This Listed 1550m Open Handicap drew a very modest line up and saw a visiting 5yo mare in Ruby Armani get her first blacktype win. The mare did it the hard way too wide all the way and went from fifth to fourth to third then led turning for home and held on by half a head to clock 1:35.17. It was her fifth win from twenty-three starts and maturity has been the key this year with six attempts at blacktype prior to this year not even returning a placing. The clear topweight Shadows Cast under 60kg raced fourth or fifth and them moved up third turning for home. He sustained his finish and tried hard to the line but came up a smidgen short to a rival that he gave 7kg. Master Pat was tardy and last away but recovered on the inner and then went through closest in to challenge for the lead across the top. The three-win galloper had only run in as high as Ratings75 grade prior to today so was up three or more classes here and after being second turning for home and third at the 200m held that position to the line. His effort alone showed the field had no serious depth as at his very first blacktype and Open Handicap outing he was able to get third and the wet track clearly played a key role as able to handle the footing. Flamingo ran a sound fourth after being back and wide and she came up fourth turning for home and kept fighting on well. Ringo settled back and deep but kept coming gamely for fifth and the rising 9yo was only second up. Balham the stayer trailed the inner and battled away fairly the run home while Slimline was okay from the rear trio midrace. The Kipling Girl also from the rear group was okay. Temple Tiger raced outside the pace but was struggling near the home turn and weakened out from fifth at the 200m. Heavens Keep showed nothing and did not like the footing while the two-win mare Ruby Love worked to the lead and then was joined across the top before being headed and in reverse before the home turn. This was a very suspect Listed field and the awful wet sludgy footing played too big a role at the finish as well.