The G3 feature sprint saw a slick time posted and an 11yo win by a nostril flare in a boilover. El Chico came from second last to bomb his rivals on the line in 1:08.64 and paid $46 to win. The 11yo was winning his twenty-second race today but has had sparse results for a few years now. Today was his first win in ten months and his first win here at Riccarton since January of 2012. He won this very race easily in 2011 under 55.5kg and carried 54kg in his victory today. Not many if any sprinters win at G3 as an 11yo but El Chico is clearly sound as a bell and durable. He was G1 placed in the 2012 Telegraph so has the ability but perhaps his greatest achievement is longevity with that continued will to win. The runner up Scapolo was sensational in defeat as he gave the winner 6.5kg. Miss Seton Sands looked the winner at the 200m after dashing clear having trailed the two leaders that drag raced for so long it dulled any chance they ever had. She has some size and looks in for a super season. Rivertaine Coup ran above her grade and is a stablemate of the winner. Toma Valea but for a poor start as usual may have been a win chance. He did well to be beaten a length and threequarters after giving away more than that at the start. Reilly Lincoln was wide but kept coming and she handled the rise in grade well. Soubrettes, the hot favourite and winner of this last year by a big margin, weakened to seventh beaten just three lengths. She was taken on savagely by Shelford throughout and he dropped out to be beaten nine and a half lengths. The Knight did okay along the inner from the back while Antonio Lombardo and Salamanca were grinding away from well back. Super Trouper is usually a clear leader on settling but she could not cross the two drag racers and had to sit wide third but it showed just how quick that pair went head-to-head to the home turn. Koxinga from the deep South was outclassed but he will win a lot more races back in his proper grades. The story of the race was an 11yo winning a G3 sprint and an event he had captured four years prior. Scapolo was colossal in defeat and the 4yo mare Miss Seton Sands has it all ahead of her. Reilly Lincoln, also a 4yo mare, has scope too after such a game effort. Soubrettes can be forgiven as she is best sitting poised before being detonated.