Manawatu Harness Racing Club Inc

Thursday, 12 February 2026

Stipendiary Stewards Report

Club: Manawatu Harness Racing Club Inc at Manawatu Raceway
Weather: Fine
Track: Fast
Rail: Not applicable
Stewards: S Wallis (Chairman), S Mulcay, R Greig, B Bateup
Veterinarian: Dr J Pires Do Prado

General

General
Pre-race blood testing was carried out.

Supplementary

Nil

Summary

Swabbing
BET ON POLLY, THE ELITE ATHLETE, TWO JULES, MELTON MOGUL, KINK, ALWAYS B SWEET, TIKI

Protests
Nil

Suspensions
Race 7	G Martin (KISS MY PIXEL) [Rule 869(2) and Whip & Rein Regs] - Used whip with more than a wrist flicking motion (3 days). Suspended from 13/02/2026 until 24/02/2026 inclusive.

Fines
Race 1	J Abernethy (RUN BLAZE RUN) [Rule 869(2) and Whip & Rein Regs] - Used whip with more than a wrist flicking motion. Fined $300.

Warnings
Race 3	B Wilkins (BUGALUGS) [Rule 869(2) and Whip & Rein Regs] - Used whip with more than a wrist flicking motion and in a continuous manner.

Epistaxis
Nil

Horse Action
Race 3	EDDIE OSEI - Unruly Mobiles
Race 4	CHANGE TACT - Warned Racing Manners
Race 5	MANCHESTER IN TIME - Warned Racing Manners
Race 7	SCOOTS - Veterinary Clearance Required

Medical Certificate
Nil

Driver Changes
Nil

Late Scratchings
Nil

Scratching Penalties
Ineligible from 13/02/2026 until 17/02/2026 inclusive (5 days): WHITEBAIT BOY

Race Comments

Race 1 JASE SCAFFOLDING MOBILE PACE	Show Video
MfVOyk3l8dI BET ON POLLY - shifted out under pressure late in the run home.
RUTHERFORD - paced roughly shortly after the start. Over-raced middle stages when outside the leader. Weakened leaving the final turn.
GET SET PARTY - raced below market expectation. When questioned regarding the performance Driver A Poutama stated that the mare may not have been suited to the strong early tempo however he was disappointed with the effort.
RUN BLAZE RUN - shifted in under pressure late in the run home having to be corrected. Driver J Abernethy admitted a charge under 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 replays and considering submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300.
EL DRAEGO - when questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance, driver W House advised that racing wide from the 700m had taken its toll on the mare over the final stages.

Race 2 OUTBACK TRADING MOBILE PACE	Show Video
MID4mZvljL8 FEAR THE DIVA - slow to score up however was in position at the candy pole.
CATHY FREEMAN - held up final bend.
WHO'S YOUR DRAGON - raced wide without cover from the 900m.

Race 3 THE TANK GUY MOBILE PACE	Show Video
koT3dWYfpHk EDDIE OSEI - pre-race warmed. Broke at the start losing all chance. Placed on the Unruly for future mobile starts. Trainer M Gibbs advised that he would no longer persevere with the gelding as a racing proposition from his stable.
BUGALUGS - lay inwards approaching the first bend placing MARIA KIRILENKO in restricted room momentarily. Driver B Wilkins was issued with a warning for using her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion and in a continuous manner in the run home.
INDISPOSED - raced wide early.
COSMIC STAR - weakened from the 500m. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. The performance was noted.
MIKI MIRAGE - lay in and contacted a track marker approaching the 200m. Held up for racing room late in the run home.
ASK ME LAZARUS - lay outwards approaching the first bend placing MARIA KIRILENKO in restricted room momentarily.
MARIA KIRILENKO - raced in restricted room and was momentarily steadied on entering the first bend when positioned between BUGALUGS, which was laying inwards, and ASK ME LAZARUS, which was inclined to lay outwards.

