This G1 2yo over 1200m saw three babies have a battle royal in the very testing footing presented and a short head and a head separated them at the line. The track at Ellerslie was dreadful and a sodden Heavy10 plus the draining never really worked as it got worse and worse throughout the day and some of the beaten margins in G1 races were absolutely astounding. The race winners and where they turned for home in race order were third (four-off and a length and a half from the leader), sixth (four-off and two and a half lengths from the leader), ninth (twelve-wide and five lengths from the leader), third (ten-wide and a length from the leader), seventh (seven-off and three lengths from the leader), fifth (twelve-off and a length and a half from the leader), led (ten-wide and a head in front), led (fifteen-wide and a neck in front), second (twenty-wide and a neck from the leader) and fourth (sixteen-wide and a length from then leader). Yourdeel was probably the worst ridden runner in the race tactically but on the footing presented today overland piloting was rewarded deluxe. The odds on gelding was back and wide then sent up early second and others kicked up so was left out on a limb thereafter. Yourdeel challenged again across the top and led narrowly turning for home deeper but was not pulling away at all for one at such a short price. After being marginally headed at the 300m he came back to lead at the 200m and then in a deadest ding donger fell in at the line to win by a short head in 1:12.61 It was his third win in five starts and he now has a G1 to go with the G3 success prior but also all his wins have come on rain-affected or very wet footing, so swimming is a strength for the youngster. The maiden Aalaalune was handily away but then drifted back as usual and was eighth on settling before unleashing the run home and got to fifth at the 300m and third at the 200m. The filly looked the winner when second at the 20m and still coming in the atrocious footing but just missed and is still yet to finish first across the line but she has recorded a G1, G2 and Listed placings. Aretha, a G2 winner fresh up this year raced fifth then fourth before going up ominously on the home turn and actually led at the 300m narrowly before the winner fought back and headed her at the 200m. The filly fought tooth and nail to the line and handled the awful footing well. Bavella was better today and after racing sixth then fifth turned for home fourth and the widest runner out. She tried hard and finished fourth beaten just over a length and a half. Just Zerene, a maiden filly trained in Australia having the audacity to tackle G1 in New Zealand showed she was more than up to the task with a very good fifth beaten just over two lengths. The filly was worked up and running her race before loading with a bridle replacement not helping matters and then became unbalanced early when bumping with another before settling seventh the inside and in the slowest lanes. She was worked off and sixth across the top then kept coming gamely the run home closer in than the four that beat her home it should be noted. Just Zerene clearly has ability but would never have expected to strike such appalling footing when this G1 attack was planned. Rainbow Dash was hampered at the start and then sped up fast to lead before being headed turning for home and her rider stayed closer in than anything else and that was a mistake. The fact she still finished sixth beaten just over five lengths speaks volumes about her ability and will to compete. Aotea Lad was slow out and last away by a length clearly so completely disregard the commentator saying the start was 'a perfect start' as it was most certainly not and can be seen so by all that watched the race live and later view the replay, so unfortunately that falsehood stays for eternity. The gelding never really got into the race or copped the footing despite being wide and in better lanes across the top. Enjoy The Show was one of two that became unbalanced early after a bumping incident but the colt still kicked though to settle third in the trail. He worked off before the home turn and went wider like almost all but weakened quickly and was second last halfway up the run home and floundering in the footing. Qiji Sword was crowded early when fifth and went out to last on settling and was in a gap across the top to the home turn never looking a possibility, He can be forgiven as this race was anything but a perfect start for many and was downright messy early on. The winner Yourdeel can swim that is certain and his sire Dundeel is leaving runners that need cut in the ground at least. This gelding should have been beaten today the way he was ridden so kudos there but got away with it due to an awful track presented that saw bad rides and overland piloting rewarded. Fillies ran second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth and two of them (second and fifth) are maidens so that puts an asterisk of doubt on the race result that was already in place due to the biased track conditions. A lot of forgives in this race and also the fillies look to have very good scope for next season on decent footing because testing wet ground like today proves nothing bar mudlark status.