This G2 Open Handicap mile only had eleven runners staggeringly and ended up in a deadheat for first with the first four across the line separated by only a length. Shadows Cast goes first alphabetically and the North Islander was asked to work wide early on the pace before getting over one-off outside the leader then challenged turning for home. He led narrowly at the 300m and did not ping away so was a sitting duck with threats coming either side but he repelled them all until headed at the 50m only to dig deep and come again. The 5yo gelding shared the honours after the photo-finish was perused for some time and clocked 1:35.32 to record his seventh win from twenty-two starts. Son Of Maher, an Australian bred, was sixth the inner and racing keen before settling better across the top and once angled off drove through at the 300m and was a threatening third at the 100m. The 5yo gelding led narrowly at the 50m and should have won it outright as he got the front near the line and had momentum. It was his sixth win in twenty-six starts and today was a first victory over the mile. Interestingly the deadheaters both had won prior in lead up races so came in focused and knowing what the finishing line is for. Boots ‘N’ All ran a game third beaten half a length after settling back and then moving wide across the top. He kept up a sustained finish to get third money close to the line in a career high performance. Watch This Space fought well for fourth after taking the lead at the 1400m while Beefeater trailed the leaders and also tried hard in finishing a close up fifth. La Diosa was a brave sixth after being trapped wide working near the speed and only getting over for some brief cover across the top. She was beaten a length and three-quarters and may well have won if not getting that nightmare run for the first half of the race having come out of gate seven. Benzini ran on strongly too late from last and they did not quite go hard enough up front for home to bury them. Tommy Tucker was eighth beaten just over two lengths under topweight of 59kg. Timy Tyler was fair while Bisou Bisou was outclassed but beaten less than five lengths. Ringo was the big flop finishing last beaten ten lengths having been placed in this race for the last two years. He was last away and settled down second last on a day when it was tough to make up ground from too far away turning for home. This was a marginal G2 event and the first three home all carried the minimum of 52kg with in fact five of the first six home on the bottom weight too. A lot of this form will stand up at the likes of Trentham, the track that most mirrors this South Island venue, and then Awapuni or Otaki.