This G2 2400m Open Handicap saw a 7kg spread of weights from the top down to bottom and showed the New Zealand stayer is now almost a myth. This used to be the Avondale Cup over 2200m held at Avondale but now is 2400m and used as a lead up to the G1 Auckland Cup in three weeks that will lose its G1 rating next year onwards for sure. The Auckland Cup is not and has not been a serious race for quite a while and ironically the winner of it last year as a 9yo at $125 in El Soldado won this G2 race today as 10yo. El Soldado had not won a race since last year or in fact paid a dividend and paid $69 a win after having been dead last at his prior outing beaten almost twelve and a half lengths. Once again he went to the front and under 53kg only his rider said run down the old fella and they could not much to the stamina shame of the rest that a 10yo can still show them up. He scored by a neck in 2:33.35 for his eighth win from seventy-four starts and his last four victories have been separated by a year or more each time. Megablast was jogging third or fourth the outer and looked ominous across the top and loomed to win the run home but 5yo equal favourite could not outfinish a rival twice his age. He should have been able to put him away even at the same weight but could not, though will get 3kg from him in three weeks. Mister Impatience raced fifth the inner and kept coming for third close up like the one-paced stayer he is. He finished fifteenth of sixteen runners in the Auckland Cup last year having won the G2 Wellington Cup (3200m) two runs prior in 2016. Since that two mile success he has not won or placed since until today finishing third. Five To Midnight was sound fourth after racing just worse than the midfield while Nymph Monte wilted late from second the outer and carried 3kg more than the winner. He will get a 5kg turnaround in three weeks and that should be more than enough to turn any tables. Jacksstar ran on well from a long way back for sixth and only needs to not get so far back and stay there for so long to be a force at the finish in three weeks. Chenille was wide the whole way (albeit with cover) and ran a brave seventh while Storming The Tower whacked away okay after sitting handy the inner. King Kamada was okay next home and Sampson plus Perfect Start (running on) were not too bad either. A gap opened up to the rest but special mention to Dalezinga that was wide the whole way in the open so to be beaten only eight and a half lengths was commendable. St Jean could not handle 59kg in such tricky and sticky footing and finished second last beaten almost eighteen lengths. The result looks more than dubious and the Ellerslie track is a culprit plus a lack of genuine younger stayers in New Zealand coming through is also a glaring problem. There should not be nor will there be any G1 staying events for older horses in New Zealand anymore as the depth, breed and quality is not there when a 10yo can beat them with an all the way win. This race may in fact be a possible downgrade to G3 when the Auckland Cup drops back to G2 or the Avondale Cup goes back to Avondale and Ellerslie have a lesser lead up race before the rightly so downgraded Auckland Cup. All options remain on the calendar table.