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Methven Trotting Club Inc

Sunday, 4 October 2026

Stipendiary Stewards Report

Club
Methven Trotting Club Inc at Mt Harding Racecourse
Weather
Fine
Track
Dead
Rail
Not applicable
Stewards
N McIntyre (Chairman), S Renault, K Carston
Veterinarian
D L Williamson
Logo

General

General
Nil

Supplementary

NZ Metro TC - Friday, 2nd October 2026
Race 9 - NEVELE R 3YO FILLIES SERIES (HEAT 6) MOBILE PACE
Driver R May (SONG OF SEAS) defended a breach of Rule 868(3) in that he failed to drive his runner out to the end of the race when having a reasonable chance of finishing in 5th place. After hearing evidence from Stewards and Mr May, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved and Mr May's driver's licence was suspended from the conclusion of racing on 11 October up to and including 16 October 2026 (2 days).

Summary

Swabbing
REGAL SUMMIT, FRANCO ELVIS, MATILDA TOO, HUNTER HILLS, ROSARIO, FUSION REACTOR, SEMBA, TAUMUTU LAD, FRANCO SINATRA, MO'UNGA, VERTIGO, I'M ROCKIN
Protests
Nil
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 2M Holbrough (MOUTON CADET)
[Rule 869(2) Whip & Rein Regs] - Using whip with more than a wrist flicking motion. Fined $250.
Race 8G & B Hope (WHATA CASTLETON)
[Rule 865(1)] - Late to notify anti choke device. Fined $50.
Warnings
Race 4N Taylor (HUNTER HILLS)
[Rule 865(2)] - Presented with a pacifier not notified.
Epistaxis
Nil
Horse Action
Race 1EVANGALIST - Warned Racing Manners
Race 2ABITIBI - Ineligible Mobiles - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 2ABITIBI - Warned Racing Manners
Race 3ATOMIC - Ineligible Racing Manners - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 4REGAL SPIRIT - Ineligible Racing Manners - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 5DONTTELLTHEBOYS - Unruly Stands
Race 6CHRISTIAN BALE - Ineligible Mobiles - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 6CHRISTIAN BALE - Warned Racing Manners
Race 7ALWAYS A PORSCHE - Ineligible Standing Starts - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 7COBA CHARGED - Warned Racing Manners
Race 10WAG STAR - Warned Racing Manners
Race 11SPANISH PRINCESS - Warned Racing Manners
Race 12RAKERO MAXIMUS - Ineligible Racing Manners - Stood Down 1 Trial
Race 12WARRIOR CHIEF - Unruly Mobiles
Medical Certificate
Nil
Driver Changes
Nil
Late Scratchings
Nil
Scratching Penalties
Ineligible from 05/10/2026 until 09/10/2026 inclusive (5 days):
STROMBOLI, SMOOTHER THE BETTOR, ROUTE SIXTY SIX, MONARCH PRINCE, TACT MCLEOD
Exceptional Circumstances:
ALWAYS THINKING, FOLIEJON STAR

