NZ Metro TC 30 January 2026 – R7 – Song Sung Blue

Following the running of Race 7, Check Out Woodlands Stud’s 2026 Yearling Draft Mobile Pace, an Information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, alleging that the sulky wheel of SONG SUNG BLUE (Gemma Thornley), placed 4th by the Judge, protruded inside the marker line early in the run home.

Ms Thornley, a Junior Driver, was assisted at the hearing by Open Driver, Mr Craig Thornley.

The Judge’s official placings were:

1st    9   Double Jeopardy

2nd  8   Bazooka

3rd   1   Captain Kobe

4th   2   Song Sung Blue

5th 12   Taketheplunge

The margins were ¾ length, 1½ lengths, nose, ½ neck.

Rule 869 provides as follows:

(7B) Where any horse or its sulky wheel moves inside the track marker line and gains an advantage the horse shall be disqualified from that race or relegated to behind any horse in respect of which an advantage may have been gained except where it is established that the breach was caused by interference by another horse or driver.

EVIDENCE:

At the commencement of the hearing, the Adjudicative Committee asked Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, to read Rule 869(7B).

Mr Renault then showed the available video replays of the final 200 metres of the race. He had Stipendiary Steward Matt Sole, point out SONG SUNG BLUE, racing three places back on the markers, as the field turned into the final straight. Mr Renault then showed Ms Thornley shift into the passing lane to the inside of MUNROE’S MATE (John Morrison) and have “some difficulty in getting through”.

Mr Renault then showed, on the head-on video, Mr Morrison take the passing lane, as he was entitled to do. Ms Thornley shifted to the inside of Mr Morrison, making contact with a track marker, racing inside the next marker and making contact with the next two.

Stewards were alleging that Ms Thornley had anticipated a run becoming available to the inside of MUNROE’S MATE early in the run home, and has shifted inside the track marker line to obtain that run, Mr Renault said. Ms Thornley only obtained that run by virtue of shifting inside the marker line and creating a gap, enabling her to improve her position, he submitted. Had she kept straight, there would only have been a “very marginal run”, Mr Renault submitted.

Ms Thornley’s runner had obtained an advantage and Stewards were seeking disqualification of SONG SUNG BLUE, Mr Renault said.

Mr Thornley said that, when Ms Thornley had activated gear, her horse had “ducked in” and it was at that point, that the horse had gone over the marker pegs. He submitted that, prior to  that, there had been a gap for the horse and sulky and, therefore, her runner had not gained any advantage in racing inside the track marker.

Ms Thornley confirmed that her runner had shifted inside the marker line at the point where she activated gear.

DECISION:

The protest is upheld and SONG SUNG BLUE (#2) is disqualified.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The marker line / track markers define where horses are and aren’t allowed to go. The marker line is the inner boundary of the track, marked by the marker pegs. Inside that line is “out of bounds”. If a sulky wheel goes inside the track markers, it is deemed to be inside the track, hence Rule 869(7B).

If a horse gains an advantage by its sulky wheel moving inside the marker line, it is liable to be relegated or disqualified. The Adjudicative Committee needs to determine whether an advantage has been gained.

The Adjudicative Committee listened to the evidence and submissions of the parties, and carefully viewed the video replays.

The Adjudicative Committee finds that SONG SUNG BLUE was taken for a run to the inside of MUNROE’S MATE, shortly after turning for home, probably in anticipation of a full run becoming available. However, the Adjudicative Committee finds, a full run was not available for the horse and, in seeking a run, a sulky wheel has gone clearly inside a track marker, enabling a run. In enabling that run, the horse has gained an advantage, the Adjudicative Committee finds.

CONCLUSION:

Consequent upon the disqualification, the amended placings for the race are as follows:

1st    9  Double Jeopardy

2nd   8  Bazooka

3rd   1  Captain Kobe

4th  12  Taketheplunge

It was ordered that dividends and stakes be paid in accordance with that amended result.