The police have been called in to investigate nails spread on the Ascot Park track before racing was due to commence on Saturday.
An anonymous caller advised the Southland Racing Club that the track had been littered with nails. The start of the programme was delayed while an inspection of the track was made. The inspection found some 120 lead head nails at various places, the judicial report stated. Stewards were then satisfied the track was safe for racing. The incident was then referred to the police.
Stewards adjourned an inquiry into Sucre (Charlotte Bellew) being brought down and Locket losing her rider, Kylie Williams, near the 400m in the Southland Guineas. Bellew was cleared of injury and Williams was sent to hospital as a precaution. She sustained bruising.
An inspection of the track was made after the incident and the meeting continued.
Lance Robinson was suspended from next Sunday until midnight the following Sunday for careless riding. Robinson, riding Willie Roydon, admitted shifting in near the 1400m, tightening Young Bachelor and Suspend Us with a result check to Tunza Vitality in race 3.
Masa Tanaka was suspended from next Sunday until midnight on March 5 for careless riding at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Tanaka, riding Tilda, admitted shifting out near the 400m, causing a check to Shuka in the Avondale Guineas.
Black Caviar equalled the 19 straight-win record for Australia and New Zealand with her success in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The unbeaten mare joins Desert Gold (1915-17) and Gloaming (1919-21) who each had 19 straight wins.
• Black Caviar ran the 1000m in 55.53, 0.03 outside the track record set by Special in 1988.
She won by a length and three-quarters from the gallant Hay List.
Silent Achiever came closer to confirming a start in the New Zealand Derby with her easy win in the Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie on Saturday, The New Zealand Herald reports.
She was trotted on the lead yesterday morning to the satisfaction of her trainer, Roger James.
"Perfect. Free as a bird," he said.
It now remains for the $22,500 late-entry fee to be paid tomorrow week.
• Silent Achiever is a $2.20 favourite for the Derby with the New Zealand TAB. The last filly to win the classic was Popsy in 1993.
James McDonald has taken the mount on Silent Achiever after his original engagement, Knight's Tour, dropped out with injury.
• Daniel Moor, the Melbourne jockey, was suspended for eight riding days from next Sunday until midnight on March 4 for careless riding in the Two-Year-Old Classic at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Moor was also fined $1000.
Moor, the rider of Ockham's Razor, admitted allowing his mount to shift in near the 200m, checking Platinum Kingdom with resultant tightening to Swiper The Fox and Choice Bro. Liberating was checked.
Choice Bro, the winner, was also hampered at the 800m.
Ockham's Razor blundered at the start, covered extra ground and finished second, half a neck from Choice Bro.