Race Comments

Race 1   WOODLANDS STUD TROT
REGAL SUMMIT - driver J Dunn advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.
MOTUKARARA MUZZ - broke near the 1800m losing ground. Weakened from the 600m.
LAP IT UP - lay inwards over the concluding stages when placed under pressure.
MITHALI - broke near the 250m losing all chance. Driver J Morrison advised the mare cast a shoe during the running.
ENCHANTED STAR - over-raced middle stages.
FERNANDO - broke rounding the final bend losing all chance.
CHARLIE G - trotted roughly in the early stages and broke after 100m losing all chance.
HARRY HILL - broke rounding the final bend hampering a trailing runner losing all chance.
KING CHARLES - broke at the start losing ground. Broke again racing into the first bend losing all chance.
MISS MONEYPENNY - hampered by a breaking runner rounding the final bend and trotted roughly.
EVANGALIST - paced and broke after 150m losing ground. Broke again near the 600m losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the mare.
Race 2   RAKAIA SEED CLEANING MOBILE PACE
MOTOR MOUTH - lay outwards rounding the final bend and early in the run home.
ULTIMATE DREAMER - lay inwards final bend striking track markers when weakening.
WOODLEA DIAMOND - raced wide early.
BACCHUS - lay outwards over the concluding stages.
BROOKIES PLAYER - held up early and middle stages of the run home.
FLYAWAY - held up early and middle stages of the run home.
MOUTON CADET - junior driver M Holbrough, who declined assistance from a senior driver, admitted a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that she used her 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 $250.
PREMIER ARDEN - weakened leaving the final bend.
ABITIBI - broke late in the score up losing ground. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion from a mobile start prior to resuming. Broke again near the 1300m when improving wide on the track losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the mare. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
Race 3   STAPLES & KIDD LTD PACE
DONS DELIGHT - held up early in the run home.
ATOMIC - broke in the early stages hampering a trailing runner losing ground. Broke again leaving the final bend hampering a trailing runner losing ground. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming.
CANDY CRUNCH - hampered by a breaking runner in the early stages. Again hampered by a breaking runner leaving the final bend. Lay inwards near the 250m and became awkwardly placed close to the sulky of DELIGHTFUL BESS which was shifting ground outwards and had to be steadied.
RISING BROMAC - hung outwards on several occasions during the running.
Race 4   JA & G TRUDGEON PAINTERS & DECORATORS TROT
HUCKLEBERRY - broke near the 600m losing all chance.
MORRIE AFTON - lay inwards near the 150m having to be straightened by driver J Morrison.
SIGNAL HILL - had difficulty obtaining clear racing room in the run home.
MONARO DEAN - slow to begin. Raced wide early.
HUNTER HILLS - trainer N Taylor was issued a warning for presenting the gelding to race with a pacifier which had not been notified.
REGAL SPIRIT - raced wide early. Broke early in the run home losing all chance. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming.
Race 5   TARA FAMILY TRUST PACE
The start was delayed due to DONTTELLTHEBOYS becoming fractious and refusing to turn into line. Sent to the unruly position by the Starter where the gelding will remain for future standing starts.
VALEREI - broke at the start losing ground. Weakened from the 700m.
JIMANDAL - when questioned regarding the performance driver J Morrison advised he was disappointed with the effort and was unable to provide any explanation.
DONTTELLTHEBOYS - slow to begin. Over-raced middle stages. Lay outwards throughout the run home when weakening. Driver K Butt advised the gelding had been striking the sulky wheel discs.
RAKERO JOHN - broke at the start losing ground. Hung outwards for a distance passing the 800m.
Race 6   METHVEN PANEL & PAINT MOBILE PACE
COULD BE KATY - when questioned regarding the performance driver J Dunn advised he was disappointed with the effort and was unable to provide any explanation.
BRUNO BRIGADE - held up early in the run home.
LILAC LUXURY - held up until late in the run home.
SHOWCASE - over-raced middle stages.
TO RI RUBY - crowded by outside runners near the 100m and raced inside several track markers. Stewards questioned drivers J Dunn (COULD BE KATY), K Butt (TO RI RUBY) and R Close (LILAC LUXURY) where it was established that LILAC LUXURY had commenced to shift inwards onto COULD BE KATY prior to TO RI RUBY being positioned to the inside after improving quickly in the passing lane. After hearing from drivers and viewing the films, Stewards took no action other than to advise Mr Close to exercise more care when shifting ground.
WOODLEA ROCKS - held up early and middle stages of the run home.
CHRISTIAN BALE - broke in the early stages losing ground. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion from a mobile start prior to resuming. Broke again in the run home losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the gelding.
Race 7   NUFARM HANDICAP PACE
