This Listed 3yo over 1500m drew a modest field at best and saw a slow time clocked with On The Rocks stealing the race from in front. No other leader on the day won today but this was more to do with being able to get away with murder in front and make it a 400m sprint home only. On The Rocks had won his maiden prior so was stepping up in grade but made a mockery of it and got the lead easily plus was amazingly left alone in a Listed race. A last start maiden winner has not earned the credentials or respect yet to be left alone surely at Listed level? Patrick Moloney has found since answering an SOS that the riding ranks in New Zealand are not very strong at all and he did in effect today pull the pants down of all his rival riders. The colt at his prior win had been ridden by another Australian rider in Jake Bayliss, with both these lesser grade riders in Australia finding it very easy in New Zealand regarding race reading and speed mapping. The winning margin of half a length came in 1:29.89 and to show how sedate that is the track record set in 1992 is 1:27.44 (more than fifteen lengths superior). There is a very legitimate argument the Ellerslie track was way better in the 1990’s than it is now as certainly looked after far more and properly prepared with less reliance on rail movements to mask problems and ability to recover. Kapoor sat second the outer and provided no pressure with the filly trying hard to the line but surely her rider should have at least not handed this race on a platter to the leader. The filly has been uber-consistent this season having not finished further back than second so far. Demonetization ran a clear favourite but never looked a win chance in such a tepid race after sitting fifth the inner. The strapping gelding was being urged along before the home turn as the speed started to increase and that could be his Achilles heel for the future as no doubting he can lift but how long it takes to wind up is an issue. The colt will not always get a solidly run race to show his superior size and strength and the Australian bred may well be better drawn out so he does not get cluttered up and dictated too. Motivation, just out of maidens like the winner, ran an honest fourth after sitting in that spot the outer throughout. Mongolian Beauty just out of maidens raced third in the trail and battled on for fifth beat just under two and a half lengths but had every conceivable chance. Hello It’s Me sat sixth the outer and ended up in that spot at the finish with most runners barely making any ground from where they ended up settling down. Charlie Rose and Iago ran on a shade the latter stages from well back on settling so did well all things factored in and it needs to be noted the latter ran the fastest last 600m of the race. Owen Patrick the maiden was back and wide so to finish ninth beaten just over four and a half lengths saw him not disgraced but they went so slow that made it more possible not to drop out exhausted. He would be a moral back to his proper class of all maidens as likely to bring it on and give you the tip for sure. Of the last trio home the forgive is the filly Alternative Fact that once eased to a clear last had no hope whatsoever. She ran a faster last 600m than the winner but still got beaten six and a half lengths so the race was one to forget in regards to it counting for very much in the big picture. This was largely an irrelevant result for most as not one rider had enough confidence in their mount to apply some pressure and stop the winning leader from being handed the race on a plate. Strangely it seems Ellerslie has so many pressure-free races and positions barely change, which clearly shows the lack of trust by riders in the ability of their mounts. No runner in this had a hard race whatsoever and this Listed event was trackwork only for many where an acceptance fee had to be paid. Nothing was advanced in regards the 3yo depth in New Zealand today and it still is tracking as weak this season so far for both the males and females. Once up over middle distance we may see a bunched cluster of average types with no domination apparent then see the gaps start to open up between middle distance and sprinter-miler or real deal and imposter.