied no one driver was at fault and took the matter no further.

Gate spd,ld,trld 1150,did best inr

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

Gate spd,ld 1700,kickd,did best

BETTOR THAN LIZZY - lay outwards in the run home despite the efforts of driver C Dalgety.

Gate spd,ld,trld,off tn,tried hard

8th,3bk otr,3wd cvr,swoopd,just

6th otr,1x1,4-bk,wd 600,4w,plggd on

ARAFURA - raced wide from the 600m.

Ld out,trld 2400,thru,breezed on by

ARAFURA - a subsequent veterinary examination revealed chaffing to the upper off fore which will be treated by connections.

Wd cvr,up prkd,ld 1050,gathered in

WITHOUT YOU - shifted outwards despite the efforts of Driver M Purdon passing the 50m briefly hampering ARAFURA. Driver C Ferguson (ARAFURA) advised his chances of finishing ahead of WITHOUT YOU had not been affected therefore did not proceed with a protest. A post-race veterinary examination revealed an abrasion to the off hind leg and was treated by the Veterinarian.

Prkd,into ld 1700,eyed 150,thwarted

5th otr,4-bk bell,wd 350,ran on gap

4-6bk otr,wdr,3bk inr tn,good,tight

ALLETS - checked by a breaking runner near the 900m. Awkwardly placed close to the sulky wheel of GENERAL JEN near the 350m and shifted inwards simultaneously to ARAFURA attempting a run to the inside resulting in ARAFURA racing in restricted room. Stewards questioned drivers J Dunn (ALLETS) and C Ferguson (ARAFURA) regarding this incident and after viewing the films Stewards were satisfied no one driver was at fault and took the matter no further.

4-3bk otr,3wd cvr,4wd 400,huge wd

ARAFURA - raced wide with cover from the 1400m.

3bk inr,held up tn,nvr found gaps

CAUGHT THE EYE - held up for the majority of the run home.

Trld,3bk inr 600,held up,sound late

CAUGHT THE EYE - hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

Soon prkd,1x1 800,off,dashd,just

6th,3bk otr,up,ld 900,classy

CAUGHT THE EYE - tangled away. Driver T Williams advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

Soon 3bk otr,angld wd,tidy wdst

Gt spd,soon led,capturd,solid

Wd,3-4bk otr,3wd,prkd 800,fght,hdd

CAUGHT THE EYE - raced wide early and middle stages.

7th,chkd,up,ld 800,too many guns

CAUGHT THE EYE - hampered by a breaking runner rounding the first bend. Driver T Williams advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.

3rd,off,prkd 1200,ld 200,classy

CANDY CANE - raced greenly and shifted outwards over the concluding stages. Driver R Harrison advised she would be recommending gear changes.

3rd,held trail,thru,went close inr

Ld out,trld 1300,thru,too many guns

EBONY ARDEN - raced greenly over the concluding stages.

Prkd,4bk inr,prkd 1300,bravest str

EBONY ARDEN - raced greenly rounding the final bend.

Made ld,attckd,trld 1100,stout mrks

WINELIGHT - when questioned regarding his decision to take a trail near the 1200m after initially holding the lead, Driver M White advised that, while he was keen to maintain the lead due to the filly's strong performance at her previous start, he was mindful of the work she had been required to do after leading from the wide barrier and being challenged by BESIDE ME down the back straight on the first occasion. Consequently, when he eased the tempo, he felt it was in the filly's best interests to take a trail when GENERAL JEN improved forward near the 1200m, rather than urging his runner forward again. Stewards noted Mr White's comments.

8th otr,4-bk,3-bk,wd 350,stout wdst

Wd,prkd,cvr,prkd 1050,cvr 500,plggd

WINELIGHT - raced wide early.

Ld out,trld 1700,thru,strong on inr

WINELIGHT - lay in and contacted a track marker near the 300m.

Fired to ld,trld 1800,thru,game fin

3bk inr,bad chk 900,3bk,off,tidy

WINELIGHT - checked by a breaking runner near the 900m.

Brk late in score-up,no hope after

Stewards questioned Starter R Donnelly regarding the start and in particular the reason for not declaring a false start. Mr Donnelly advised he believed he had reached the start point and that as no driver had signalled a false start should be declared he activated the start. After hearing from drivers O Thornley (WINELIGHT) and B Butt (GENERAL JEN) and taking into account the proximity of the incident to the start point Stewards took the matter no further.