A false start was declared when the 10 metre barrier strand failed to release.
CHOCO LOU - broke at the start losing ground.
SAMVASA - broke at the start losing ground. Over-raced early stages. Checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.
MYSTERY BEACH - checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.
THE COALMAN - checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.
GOTTA ELECT BILL - checked by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.
COBA CHARGED - lay inwards and paced roughly rounding the final bend when racing to the inside of ALWAYS A PORSCHE which was also laying inwards and broke checking trailing runners. When questioned, driver S Thornley advised that when the pace had increased the gelding had hung inwards and cross-fired and apportioned no blame onto ALWAYS A PORSCHE. Mr Thornley added that he would be recommending the gelding be restricted to all weather tracks in the immediate future. Stewards placed a warning on the racing record of COBA CHARGED.
ALWAYS A PORSCHE - broke at the start losing ground. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion from a standing start prior to resuming. Lay inwards and paced roughly rounding the final bend when improving to the parked position. Authorisation of 4th placing was withheld until Stewards were satisfied the gelding had complied with the Breaking Horses Regulation in the early stages.
Race 8   PAT & PAULINE O'REILLY MEMORIAL HANDICAP TROT
WHATA CASTLETON - co-trainers G & B Hope were issued a $50 Minor Infringement Notice for being late to notify the gelding would be racing with an anti choke device. Broke at the start losing ground.
VICTOR RADLEY - held up early in the run home.
RACHMANINOV - lay inwards leaving the final bend striking a track marker.
VAL THORENS - trotted roughly rounding the final bend losing ground.
Race 9   RAKAIA AUTOMOTIVE CANTY PLAINS SPRING SERIES (HT 2) MOB PACE
LORTON VALE - held up early in the run home.
MAGICAL MAX - crowded leaving the final bend and struck track markers.
ROVERT DECISION - raced wide early. Lay inwards rounding the final bend crowding an inside runner.
TROUBLESHOOTER - held up early in the run home.
INTERPOL - weakened final bend. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
Race 10   ALABAR METHVEN CUP (HANDICAP PACE)
WAG STAR - raced greenly rounding the first bend resulting in an easing of the pace with trailing runners being hampered. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing record. Held up early in the run home. Trainer/driver B Butt advised that gear changes would be made before the horse's next race.
HALEY JACCKA - broke at the start losing ground. Hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
RENEGADE - broke at the start losing ground.
ESMERALDA - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
BRUNTWOOD BRIGADE - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
BAR LOUIE - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
J T BOE - pre-race warmed. Began awkwardly. Hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
FRANCO SINATRA - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend. Driver C Dalgety advised he did not activate the removable deafeners due to having the field covered.
MO'UNGA - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend. Over-raced middle stages.
RUBIRA - hampered by an easing of the pace rounding the first bend.
Race 11   YABBY DAM FARMS FILLIES & MARES HANDICAP TROT
SENIOR CONSTABLE LIZ - pre-race warmed.
HOLLY HIGHLANDER - held up early in the run home.
LIPSTICK - raced wide early.
SPANISH PRINCESS - raced wide early. Weakened in the run home before breaking late in the run home losing all chance. A warning was placed on the racing record of the mare.
AMISTOZO - raced wide early.
LOTTIE'S MOMENT - struck a track marker near the 1700m when briefly placed in restricted room. Trotted roughly over the concluding stages.
KRACKA LOOKA - raced wide early.
HARRIET'S MOMENT - fractious prior to the start.
DIAMOND HARBOUR - broke in the early stages losing all chance.
VERTIGO - held up early in the run home.
GEORGE ELIOT - held up until late in the run home.
Authorisation of placings was withheld until Stewards had reviewed the photo finish for 4th placing along with Judge C Harrison who amended his initial call by declaring KRACKA LOOKA in 4th place.
Race 12   STRAPPERS SYNDICATE MOBILE PACE
WARRIOR CHIEF - broke in the score up losing all chance. Placed on the unruly for future mobile starts.
RAKERO MAXIMUS - over-raced middle stages. Broke and shifted outwards leaving the final bend checking outside runners losing all chance. Stood down to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on one occasion prior to resuming. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
STUMPY BLACKLER - Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days regarding the gelding's performance.
MONKEE MAJOR - over-raced early and middle stages. Held up early in the run home.
JUKEBOX GYPSY - checked by a breaking runner leaving the final bend losing ground.
CLASSIE LINC - over-raced middle stages. Checked by a breaking runner leaving the final bend losing ground.
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