This Listed Open Handicap over 2500m saw a clear favourite emerge for the G3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) next week in Nymph Monte. The 5yo gelding carrying a luxury 56kg won by two and a half lengths and that could have been double at least as he powered away from a handy sit the outer. He clocked 2:34.42 and that is a decent time (the track record time is 2:33.04) and it clearly found out the opposition. Nymph Monte was winning his eighth race today from twenty-eight starts and has a lot more to come. He has the same weight next week in the G3 NZ Cup as today so his connections will be feeling rather good. Saint Kitt fought on well for second and can stay all day while Imperium ran home well considering he was jumping several grades today. Kaharau fought on okay as did Perfect Start but then the gaps started to get big from sixth backwards with the leader then trailer Sureasyouwereborn beaten almost nine lengths. Maygrove found his topweight of 60kg and firmer footing too much of a combined task and was ridden cold surprisingly when usually a pace influence so that speed and tempo map used was a mistake. Gentil Tontan was seen running on too late from the rear and expect to see him move a lot earlier next week as he can sustain a long run plus of course some give in the track would suit too. Tessastock never looked likely and is a 4yo mare with upside so forgive her as she was not alone in flopping big time today at Riccarton. Brad Thorn was sore post race after dropping out badly the run home. The winner Nymph Monte was so superior today it is hard to see him beaten next week in the G3 NZ Cup (3200m) if he can run that trip and there is no reason to believe he will not. How anything he met today could defeat him in a week is hard to imagine. It was a solidly run race and a true test of stamina so many tired runners and some feeling a little dusty afterwards. Many of these will have put up the white flag already in regards being able to rumble with Nymph Monte again after such a shellacking and energy sapping defeat.