Race 4 PRESCOTT MAINTENANCE MOBILE PACE	Show Video
MQwz1H2rHh8 MELTON MOGUL - slightly shifted up the track over the concluding stages.
CHANGE TACT - broke when angled down the track to secure clear running near the 200m and, as a result lost its chance. A warning was placed on the mare's racing manners.
THE BIG BANG - broke rounding the first turn losing ground before settling at the rear.
BLUE CHIP LOU - lay outwards over the concluding stages shifting up the track in consequence.

Race 5 A1 APPLIANCES AND TREE FELLAS HANDICAP TROT	Show Video
N09IuvnMm6I HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL - slow early.
JACCKA BAYLIS - weakened from the 500m.
KINK - Driver M Hay reported he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.
NAZARETH - trotted roughly in the early and middle stages. Raced wide for a distance through the middle stages before breaking near the 1200m losing its chance.
MANCHESTER IN TIME - broke near the 1850m losing considerable ground. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing manners.

Race 6 GAP THE MAGIC STARTER MOBILE PACE	Show Video
Ed_W49D9zcQ GENUINE IMITATION - Driver M Hay reported the outside removable deafener became displaced prior to the start. Over-raced middle stages.
BELL FIRE - contacted the sulky wheel of JAHI when laying inwards, becoming awkwardly positioned passing the 400m mark. Was then held up rounding the final turn and during the early stages of the run home. Again became awkwardly placed and contacted the sulky wheel of RUN MASON RUN passing the 75m. Stewards were satisfied that the contact on each occasion were attributable to the racing dynamics at the time and that Driver B Wilkins had not driven carelessly nor contributed to the incidents in any culpable manner. Accordingly, no further action was taken.

Race 6 GAP THE MAGIC STARTER MOBILE PACE

Show Video

GENUINE IMITATION - Driver M Hay reported the outside removable deafener became displaced prior to the start. Over-raced middle stages.

BELL FIRE - contacted the sulky wheel of JAHI when laying inwards, becoming awkwardly positioned passing the 400m mark. Was then held up rounding the final turn and during the early stages of the run home. Again became awkwardly placed and contacted the sulky wheel of RUN MASON RUN passing the 75m. Stewards were satisfied that the contact on each occasion were attributable to the racing dynamics at the time and that Driver B Wilkins had not driven carelessly nor contributed to the incidents in any culpable manner. Accordingly, no further action was taken.

Race 7 MASONIC HOTEL HANDICAP TROT	Show Video
du1XWKzcno8 KISS MY PIXEL - Driver G Martin admitted a charge under Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations for using his whip with more than a wrist-flicking motion in the home straight. After reviewing the race replays and considering submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a suspension of Mr Martin's driver's licence, effective from the conclusion of racing today, 12 February, up to and including 24 February 2026 (3 days).
SCOOTS - trotted roughly whilst rounding the first turn, resulting in ground being lost. Continued to trot roughly at various stages throughout the event. Broke near the 1400m, losing all chance, and broke again near the 900m whilst trailing the field. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed a heel bulb laceration to the medial aspect of the near foreleg. The gelding was stood down pending receipt of a Veterinary clearance prior to resuming racing.

Race 7 MASONIC HOTEL HANDICAP TROT

Show Video

KISS MY PIXEL - Driver G Martin admitted a charge under Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations for using his whip with more than a wrist-flicking motion in the home straight. After reviewing the race replays and considering submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a suspension of Mr Martin's driver's licence, effective from the conclusion of racing today, 12 February, up to and including 24 February 2026 (3 days).

SCOOTS - trotted roughly whilst rounding the first turn, resulting in ground being lost. Continued to trot roughly at various stages throughout the event. Broke near the 1400m, losing all chance, and broke again near the 900m whilst trailing the field. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed a heel bulb laceration to the medial aspect of the near foreleg. The gelding was stood down pending receipt of a Veterinary clearance prior to resuming racing.