This G3 over 1200 for 3yo fillies only was held on a very manmade biased Hastings track that all day enhanced the win chances greatly of those that race in or near the pace and the inside lanes to the home turn. No winner all day came from further away than three lengths from the leader turning in and sixth was the most away numerically and that was three back the inner (one spot behind the trailer). Five of the nine races today saw the winner draw gates one and two with three victories going to the ace and importantly that included the two Group features today of this and the G1 at WFA. Track bias matters so much and when manmade it is patently unfair to bettors (earlier in the week betting is often dead on arrival at the stalls so it affects customer confidence), the lifeblood of the sport, and to owners, breeders, riders and trainers plus race clubs cannot be happy surely presenting such surfaces. Avantage started the shortest priced runner all day and the Australian bred filly won this G3 over 1200m by a short head in 1:10.51 and can thank the manmade biased track and the ace gate. She has not grown height wise since last season but is stronger in all the key power areas of the body such as barrel and back end. The filly trailed the leaders on inner third with the drop on them and then was angled off before the home turn aggressively to be an ominous threat. The surge to lead soon after turning for home came and she looked set for a comfortable win at the 250m but a key rival had pierced through the field at speed and had full momentum up in Xpression. Avantage is used to relentlessly kicking her rivals senseless or into submission but today had a narrow lead at the 100m and looked in peril. She dug in for the fight and made it six wins from seven starts now that includes a G1 and Listed win as a juvenile and now a G3 win as a 3yo filly. Xpression is a natural backrunner and a born closer so she almost defied the ridiculous manmade track bias today with a win but some key factors need to be highlighted. She had a run under her belt when winning fresh up whereas Avantage came in resuming but the main fact is Xpression was just three lengths from her turning for home and unleashing. Xpression was in fact into second as Avantage took the lead at the 250m so it was a momentum battle thereafter. This pair should see a lot more of each other this season and possibly over a wide range of distances from a mile in November to middle distance in the Autumn next year. Rocket Fuel a last start maiden winner gained a valuable G3 third with a solid finish and while distant from the top two the Australian bred filly did well overall. Loose Cannon, also a last start maiden winner, fought on from fifth the inner and was fourth turning for home so held that spot well enough. Platinum Mam'selle ran on late fresh up from the rear and is an improver with her over ten lengths defeat last season at G1 behind Avantage today being reduced to less than five lengths. Stella Noire disappointed again and may not have come up this time in with the filly leading but showing zero fight once headed at the 250m. It could be a freshen up back to the drawing board approach with her or find something easier to get her confidence back with a soft kill. The rest were outclassed. Outside the top two it was not a very deep field at all as they have all of these covered by a long way at any trip. The A versus X battle should be a regular attraction this season coming to a horse racing theatre near you as Avantage looks to keep belting up her rivals and Xpression looks to keep swamping her opposition.