This G3 New Zealand Cup, an Open Handicap over 3200m, saw another slogging it out finish with just over two and a half lengths separating the first seven over the line and Dee And Gee prevailing. The first three over the line were covered by just a length. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were seventh (two-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), third (on the fence and one and a half lengths from the leader), led (one-off the inside and a length in front), seventh (four-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), ninth (eight-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), fourth (seven-off the inside and one and a half lengths from the leader), eighth (seven-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), co-leader (three-off the inside), co-leader (three-off the inside), tenth, (three-off the inside and three lengths from the leader) and sixth (one-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Dee And Gee carried 54kg and after racing fourth the outer went up wide across the top to make it a stamina contest of sorts and led at the 400m. The 6yo mare went clear then had to stave off the inevitable keep coming chasers and one-batting finishers. She held them at bay by three-quarters of a length and clocked 3:23.05, which is over six seconds inferior to the track record set back late last century when stayers were bred en masse in New Zealand and could run decent time. It was the sixth win in thirty-six starts by Dee And Gee and her first win at G3 level. Kaharau from sixth the inner moved off the fence and up wide across the top and reached fourth turning for home then second at the 300m. He kept grinding away and was third at the 50m but regained second on the post. Gorbachev from fifth the outer came through to third at the 200m and one-batted to reach second at the 50m but lost that spot on the line. Diorissimo came from ninth and drove through to fourth at the 200m then fought okay to the line. Felaar came from eleventh on settling and tenth wide across the top and kept coming the run home but would have enjoyed a stronger clip overall. Nymph Monte raced midfield the inner and turned for home eleventh but also kept coming and reached sixth at the 100m. King Of The Dance, the stablemate of the winner, came from tenth the inner and worked off turning in then ground home okay. The rest got beaten almost six lengths and up to almost fourteen lengths. Several of the field were never really genuine stayers and some needed it wet while others were purely having a throw at the stumps regardless. This was a weak field overall and the runner up and topweight Kaharau was beaten at his next two starts out of sight at Greymouth (Omoto) for some perspective. The same one-batting types keep running in these staying races and Dee And Gee and Gorbachev, the first and third finishers today, formed the quinella in the G3 Wellington Cup (3200m) last year and that race has too dropped in depth and relevance alarmingly this century.