This event at Listed level over 1550m was won by up and coming 4yo mare Mai Tai that ran at $2.80 in what was her first look at Blacktype. It was just her tenth start and she carried the minimum of 53kg plus she was tackling Open Class for the first time (the highest grade she had met and bet prior was Ratings74). After racing fourth the outer she was improved wide across the top and then gained the upper hand with 50m to go. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were second (three-off the fence and two lengths from the leader), third (three-off the fence and length and a half from the leader), third (one-off the fence and four lengths from the leader), second (one-off the fence and a head from the leader), fourth (seven-off the fence and two lengths from the leader), second (six-off the fence and two lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the fence and two length from the leader) and third (eight-off the fence and length and a half from the leader). Mai Tai scored by almost a length in 1:33.54 on a Slow8 track and the last race of the day, a Ratings74, was run and won in just over second inferior. The 4yo mare was winning her fifth race today so has a 50% win ratio and more importantly she has scored on Good, Dead and Slow footing so is building a formidable range of success. Second home was Quiz Kid that led up and kicked clear early then gave a good sight the run home before yielding to a superior rival the final 50m. This was his second go at Blacktype having failed as juvenile at Listed level and the now 4yo gelding was also tacking the older horses for the first time at this level too. Third home was Pierina that raced eighth the outer and ran on very strongly indeed to get her Blacktype placing the last 5m. The 6yo mare was in form prior having been fourth at Listed level where she flew home late too. Earlier this season she had finished fourth over a mile at G2 against all comers in an Open Handicap where the form has stood up since and she was also fourth at G2 against her own sex too. The mare had run as good fourth in the same G2 Open Handicap mile last season so has always had the Blacktype oomph. It is very telling that at her following start after today she won at G2 under WFA very easily against her own sex over 2000m. Fourth home in this was Vent with the 4yo mare that has won just two races running well from the trail the inner and she was a close second still at the 200m before losing third money the last 5m. She was beaten all up just under three lengths. Fifth home was Vernanme under 58kg that boxed on after racing fifth the outer and he was beaten just under four lengths. Next home was Deerfield at 58.5kg after being a chasing second to the home turn and then battling the closing stages. Seventh home was Colorado Star that raced seventh or eighth the inner and battled on once off the inside to be beaten just over six lengths. Eighth home was the topweight Dolcetto that carried 60kg and had the apprentice atop in Hazel Schofer. He was second up so the now 8yo has improvement to come as this was not really his race though he ran on from the rear trio on settling. Ninth home was the ill-fated Cutting Up Rough that was ridden by the apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy after settling down tenth and being second widest runner turning for home. Tenth home was Motivation that was slow and last away and wide across the top and came the deepest runner turning for before just battling. The last four home all got beaten over ten lengths and up to almost eighteen lengths. This was a lightweight finish with the first four home all having the minimum of 53kg. The winner has good scope and the second and fourth runners do too with both of them being 4yo's as well. The form out of this has already stood up at G2 albeit against her own sex but Pierina won by four lengths and beat some proven mares too.