The biggest test to date for Ryan Mark was passed with flying colours plus he ticked off being able to win at the often manmade biased Te Rapa, which will stand him in good stead later this season. He clocked a staggering 1:08.67 but the times today at Te Rapa were bionic at 1200m and 1400m and therefore very hard to trust. A maiden mare fresh up in R2 from a wide draw worked overtime then took command across the top to win by almost four and a half lengths clocked a staggering 1:21.71 for 1400m. A filly having her second ever start worked hard to lead and then bolted in to clock 1:21.81 in R4 and she looks to have scope so the maiden win mentioned prior is beyond belief. One race prior to Ryan Mark another 4yo lightly tried called Tomorrowland worked overtime to get the front and still kicked away to clock 1:08.82 in a Ratings 75 or three classes inferior supposedly on paper. Tomorrowland was less than a length inferior to Ryan Mark for perspective. Ryan Mark under 55.5kg sat poised second the outer and ran past a mare that had been gassed to lead and carried 58kg that lost second on the line to another mare under 59kg. So some realism needs to be factored in here. Te Rapa is the most manmade biased track in New Zealand by far and today on a ten race card eight of the ten winners either led or sat outside the pace. The other two races saw a juvenile filly Serena Miss bolt in that got up too second turning for home and a mare in a two turn event over 2100m won after getting into fourth as they straightened up. A lawn bowl has less bias. Ryan Mark has size and can run time and quicken in a fast run race too so has traits that suggest he will be a miler next year. He is not one-dimensional either as can be ridden quieter in a hot pace race and close off appreciably so his record of seven starts for six wins (in a row) is thoroughly deserved. After the Listed win today he will be up in the weights from now on plus we may get to see him tackle WFA here late summer/early autumn to really sign, seal and deliver the deal. Fix under 59kg ran a game race but could not give an up and coming male 4yo 3.5kg and the club would be happy her stable actually ran the mare in the end. Goldminer fresh up ran well under 58kg after working hard to lead and then pouring it on. She had in five prior blacktype attempts at G3 (once) and Listed (four times) finished no better than fifth so her weight today was hard to accept as realistic. Pizzazz ran on well from the rear for fourth under 56.5kg and the 8yo that is no spring chicken was second up. He had won a Listed event at this track in December last year at 55kg so his weight today seems harsh as he has missed in four races between then and today. His stable were ambitious however running him three times at G1 and then once at G3 but even so a year older and no dividends paid since should earn leniency surely. Up and comers lightly tried like Ryan Mark should be climbing in the ratings while an 8yo like Pizzazz cannot improve at his age as it is physically impossible. Barbaric may have found the ground a bit firm and under 58.5kg he would have felt it plus settled down sixth so track bias had him out of the reckoning anyway. Trepidation the improver after her effort for a new yard. All in all the winner Ryan Mark is on an upward spiral but he had many things in his favour today from rampant track bias and a nice weight for one on the rise. He has arrived on the big stage now so it all gets harder (or should) regarding weights given and opposition met. The two mares he beat today for example at WFA would receive 1.5kg from Ryan Mark so Fix would see a 5kg turnaround and Goldminer a 4kg swing. His sale has been turned down more than once by his owner/breeder/trainer but not passing a vet test for giant Hong Kong money may be the actual reason. He should be a drawcard over the rest of summer and into the autumn if happy and healthy.