This G3 over 1215m at WFA saw a form reversal by Dawn Patrol to win with 58.5kg after he had run a disappointing third, also at G3, with 55kg in an Open Handicap. The track bias was towards runners several widths off the inside lanes on a tricky heavy track. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were co-leader (two-off the inside), fourth (five-off the inside and one length from the leader), sixth (five-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), second (four-off the inside and a neck from the leader), eleventh (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader) and tenth (ten-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Dawn Patrol raced fourth or fifth and came though the run home to second at the 150m and led at the 75m to score by just under a length in 1:17.01. The time was only the second best of the day as surprisingly the winner of the race before this at $50 clocked 1:16.75 (or a length and a half superior) in a Benchmark 72 (five grades inferior). It was the fourth win in ten starts for the 4yo entire Dawn Patrol, which has only missed the top three twice in his career. Last season as a 3yo he ran a G1 second, a G2 third and a Listed second so was one of the better and more reliable runners. Princess Kereru was tardy and came from last on settling then swam up wide to be fifth turning for home. The 6yo mare sustained her surge to finish a good second under 57kg and it is worth noting she was a G1 second beaten a neck under 53kg on New Years Day this year over 1200m. Midnight Runner ran a game third after racing fifth then fourth deep and the consistent 5yo gelding (he has only missed the top five twice in his twenty starts). Donna Anne Billy, the outsider of the field at $22, sat outside the pace and fought well for fourth beaten less than a length and a half. The gaps then got big with the leader Pop Star Princess puncturing to finish fifth beaten almost seven lengths. The rest came home in intervals to show how tricky the Arawa Park footing was today and saw Santa Monica run last beaten over twenty-nine lengths. She won the G1 Railway Handicap (1200m) on New Years Day by a neck with 53kg and paid $77 but today with the same weight as the runner up Princess Kereru that very day saw her beaten home here by it over twenty-eight lengths. No one said betting on New Zealand gallops was easy, because it is the complete opposite in fact, as the form is so mullet-stunningly volatile and causes a surfeit of sore scalps from so much head scratching. This was a G3 level race and the result justified it as such but some of the margins beaten are eye-watering ones.