This was a slightly dubious Listed Open Handicap field over 2200m and had just 10 runners of which many were either over the top or out of form. The start was not a fair line away as said by the racer caller when you watch the replay, as quite clearly one runner was badly away and tailed out early and it just happened to be the eventual winner in Ritchie McHorse, so it matters. Ritchie McHorse prior to today had only run in a grade as high as Ratings 75 (three or more grades inferior to Listed level at least) and was able to give away many lengths at the start and still bury this field, which says so much more about them than him. The 5yo gelding since coming to this yard has been a revelation and created so many firsts today it was not funny and to add insult to injury for the credibility of his beaten rivals he carried half a kilo overweight. He was a clear last on settling and then was angled the widest runner at the 300m then unleashed a sustained surge to get the lead 25m out and scored in the end by a long neck. The time was 2:18.69 on a very off wet track so the pace was solid up front and it should be noted the clear leader running along stopped to finish eighth. This was the fifth win of Ritchie McHorse from twenty-one starts and his first at blacktype obviously, his first at 2200m and his first on slow footing. The fact he could give all his rivals a headstart at the jump and come over the top of them says so much about the actual depth of this field and overall tired feeling, look and nature of many in it. Our Abbadean prior to today had missed in all her blacktype attempts then won at G2 under 53kg last start, so came in here very much in form and showing the handicap stamina depth was very poor at the moment. Today she rose a mammoth 6kg and for a mare ran on strongly from the back and actually led at the 100m but the weight got her for sure late. Hunta Pence up until his last start had never run in Open Class and he ran second, so in this he tackled a first ever blacktype event and ran third and that is more overwhelming proof of the lack of depth not just in this field but in stamina events. The first three home today all gained their first blacktype and two of them at a first attempt at this level. Comin'through was the best weighted horse by miles in this on the minimum but as just a three-race winner he is shy when it comes to the winning post. However he has a G3 close up third at 53kg behind Charles Road (it won at G2 and then ran third at G1 in Sydney recently) late January and today had 53kg again, which makes no sense. He ran just a fair fourth and was three and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, so the footing likely had more to do with that and being exhausted as this was his eleventh race this campaign since late October and is still yet to win. Sampson was a running on fifth after settling down second last and today was his thirteenth start this campaign since late September and he too has not won this season either. Highlad settled down second the outer and was in effect towing the field up to the clear leader and he led turning for home before stopping to be beaten over five lengths. The 4yo has been very hit and miss all season and is near impossible to predict. Nymph Monte looked badly weighted at 60kg as clear topweight as his last win came in an Open Handicap here in September 2017 and he carried 56kg that day. The 4kg rise was brutal and too much to handle especially on the off slow track but with the 59kg allotted the runner up Our Abbadean, he had to be given this as could not be below her. The weights were head scratchers in this race all over and made for a very suspect Listed result. Saint Kitt was allotted 58.5kg and this rising 9yo has not won a race since March of 2017 and that came in the South Island. There should be form to come out of this next season as the first four home all are 4yo to 5yo gallopers with much more racing ahead and Highlad, also a 4yo, that finished sixth certainly has more wins in store.