The winner was a well backed Major Tom of this G3 Open Handicap over 1600m in a spirited finish that saw the first three over the line covered by less than half a length. The winners and were the came from were tenth (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), led (a head in front turning in), sixth (two and a half lengths and on the inner), fourteenth (eight-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), seventh (five-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), sixth (seven-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), twelfth (seven-off the inside and three and a half lengths from the leader), fourth (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader), seventh, (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader) and third (on the inner and a length from the leader). Major Tom was one of the best drawn runners and in fact the first four home today drew the four inside barriers. He sat seventh and moved up under a grip turning for home forth and then surged to lead at the 300m before ending up winning by a head in 1:37.39. It was his eleventh win in thirty-three starts and was his fourth wide at the mile. Wild Jack at $99 chance raced eighth on the inner and the when worked off reached fifth at the 200m before offering a very stiff challenge over the final 25m. Nomen Ludi raced fifth the inner throughout and he kept coming gamely the final 200m to end up a very close third at the line. Who Dares Wins raced fourth wide the whole way before going up third turning for home and he did in fact briefly reach second at the 250m. He wilted to be beaten just under three and a half lengths. Dez came with a blistering late finish after behind in the rear duo midrace and still second last turning for home. He made up an extraordinary amount of ground from twelfth at the 200m and ninth at the 150m to reach fifth the final 10m and just three and half lengths from the winner. City Slickers ran on gamely from tenth the inside on settling to get sixth at the line while William Wallace was slow out and then was noticed running on from twelfth on settling. Happy Star the clear win favourite disappointed with a tepid ninth while Diorissimo was a running on late for tenth down the outer from fourteenth on settling. Frankie The Fox was running on a shade late for eleventh while Rosewood plugged on from fifteenth at the 200m and Forged plugged on from third last at the 200m. The rest were beaten nine lengths and up to eleven lengths. This finish saw the first three home dominate after all getting soft runs the inside to the home turn and they were separated by less than half a length. Who Dares Wins, which was last of eighteen runners a year ago in this race, today with the same weight of 60kg ran a good fourth after racing fourth and wide throughout. Dez, which won this race last year with 53kg, ran a ripper after carrying 4kg more today and making up countless lengths the final 200m.