Manawatu Harness Racing Club Inc
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Stipendiary Stewards Report
- Club
- Manawatu Harness Racing Club Inc at Manawatu Raceway
- Weather
- Fine
- Track
- Fast
- Rail
- Not applicable
- Stewards
- S Mulcay (Chairman), S Wallis, K Coppins, K Jillings, B Bateup
- Veterinarian
- Dr J Pires Do Prado
General
| General |
|---|
| Pre-race blood testing was carried out. |
Supplementary
| Manawatu HRC - Thursday, 12th February 2026 |
|---|
| Race 7 - MASONIC HOTEL HANDICAP TROT |
| Trainer A Pyers advised Stewards on 24 February that SCOOTS has been treated for muscle tie up since last having raced. |
Summary
| Swabbing |
|---|
| IAMTHECAPTAINNOW, VERONICA JANE, CRIPPA MAX, STEALERS WHEEL, TWO JULES, HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL |
| Protests | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Suspensions | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Fines | |
|---|---|
| Race 4 | S Abernethy (GWENDOLINE MARY) [Rule 869(2) and Whip & Rein Regs] - Used whip with more than a wrist flicking motion. Fined $300. |
| Warnings | |
|---|---|
| Race 1 | M House (IAMTHECAPTAINNOW) [Rule 865(1)] - Late notification the mare would race without sliding blinds. |
| Race 3 | M Gibbs (BET ON POLLY) [Rule 452(2)] - Failed to have the correct colours available. |
| Race 4 | S Doody (FEAR THE DIVA) [Rule 865(2)] - Presented runner without the notified blinds. |
| Epistaxis | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Horse Action | |
|---|---|
| Race 2 | ALEX PEREIRA - Warned Stands |
| Race 2 | MECHANICA - Warned Stands |
| Race 4 | EDDIE OSEI - Warned Mobiles |
| Race 5 | THE BIG BANG - Warned Mobiles |
| Race 6 | KAIPAKI JACK - Warned Racing Manners |
| Race 6 | NAZARETH - Warned Racing Manners |
| Medical Certificate | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Driver Changes | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Late Scratchings | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
| Scratching Penalties | |
|---|---|
| Nil |
Race Comments
| Race 1 NEVELE R STUD SUPPORTS NI BREEDERS MOBILE PACE | |
|---|---|
| IAMTHECAPTAINNOW - Trainer M House was warned for late notification the mare would race without sliding blinds. | |
| MAGIE DO - broke near the 1650m losing ground before settling. Authorisation of this runner's 4th placing was withheld until Stewards had reviewed the footage and were satisfied the mare had complied with the Breaking Horses Regulation. Driver S Abernethy advised he would be recommending gear changes for the second day. | |
| GET SET PARTY - over-raced middle stages. | |
| RHAEGAL - lay in at various stages and in particular when under pressure in the run home. | |
| RUTHERFORD - over-raced middle stages. Paced roughly approaching the 150m. | |
| Race 2 WOODLANDS STUD SUPPORTS NI BREEDERS HCP TROT | |
|---|---|
| A false start was declared at the first attempt when the front barrier failed to release. | |
| MECHANICA - broke shortly after the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the filly's barrier manners. | |
| TIKI - Driver A Pyers reported he sustained a punctured sulky tyre near the 500m when being steadied to shift down on to the marker line, with the sulky wheel being contacted by the trailing EAGLE HANOVER (K Coppins). Given the circumstances Stewards were satisfied that Miss Coppins had not driven carelessly in this incident and took the matter no further. | |
| ALEX PEREIRA - broke shortly after the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. | |
| Race 3 DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS SUPPORTS NI BREEDERS MOBILE PACE | |
|---|---|
| BET ON POLLY - Trainer M Gibbs was warned for failing to have the correct colours available. | |
| CATHY FREEMAN - lay in and contacted track markers rounding the final turn. | |
| WHO'S YOUR DRAGON - raced wide early. Unable to hold the back of CRIPPA MAX approaching the 1000m which enabled BELL FIRE to shift out into that position. | |
| Race 4 ALABAR STUD SUPPORTS NI BREEDERS MOBILE PACE | |
|---|---|
| STEALERS WHEEL - shifted out on straightening for the run home but was corrected by Driver P Ferguson. | |
| FEAR THE DIVA - Trainer S Doody was warned after presenting the mare without the notified blinds. Driver J Abernethy reported the deafeners had failed to activate despite his efforts. | |
| GWENDOLINE MARY - Driver S 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 early in the run home. After viewing replays and considering submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $300. | |
| EDDIE OSEI - broke shortly after the start losing all chance and was retired from the event by Driver A Poutama. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. | |
| Race 5 HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY RICHARD SAWTELL MOBILE PACE | |
|---|---|
| MIKI'S MOMENT - paced roughly entering the first turn. | |
| GOORAMBAT ART - over-raced middle stages when being steadied to attempt to take cover. Locked sulky wheels for a distance with an outside runner from near the 600m losing ground as a result. | |
| MELTON MOGUL - raced wide without cover from the 1150m. Locked sulky wheels for a distance with an inside runner from near the 600m. | |
| THE BIG BANG - broke early in the score up and was back from position at dispatch. A warning was placed on the gelding's barrier manners. | |
| GOTTA ELECT BILL - raced wide from the 1350m and four wide from the 600m. | |
| ALWAYS B SWEET - over-raced middle stages. | |
| BLUE CHIP LOU - over-raced middle stages. Held up early and middle stages of the run home. | |
| Race 6 NZB STANDARDBRED SUPPORTS NI BREEDERS HCP TROT | |
|---|---|
| NAZARETH - broke near the 250m losing ground before settling. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing manners. Authorisation of this runner's 4th placing was withheld until Stewards had reviewed the footage and were satisfied the gelding had complied with the Breaking Horses Regulation. | |
| KAIPAKI JACK - broke early in the run home losing its chance. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing manners. | |
| FORGIVENESS - broke near the 650m losing its chance. | |