This G2 fillies and mares only 1400m at set weights and penalties was won brilliantly by the $1.40 4yo mare Levante that came with an irresistible finish from last and wide turning for home. She went past her rivals that quickly she ended up winning by two lengths after being five lengths from them turning for home and fourth at the 200m deepest plus she would clock 1:22.06. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were fourth (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), led (one-off the inside and a length clear), tenth (seven-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), third (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader), third (one-off the inside and a length from the leader) and ninth (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Levante today was winning her sixth race from eight starts and her other two runs saw her a certainty beaten both times at G1 and G2 so she should be undefeated. Today was her first win at G2 and goes with her Listed success fresh up this season. Second home and brave in defeat was Our Alley Cat that has never looked like getting any Blacktype in three runs so far at Listed, G2 and G3. In fact she ran in the G2 3yo only race that Levante was a certainty beaten second and ended up tenth beaten over five and a half lengths, so one has to put her second today into perspective. She was wide early before racing second the outer and led turning for home before getting windburn the final 75m. Third home was Familia that was wide on the pace before setting third in the trail and she fought well though was almost three lengths from the winner at the line. It was her six run today at Blacktype and her G2 placing goes with one G3 placing she attained in a 3yo only race, also held here at Ellerslie. Fourth home was Star Of Bombay that settled well back the inner after being crowded and hampered at the start but she ran on the closing stages and was beaten just over four lengths. Fifth home and beaten almost five and a half lengths was an in form Showoroses that started a clear second favourite that disappointed. She had prior to today won back-to-back G2 events after leading but today led up then once headed turning for home she was swamped the final 100m. It was a poor effort but she did come back 200m in this. Sixth home was Travelling Light that raced fifth the inner mostly and battled on fairly to be beaten just under six lengths. She won a G1 last season and showed decent enough form but has not fired yet as a 4yo mare in two starts this season. Miss Labassa was seventh home beaten six lengths after racing fourth the outer while Pierina was next home and had prior to today finished fourth in a G2 mile that was won by Showoroses. Second last home was Kiwi Ida, the Australian bred mare trained in the South Island that won this race a year ago. She drifted to seventh the inner early and never fired a shot thereafter. Last home was Karalino that too drifted back and never fired a shot. The class act of the field won this easily but notably some mares ran ordinary or shockers such as Showoroses, Travelling Light and Kiwi Ida. The 58kg for Showoroses and Kiwi Ida was possible excuses as the winner carried just 55.5kg. Travelling Light carried 1kg more that the winner and will need to improve this season but she can do so. Levante looks the best horse in New Zealand both on potential and performance but how she goes if started in Australia remains an unknown and she would like to get a G1 here before being deep-ended. Her racing pattern requires luck in the running sometimes and a riding change may be required once overseas as they take no prisoners there. It is fine surging past local opposition and many riders that are not true Saturday class so the risk will be if she is ever run overseas as then it comes down to racing pattern and rider.