This G2 3yo event over 2100m was marred by the favourite losing her rider after 300m and causing trouble then the riderless horse played a role plus at the finish jockeys that were paying attention had to divert wide. It was a slowly run race but one that needs to be also given an asterisk of being tainted as so much happened to affect the pattern and outcome. The favourite Romantic Maid clipped heels not far past the winning post and dropped her rider Danielle Johnson with several runners affected having to try and avoid her. A riderless Romantic Maid then went around the field outside the pace to become a pest and then the nightmare scenario unfolded. A stricken Danielle Johnson was being looked after by medics and was not or could not be cleared from the track so a field of thirteen runners thundered down the home straight with waving humans and clerk of the course horses all trying to catch the eye of jockeys. The winner The Hassler, the stablemate of Romantic Maid, won easily but things worked in his favour greatly plus his rider Vinny Colgan only looked up very late then swerved to avoid an utter Ellerslie disaster. The Hassler led then came off to sit second the outer before challenging across the top when several riders suddenly moved strangely as the riderless horses was still up there at this stage. He was headed early the run home but then came back to lead at the 100m closer in than any other runner before Colgan looked up and ahead to see a sharp left-hand rein tug was needed immediately. The winning time of 2:12.26 is ordinary for the 2100m but The Hassler did score by over a length and was the superior stayer. It was his fourth win in eleven starts and a first Group win plus the gelding has now scored on good, dead and heavy footing to show versatility. Zambezi Warrior ran home powerfully for second from back of the midfield and he has come good late in the season with stamina clearly his calling. Sonorous ran on well for third after trailing and then being held up near the home turn but was not cost the race by circumstances as the runner up buried him anyway. Ronchi was wide then led before being headed across the top but was still looking to run third only to lose that spot very close to the line. It was a decent run as he did work twice at key stages in the race. Thunder Down Under should have run second and bettors can feel slightly aggrieved but considering what was ahead for riders at the finish it has to be accepted as one of those things that racing can throw up. The gelding was back on the inner then got off across the top before sweeping up fast to take the lead centre track at the 400m. Even when headed by the winner coming back at the 100m he was a certainty to finish second but his rider Jonathan Parkes stopped riding him the final 75m and was swamped into fifth. The reason he throttled back was he looked up and ahead to see humans waving arms and a rider being attended too on the track and clerks of the course horses trying to catch the eye of jockeys in the race. Street Smart fought on like a few such as Red Tsunami and Chocante the closing stages and all have more wins ahead for sure. Estimate was used twice in the running so will come back next season likely to win several races. Five To Midnight can be forgiven as he was hampered by the fallen rider and ran off very deep then moved up very wide to challenge across the top before unsurprisingly witling. He simply did too much work at a first race clockwise so had to weaken. Chancery back to a more suitable field will find form again while Johnny Lincoln and Rock On both had awkward starts and were having first runs clockwise. Rock On was hampered by the fallen rider and then sent up from the back very wide midrace before launching a sudden attack across the top to take the lead. He went backwards as fast as he went forwards before the home turn so expect a less taxing ride when next time seen out. The Hassler won well and easily but this race has a massive query on it as so much happened and many riders reacted differently by launching too early across the top and then some thankfully took a better safe then sorry over the closing stages. It may well prove to be a reasonable guide for next season as several in it will be stronger as 4yo stayers but an asterisk must be applied and means what it says, a query on the entire race and result.