This G2 3yo over 2100m had just two runners in it that had contested the G1 NZ Derby (2400m) seven weeks ago and they finished third and tenth. They had finished ninth and thirteenth in the Derby and been separated by just over three lengths but today Time Lord at the line was a colossal twenty lengths in advance. The track at Pukekohe was bad to start with and just kept getting deeper and deeper and the margins of defeat kept getting more and more vaster by the race. Azaboy set the pace and reveled in the heavy footing to kick away and win by over a length and a quarter and clocked 2:22.04, a 2100m time that showed just how bad the footing really was as it was well over 100m inferior. It would be an ordinary time for 2200m on modest or off footing for some perspective. Azaboy was winning his third race in eight starts today and obviously at his first blacktype attempt he scored easily. The gelding is a proven swimmer having won his maiden on this track in bottomless footing, where he clocked almost 1:43 for a mile. Stamina looks his weapon along with swimming and his third dam is Cariere and she won 13 races that included the G1 1984 Avondale Cup (2200m), when actually held at Avondale and a G1 race, in a slick 2:15.61. Gundown ran another massive race when second after the Australian bred gelding raced seventh and wide throughout before moving up fourth deep across the top. He reached third at the 300m and kept coming bravely to get second on the post and has been overland at his last two outings throughout and finished second each time at G3 then G2 today. Time Lord, the stablemate of the winner, sat outside the leader then seemed to hit a flat patch near the home turn and turning in when third but soon picked up to reach second at the 300m. He only lost second money on the line and being out of a Zabeel dam there is obvious improvement still to come. Pierrocity was one of six fillies in the field and clearly the first one home when fourth beaten just under five lengths after racing fifth the outer mostly. The favourite Sherriff was settled well back as usual but when last on his own midrace his chances looked hopeless in footing as bad as today, so once again bettors knew their fate a long way from home. The gelding was improved wide across the top and came up sixth and the deepest runner turning for home but could then not lift and haul back those ahead in the conditions. His effort to get reasonably near at the 300m drained him off any chance to sustain the run and he was a floundering fifth beaten over five lengths. The rest got beaten nine lengths and up to a staggering thirty one lengths and walking over the line thoroughly exhausted. The stamina of many of these was compromised by the testing footing and several of these were at the end of their preparation tethers and will sleep for days and be spelled. The first five home have multiple more wins in store and several others in this will perform next season but not as stayers and more as milers maximum. Once again this season a dreadful wet track has made the form almost worthless and only swimming form for future reference. The amount of wet tracks presented due to nature but also manmade through over-watering has made the 2017-2018 season one of if not the most water-affected twelve months and we still have a surefire damp May, June and July to come. It is quite incredible the Group races this season that have been held on wet tracks and only a handful were held on decent presented or prepared footing. The 3yo crop has been disappointing outside New Zealand from the mile to a mile and a half and it is that lack of performance at 2000m or more that shows a usual stronghold no longer exists. It is sadly left now too South Australia and Queensland to restore any semblance of 3yo stamina credibility for New Zealand bred and /or trained runners. The crop of both sexes always looked too bunched and having turns in races to be ever a serious group as it is not realistic to ever have that many good ones in a season of that age. The only saving grace is Winx got beaten in the Australian Oaks at Randwick this month three years ago and then went and won the Queensland Oaks the next month and has not been beaten since. So the development as a late season 3yo into their 4yo season can be momentous and quite staggering as some do not just catch up but go past and put a gap on the rest in terms of strength, maturity and a will to win.