This six-race twilight meeting at Ellerslie, with five of the events at Blacktype, saw Australian breds win half the card ominously on a track presented as Dead4 so the times never got too quick. This G3 Open Handicap over 1200m saw an Australian bred quinella in Ardrossan and Ever Loyal. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were fourth (five-off the fence and half a length from the leader), seventh (on the fence and five lengths from the leader), second (three-off the fence and a neck from the leader), tenth (ten-wide (deepest turning in) and three lengths from the leader), eighth (four-off the fence and three lengths from the leader) and fifth (six-off the fence and half a length from the leader). No leader won all day/twilight strangely as a couple of races were very sedate contests but with this track over-watering they never seem to quite get it right regarding manmade track bias. Ardrossan on the minimum of 53kg sat second the outer and led at the 350m and went clear at the 200m before holding on well to win by just under a length in 1:10.07. The 4yo has won both his starts this year since coming back to New Zealand after being outclassed in all three starts in Australia last Spring. He was in Australia seventh of eight at G2 over 1100m with 53kg and then seventh of nine runners at Listed level with 54kg then last of thirteen in an Open Handicap with 54kg. The entire was found out deluxe but is unbeaten in New Zealand still and now has a G3 win against all comers to go with a Listed juvenile win. The difference in sprinting depth between New Zealand and Australia at the moment is a chasm that Evil Knievel would not dare attempt. Ever Loyal first up for a year ran home stoutly from eighth or ninth to the home turn and if he can stay sound and happy will win his share. Volks Lightning backing up a week later after a better eighth in the G1 Telegraph (1200m) carrying 54kg than it can ever read came from fifth the outer with 56kg to be second at the 150m and then third at the 25m. Rikki Tikki Tavi ran on gamely from back and wide for fourth and the 5yo mare narrowly missed the G3 third placing. Santa Monica after her boilover G1 Railway (1200m) win here on New Years Day at $77 carrying 53kg had to carry 60kg in this and at $22 ran an honest fifth after racing fourth the outer. Ja Ja Binks fresh up ran on well late from twelfth on settling at $39 while Princess Kereru ran on okay too from thirteenth on settling. Worryingly the first three home from the G1 Railway have all missed since with Santa Monica and Princess Kereru today and Melody Belle going an absolute shocker in the G1 Telegraph. Two of the runners from the G1 Railway that ran fourth and sixth did quinella a fillies and mares only G2 over 1400m today here but that is an inferior grade. Pretty To Sea ran an honest race for eighth and had excuses the final 100m plus the mare had 53.5kg in this and has won just two races. Amastar was not too bad from a wide gate as she got back and wide then moved up sixth deep across the top. Joy Anna blew out after burning to the lead fresh up but will next time out be a chance if entered in the right race and grade. Stratocaster, Bella Gioia and Mahalo were poor and the second favourite Spring Heat disgraced herself when bucking wildly soon after the start and tailing the field home. This was a legitimate G3 field in depth terms but also bear in mind that of the fourteen runners just three were males and two of them formed the quinella.