The G1 2040m at WFA saw one of the weakest fields for depth line up, if not the weakest ever, so no surprise that the result saw a double figures priced winner and oldest winner. Willie Cazals, a 9yo that has bowed not one but two tendons and had not won a race since April of 2013 buried them today to score by short neck in a sedate 2:09.75. The gelding was winning his sixth race from twenty-five starts and his first at G1, when a 9yo so that speaks volumes about the lack of depth he met and bet today. He may have once been a decent horse but that is why he is now racing in New Zealand against far inferior depth as once means in the past. An intriguing fact for Willie Cazals is fourth up is when he is most lethal having now won three times in this state and having a G1 second in Hong Kong, so racing improves the gelding. Humidor was a brave second and the 4yo was just six months old when Willie Cazals won his last race to show the vastness of between drinks. The 4yo was wide with cover about ninth and then challenged across the top and led turning for home. The race was his at the 200m before being bombed with 10m to go. At just his ninth start and at G1 under WFA he almost produced the winning cigar so he should clean up in New Zealand with the total lack of WFA depth these days. Hasselhoof probably should have won the race after pulling his block off midfield the outer between runners and then hitting that customary flat spot near the home turn and early the run home. He kept coming and was an obvious to see third at the 100m to be beaten a length. The other reason why he should have won is his stable elected to not run him in a Listed mile two weeks prior and that was a clear mistake as the victor today Willie Cazals did so and ran third. Hasselhoof was too fresh and that was why he was as keen as mustard for a large portion of the race, so that outing even on poor footing at Pukekohe may have taken that edge off him. We will never know for sure as unlike horse racing hindsight is never wrong. El Pescado ran on well and has come up super this season. Rasa Lila was there to be a threat at the 200m but paddled late in the footing and her usual ping is not quite there when the ground is iffy. Benzini ran on well late down the outer from well back considering he was fresh up. Saint Emillion led and after being headed at the 300m was swamped inside the closing 200m. Mime was incredibly wide for a large part of the race and the effort told on her the final 200m while Savaria plugged on late after getting into the field from first on the ballot. The rest were battling near the home turn and struggled home with the trip and tricky biased footing contributing too many of these defeats. It was a field lacking any serious depth and may be the lowest level seen in this event ever with a 9yo with two-bowed tendons that had not won for three and a half years scoring to further muddy the picture. No 9yo ever after two significant injuries and at this age is ever anywhere near his peak so the calibre of his opposition is what has changed and such is the case today. Humidor was brave and Hasselhoof probably should have won but he has been found out in Australia in weakfish fields therefore confirming the 2016 renewal was of substandard quality like the track presented.