This G1 over 1200m was not a true pressure contest overall and saw the favourite Avantage win after sitting in the trail third then moving out before the home turn. The Australian bred 5yo mare drove to the lead at the 150m and then fought on best to score by a neck in 1:08.91 carrying 57kg. The winners and where they came from were eighth (five-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), fourth (trailed inner and length and a half from the leader), third (four-off the inside and a length from the leader), led (one-off the inside and led by two lengths), second (two-off the inside and eighth lengths from the leader), third (four-off the inside and a length from the leader), led (neck in front and one-off), ninth (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), third (four-off the inside and a length from the leader) and third (two-off the inside and length and a half from the leader). Avantage was today winning her twelfth race from twenty-two starts and now of those five have come at G1 (from distances of 1400m to 2000m). She has won as a 2yo, 3yo, 4yo and a 5yo plus in New Zealand alone she has finished only once outside the top three and that was a fourth at G1. Her soft barrier draw clearly won her the race today and in her last three G1 wins she has drawn barrier five (today) and barrier one twice. Julius the defending champion from this race a year ago led up and was basically left alone then kicked the run home only to be overpowered by the winner at the 150m before fighting on hard with 1kg more. Third home and absolutely massive was Levante that settled down last the inside and flew home out wide to be beaten just over a length. The 4yo mare drew the ace and as a natural backrunner was held up and in the worst possible position on setting. Her turn will come at G1 in New Zealand. There is a solid argument to say she should be unbeaten in all her seven starts rather than having five wins and two placings. Fourth home was the Australian bred Packing Rockstar that ran on well from seventh the inside turning for home and got beaten less than two lengths. Close up fifth was Its Destinys Child that raced sixth the outer then fifth across the top to the home turn and fought hard to be beaten two lengths. Next home was Spring Heat, the Australian bred mare, that settled back on the outer and then was held up turning for home only to run home gamely and be beaten just over two lengths. Pretty To Sea fought on from eighth on settling and was beaten less than two and three quarter lengths. Next to finish was Justacanta that ran on well late from second last turning for home. The last three home were beaten just over three lengths and up to just over five and a half lengths with Summer Passage the last runner home. Barrier draws and racing patterns win more G1 races than most and it proved so today. Avantage has an incredible record in New Zealand and is a danger whatever event she runs in such is her local quality. Levante was a moral beaten and looks a readymade success for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, after the recent retirement and in foal mare of theirs Supera.