This Listed event over 2200m was one of the weakest if not the worst line up ever assembled for this Hawke’s Bay Cup and just ten runners went to the post. Only three runners could be considered actual Open Class and six of the runners had not even won a race this year so far. The track today at Hastings was a strange wet ground presented and not one single leader turning for home won, which is rather rare at this venue. Five To Midnight after running honest races this year so far without saluting found the softest blacktype race today and won accordingly after a good sit handy on the inner. The 4yo has always been a length or two inferior in the Summer Cups contested this year but today was the easiest line up he has met for sure and by a big margin as the depth was non-existent. He worked off third turning in and led at the 150k before drawing away the closing stages to score by two lengths in 2:19.58. It was his fifth win in twenty-two starts so his success rate is not that good but he can improve on it as should be a fully mature 5yo next season. His consistency and honesty however is not in doubt with him being in the first five at the line sixteen times so far. Maygrove ran a sound second under 60kg and the 3kg he gave to the winner was too much for the 6yo that has won just a single race this season so far and it came back in October. He sat handy then made a move across the top and tried to outstay this dubious line up only to be overtaken inside the final 200m. Balham set the pace and tried to rally once headed but third beaten almost two and a half lengths was his lot at the line. The 6yo has not won a race this season so far and been placed (including today) just three times in twelve outings. Pacorus ran another head-scratching fourth beaten just over five lengths. He was having his fifth start this campaign and year but has not paid a dividend yet which is staggering as last year he won seven races between January and October. Endean Rose ran on for a distant fifth beaten just over nine lengths and is better ridden closer. Pure Lord plugged away the inside but was beaten ten lengths and the 4yo mare has won a Benchmark 75 prior so was jumping multiple classes today. Cheeky Boy was racing out of his grade and was wide working handy for much of the race so had to stop the run home and did. Sopraffina could not handle rising multiples grades and Tiffany’s was outclassed while Clarify was dreadful dropping right out and is to be spelled unsurprisingly. This was a poor field and had little to no depth so the quinella of Five To Midnight and Maygrove was not a surprise as they were the two best runners in the race. This very race one year ago saw a 4yo mare winning that would take out the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) this year in Chenille. The fourth finisher in this race a year ago was Jacksstar and he would finish third in the G1 Auckland Cup. Maygrove finished seventh in this race a year ago with 60kg but today was second at the same weight showing the dramatic drop in depth.