This G2 3yo mile was run in heavy rain and the track was already collapsing as a fair racing surface from half an hour prior as it cannot handle much water at all. The track was dry at the start of the day but looked very shabby indeed and worn out plus runners were already coming to the middle and wider from the first event so the footing was biased to start with and then the rain came after four events and utter chaos ensued. The first four on settling filled those positions across the line in this as riders realized the risk and felt better to come back safe and sound, like their mounts too, and it made for a dubious race result indeed. Demonetization was tad tardy but booted though along the inside to lead early before allowing a rival (it finished second) to head him at the 1200m and was popped straight off the inner. The Australian bred colt with height and size sat second the outer across the top and then took a narrow lead at the 400m. He was always holding comfortably enough thereafter and was going away near the line with superior strength and wet track drive to score by over a length in 1:38.27. It was his third win in four starts with his only defeat coming on dry ground in a slow run race here on a very biased track. He is out of a Zabeel dam so is on a course for the G1 NZ Derby and already has a leg up on most with that stamina quotient inbuilt through his maternal side. Endowment ran well for second after being back and wide early before he was sent up and around to lead at the 1200m. He was a close second and fighting hard the run home before the winner really drove clear the closing stages. On The Rocks was third the outer on settling and then fourth wide across the top but the track by now was disgraceful so that was in fact an advantage to do so. The colt was third turning for home and fought on okay to be beaten just under three lengths but it is worth noting at his prior start he led up and won at Listed level over 1500m and was over a length ahead of the winner today at the line. Iffindoubt ran fourth beaten just over three lengths after trailing the leaders and looks to be a gelding with some scope plus his second dam is by Zabeel for that priceless Derby tick. Xbox was noticed running on after coming wide from the back across the top and reached fifth at the 200m. He definitely prefers decent footing to unleash fully so the weather and quick to collapse track did him no favours. Iago came next and he is a complete forgive on the footing so follow him when next on proper footing as he has good scope. Haussmann is another total forgive after settling down last and looking more in survival mode throughout. He is a powerful finisher and can handle wet ground so is yet another runner from this meeting who the best of was never ever seen. Aero De Paris got back on the inner so forgive him too and likewise The Great Southern that is usually an on pacer but never got near the front and was always back and wide. This result has a massive asterisk over it and cannot be trusted at this stage as the footing and downpour during the race saw self preservation and a come-back another day approach clearly adopted by some riders. Too many in this never let go for their riders in the turgid footing and barely any runner made up any ground the run home.