KEY POINTS:
Michael Walker completed the fastest 100 winners in a season at Ellerslie yesterday, but it was mostly overshadowed.
Two protests were lodged after Nuke Time provided Walker with the record.
Bruce Wallace, trainer of runner-up Encantada, protested on the grounds of interference by the winner, and third-placed Tlingit protested against Encantada.
Wallace lost the previous race when Falrain moved off its line when in front in the closing stages, dictating the finishing effort of Ebony Babe. A nose separated the pair.
"If there's any consistency we'll get this one," said Wallace as he lodged the Race 2 protest.
The Judicial Control Authority members did not agree.
Where it was shown Falrain had not been sufficiently clear of Ebony Babe when it made its sideways movement, the JCA ruled that Nuke Time had been clear when it moved around and forced Encantada to shift ground to make its finishing run.
Under the rules a horse must be its own length then one further length clear of a horse to avoid being liable to be charged if it races erratically.
The irony is that had the race been run in lanes, Encantada would almost certainly have won.
Further upsetting Bruce Wallace was that Encantada lost second because of the interference the filly caused to Tlingit.
Wallace was upset chief stipendiary steward Cameron George in his evidence in front of the JCA members did not point out a significant bump Tlingit gave Encantada earlier in the home straight.
Outside the judicial room, George told Wallace it had been the trainer's obligation to reserve the right to counter protest against the third horse in the event of his own horse being relegated.
"But that had to be done after first looking at the race video inside the six-minute limit after the race.
"It was too late to lodge it once the inquiry had started.
"Stewards can only comment on the relevant bits of the race that pertain to the protests."
Wallace said what he got out of the two races was a lot of experience.
Te Akau Stable manager David Ellis was delighted to finally get a win with Nuke Time, who had been unlucky in recording thirds in his first two starts.
Lance O'Sullivan recorded the fastest 100 for the season in 2002 on January 21. Michael Walker broke that with four weeks to spare and followed up by taking Race 3 on the favourite Morgalicious.
Leith Innes was pleased to be awarded Race 1 on protest after three times being thrown from Ebony Babe on the way to the starting stalls.
On the second occasion, just outside the birdcage gate, Innes was lucky to escape injury when he was thrown against the outside running rail.
