The Japanese runner Admire Rakti was ridden patiently by Zac Purton and settled in 11th place wide with cover. He continued to track up wide from the 800m, fanned very wide rounding the home turn and then ran on strongly with his top weight (58kg), proving too good in the closing stages to score with something in hand by a long neck in an impressive staying performance. Rising Romance began smartly from barrier 14 and quickly crossed to the lead. She then eased to get a good trip, fifth on the rails. She got through along the rails nearing the home turn, looked the winner when she shot clear on straightening and was only overhauled nearing the post for a (long neck) second. It was a very good effort and an excellent ride by James McDonald. The favourite Lucia Valentina settled near the tail of the field before improving (wide with cover) from the 1200m, tracking the eventual winner Admire Rakti. She moved up outside that runner at the 600m, went very wide at turn, took a moment to wide up before running on well for third, putting up a good performance. Brambles began well and was handily placed in third spot most of the way to the 600m. He challenged at the home turn and continued to fight on in good style for a sound fourth, beaten only one length. Araldo was near the rear, improved between runners from the 700m, got a split from the 200m and then battled on for a good (1.4 lengths) fifth. Lidari was ninth between runners, switched into clear running at the home turn and then fought on for (2.2 lengths) sixth. Junoob was trapped deep from barrier 12 before finally getting cover in fifth place at the 1200m. He moved up coming to the home turn, looked beaten at the 200m but rallied to finish (2.3 lengths) seventh, which was quite a sound effort after working in the early stages. Big Memory raced near the tail of the field to the 600m before switching deep rounding the home turn. He then made up good ground, finishing well in the centre of the track for (2.8 lengths) tenth while The Offer was well back to the 600m then went very wide, plugging on fairly well (wide out) to finish (3.6 lengths) 11th.