This Listed 3yo over 1400m saw a couple of big flops but the fitness of Hypnos shone through on a very holding and testing Heavy10 track at Ellerslie that sapped the life out of many runners all day. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were fifth (four-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), third (three-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), seventh (nine-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), eighth (three-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fifth (three-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), tenth (five-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and a length from the leader), led (four-off the inside and two lengths clear), second (ten-off the inside and one length from the leader) and led (eight-off the inside and neck in front). The inside lanes were no go slow areas and too wide out was a non-winning section so the middle sector came up trumps all day. Hypnos with racing under his belt the last three months raced sixth the outer and then was eighth surrounded across the top before being held up when having plenty to offer at the 300m. The gelding speared though into second at the 200m and led at the 100m scoring by a length and a half in 1:28.29 to record his second win in six starts. It was his first Blacktype win and came after a G3 placing prior plus he has only missed paying a dividend once and was most unlucky that day due to an unusual ride and the jockey that day has never been back on him since. Dawn Patrol the favourite trailed third or fourth the inner and came through at the 350m three-off and led soon after only to be overpowered the final 100m. He had not raced for seven weeks so will derive much improvement as long as the gluey awful footing presented at Ellerslie today has not flattened him. The track was out of action for many months and lots of money was spent on lateral drains to take away the water and allow the track to recover better but it did not handle the rain in the days leading up to this at all. A holding track is the worst track of all for bettors confidence and throw in wind and you have a one-two punch of turnover collapsing punter pugilism. Pullyoursocksup was a last start maiden winner and handled the boys too to get a Listed third so she has progressed but that wet track factor clearly helped her cause today. Lincoln Falls came up from the Central Districts with a big reputation and ran well enough but may be looking for more ground now. The main mission was to get a clockwise run in him for future big race targets. Vernanme ran well and is and up and comer still figuring what it is all about but he is a stayer and a real Derby type come the Autumn. Any more racing that gains him ringcraft is a big plus for some lucrative days ahead. Mr Universe is a maiden and was not disgraced as he was back and wide most of the way so the footing must have helped his cause. In A Twinkling ran a shocker to be a distant seventh at the line considering he was lips away from a G1 placing seven weeks ago. Sam's Song a maiden stopped after sitting outside the leader while Bobby Dazzler ran another shocker and something is not right with the colt so a snip looms large. Tiger Silk ran last after going up fifth wide and then third wide across the top. She had a tough run but others did too so the filly clearly despised the holding footing. This result like all day are in effect meaningless due to the dreadful energy sapping gluey footing as the form will only matter on similar wet holding ground. Too many horses with known ability and dash and fight stopped like reserve graders and showed no ping or counter punch whatsoever. Hypnos has scope but the rain-affected footing today clearly was too his advantage due to core fitness from racing. Dawn Patrol ran well and as long as this turgid footing has not dulled the gelding he has some big months ahead. However bear in mind he was a G1 second seven weeks ago and just a nose and a long head behind him in fourth place was In A Twinkling and today it ran seventh beaten eleven lengths to show the footing was a raffle. Lincoln Falls got a pass mark and Vernanme a big tick while In A Twinkling got a must do better but will be given the benefit of the doubt due to the footing presented today.