This G2 3yo over 2100m saw a solidly run race and therefore a test of stamina with the Australian bred Lord Arthur a most impressive winner. Alarmingly for local breeders of the three Blacktype races held at Ellerslie today two were won by Australian breds (notably the 2yo mile and this 3yo 2100m) and the G2 Open Handicap mile was won by an Irish bred. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were co-leader (one-off the inside), led (three-off the inside and two lengths ahead), co-leader (three-off the inside), second (three-off the inside and half a length from the leader), led (two-off the inside and a neck ahead), tenth (ten-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), seventh (one-off the inside and three lengths from the leader) and led (one-off the inside and a length ahead). So of the eight races today five leaders won and one winner turned for home a close second so manmade track bias was most definitely in play as some of the times were fast and some slow therefore a sprint home only cannot be put up as an excuse. Lord Arthur sat back eleventh or twelfth and then when angled widest turning for home got detonated and the response was an impressive boom indeed. The gelding surged into fourth at the 200m and he had such a head full of steam at this point he led soon after at the 150m and ended up winning by a length and a half and clocked 2:07.89. How he paid $20 is still a mystery. It was his second win in eight starts and first at Blacktype and he has it all ahead with the size and power already being there plus he is a half brother to Bonneval (7 wins including three at G1). Intrigue, a filly that has improved tenfold this Autumn, as her age and sex can do, started second favourite and after racing midfield the inner got off the run home and surged at the 300m to lead at the 200m only for the winner to give her windburn soon after. Take out the winner and this filly is two lengths clear of the rest so she should have a good Queensland Winter carnival as she can stay and has a turn of foot, so can always get out of trouble and counter track bias. Bobby Dee, which had run an honest sixth in the G1 NZ Derby (2400m) last month, ran a good third after doing some work early to get into a handy spot the outer. He was sixth the outer midrace and surged into second at the 200m before hitting a flat spot and was fourth at the 50m but fought well to finish third with 10m to go. Bobby Dee is a stablemate of the winner. Hasabro has come good this campaign and ran on well for fourth after settling well back the inner and he could be an ideal type for the Queensland Derby. Ignored, was seen running on well from thirteenth on settling and she is a late developer with more to offer and is a stablemate of the winner and third finisher. The filly has more to come and should be on a plane to Queensland with a surfeit of her stablemates. Blue On Black led early then was headed by an over-racing rival so towed the field up to it and he led at the 300m before being passed into third at the 200m. He weakened the closing stages to finish sixth beaten six and a half lengths. Jip Jop Rock was not too bad but the bravest run has to go to the filly Decadence that was misfield and wide the whole way working overtime and only weakened late but she had too. Spring Delight the favourite raced handy the inner but was weak the run home and she may have had enough this season. Star Karen settled down in the rear duo and improved wide across the top to be ninth and the second widest runner turning for home. She could not sustain the run and finished tenth beaten almost nine lengths. The rest got beaten over fourteen lengths and as far as over thirty-one lengths with excuses for most of them. Gehrig has ability but pulls like a tractor with the throttle stuck wide open and until he learns to relax the best cannot be seen of him. Vee Cece ran off near the home turn when moving into the race while Elate had some issues earlier this year and it set her back so she will keep. The winner has the frame and surge of a big race saluter so in solidly run races he will unleash like a G1 winner in waiting. This race has a lot of upside for both the male and females 3yo ranks and especially for next season when as 4yos they have to try and measure up against the older horses. A lot of these if still on the up will go to the Queensland Winter Carnival and chase the sun on their backs and superior prize money and prestige. The first five home for sure have a lot more wins in store good health permitting.