This Listed 2000m Open Handicap was run at a strong clip and no surprise that the first five settling never even filled a place and in fact the first three on settling ended up beaten six to twelve lengths at the line. This searching race pace helped those that could swoop up or surge over the final 400m and it provided the quinella in Von Tunzelman and Fanatic. Von Tunzelman sat tenth the inner not spending a penny and go off the inside across the top before coming up quickly deeper. He had full momentum up when sixth and deepest turning in and importantly was not very far away at this stage. The 4yo gelding led at the 200m and looked set for a clear cut win but Fanatic came hard the final 100m for second, after she had surged through into sixth at the 200m. The winning margin was half a length and the time 2:01.38, which needs some perspective as the race that followed this of a Benchmark 75 clocked the equivalent of sixteen lengths slower. It was the fourth win in ten starts for Von Tunzelman and today was his first attempt at blacktype. Since being stepped up over 1900m or more he has won twice and finished a close runner up each time twice, so stamina is his calling. Fanatic ran on well and three-win mare is racing better than it seems this time in. She just needs an ounce of luck to salute again. Cruiser the visitor finished a solid third albeit two and a half lengths behind the winner, after sitting midfield the inner and off across the top only to be held up turning for home. He drove through once into clear air. Matimba was the first on pacer so to speak home with the 8yo trailing fourth the inner and reaching third at the 100m before wilting to fourth. Woodsman moved wide to challenge four-wide before the home turn, after sitting midfield the outer, and maybe had been unleashed a tad too soon or could do with more cut in the ground. Endean Rose fought on once into clear air and Trojan Warrior boxed on as did Seventeen Seventy but the margins were getting to five and six lengths in defeat for the latter pair. Hushed was wide on the pace then second outside the leader Breaking Dawn and both punctured quickly the run home. Stoker’s Rock was slow and got back before plugging on closer in while Farm Boy, Saint Emilion and Gentil Tonton were dreadful for what they have shown before. The way this race was run helped the first pair home on the minimum of 53kg but they are 4yo gallopers with scope, unlike many in this field with several needing a wet track it seems.