This Listed Open Handicap over 2000m saw Vin De Dance win his first race since almost a year ago (the G1 NZ Derby and in that time he has not even paid a dividend until today) by a nose over a good thing beaten in Rondinella. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were third (four-wide turning in and a neck behind the leader), fourth (six-off turning in and a length behind the leader), fourth (trail inner and a length behind the leader), second (three-off and a length behind the leader), led (five-off the fence), second (on the fence and half a length behind the leader), third (five off the fence and half a length behind the leader) and sixth (four-off the fence and four lengths from the leader). Vin De Dance raced seventh the outer then was moved up wide across the top and reached third and well away from the inside lanes turning for home. The 4yo gelding was a grinding away third still at the 200m and second at the 100m and never really looked like getting up but suddenly was in front with 10m to go and held on by barest margin possible in 2:04.95. It was his third win from fifteen starts and he likes wet ground but today he was lucky to score. Rondinella should have won and will go down as another epic excuse on how punters can do their money with the favourite settling back wide then striding up sixth turning for home about to be given full bore. The 4yo mare was a coming fifth at the 200m and fourth at the 100m then ranged up sure to win only for the rider Vincent Colgan to stop riding the mare 10m out and then he went again pushing her neck out the last stride but missed. It is well worth a watch on replay to see how on earth did Rondinella get beaten and the official NZ Stipes report makes for staggering reading too. Here is the meat of the issue paragraph verbatim that says, RONDINELLA (V Colgan) - Rider V Colgan was spoken to regarding the change in his riding style just short of the finish with jockey Colgan advising that the effects of wasting had taken its toll and he had felt that he had got out of sync over the final 100 metres. V Colgan's explanation was noted and he was reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out fully to the finish whenever circumstances permit. This is cold comfort to bettors as Rondinella should have won, period. She will go down as one of the biggest certainty beatens this season at least and for a nose defeat this is likely for years and decades. Giovanni Canaletto ran a good third and after settling back on the inner came though closer in and surged to lead the 150m only to be caught the last 10m. The 7yo gelding was beaten a nose and a short head. Charles Road the handicap stayer ran home in a very sustained manner and reached fourth at the 50m carrying 60.5kg and was only beaten a length. Tiptronic led then took a sit and took the front again before the home turn only to be caught the final 150m and may have been let rip a tad early. Zacada ran the race of improver as it was his first start today since a thirteenth in the G1 Melbourne Cup last November. Verry Flash was not too bad but considering he got the wet ground he desperately needs so probably should have done better. Lady Amadeus did a bit of work early to lead and then got taken on and headed by her stablemate then was swamped the run home after still being second at the 200m. The rest got beaten over eight lengths and up to over fifty-two lengths and that included several flops like Prince Jabeel that prior had been G3 placed and before that a G3 winner. The footing caught out many and some of these may have had enough for this season or campaign as the tracks can only get worse from Autumn onwards. Vin De Dance was rugged but should have finished second as Rondinella somehow got beaten while Giovanni Canaletto on his best days is very stamina competitive. Charles Road has been running eyecatchers in all three runs this campaign and he may be too good in the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in two weeks time with just 57kg. A seventh in the G1 Melbourne Cup last November with 53kg beaten just over eight lengths is surely more than 4kg stronger by a massive margin than the Cup field expected to line up at Ellerslie. The handicapping how is this possible headscratcher is Charles Road that ran fifth in the G1 Auckland Cup last year with 56kg and since has won a G2 Chairman Handicap (2600m) in Sydney with 56kg and an Open Handicap in New Zealand with 60.5kg (he beat Big Mike that day and he has since won a Listed Pakenham Cup). Charles Road is pitch forked into the 2019 Auckland Cup field as only up 1kg for a G2 Sydney win and an Open Handicap win in New Zealand with a big weight. The how did that happen Rondinella defeat will be talked about for years as it looks so awful and awkward and no one got into any trouble at all for a nose defeat bar the poor people that made the mare favourite.