This G1 for 3yo's over a mile saw a grandstand finish with a nose victory to the North Island raider Aegon, which remained undefeated in three outings and clocked 1:35.96 in the dead rated conditions. The winners and where they came from were led (on the fence by a neck), eleventh (five-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), sixth (six-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), eleventh (nine-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), led (one-off the inside and four lengths clear), fourth (on the inside and length and a half from the leader), third (three-off the inside and a long neck from the leader), ninth (five-off the fence and four lengths from the leader), fourteenth (six-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), led (a neck and one-off the inside) and fourth (one-off the inside and length and a half behind the leader). The three winners that led in the eleven-race card were either on the fence or one-off and three other winners were third (one) or fourth (two) turning for home and were on the inner or no worse than three-off. The other five winners came from sixth (six-off the inside and three lengths from the leader) all the way up to fourteenth (last and six-off the inside and four lengths from the leader). Aegon arrives late in his races and did so today after being badly placed ninth on the inner and second last midrace and across the top. He was worked off before the home turn and surged when into clear air at the 250m and his sustained power saw him actually lead with 50m to go, so he got there a tad early and then he hung on by the smallest margin. His three wins have all been launching late successes but his last two have come by a nostril and over the same horse each time in Bourbonaire at G2 level then today at G1. Aegon is a winner and knows what the post is for and all his wins have come on rain-affected footing so whether he can compete on the hard ground is still a mystery. His time today was the only mile event to break 1:36 on the card out of four events and it was overall three lengths superior to the best time recorded. Second home a nostril from victory was Bourbonaire, which raced sixth the outer and then was eighth (wide with cover) from the 800m to home turn. He was attempting to push out wider into clear air turning for home and unleashed hard to be sixth coming at the 200m then surged into second with 30m to go. Bourbonaire has run second in his last three runs (at G2 twice then at G1 today) and he has done it different ways from being back and powering home to racing second the outer. His always the groomsman and never the groom efforts have been commendable and he is a much better galloper when saved for one shot at them. He is also a North Island trained runner. Third home was the South Island prepared runner in Marine, which was luckless after being wide early then settling fourth the outer after 400m only to strike a heel ahead with 1100 to go. His rider was lucky to stay aboard and also got back in and over to fifth the outer then was wide across the top to the home turn. He was angled into the straight four-wide and fought hard for third from the 200m onward and he went down fighting to be beaten less than a length and a half. Fourth home was Lord Ardmore at $48 after racing third early then moved up second the outer midrace and to the home turn. He was a close second at the 200m and then fourth at the 50m and was beaten just under three lengths at the line. Fifth home was Rocket Spade, one of two Australian breds in the field, and he raced seventh mostly the inner then got to the outer midrace and he kept coming the run home to be beaten just under three and three-quarter lengths. Sixth home was a disappointing favourite, the Australian bred Need I Say More, which worked to the lead early and then was joined midrace before kicking away near the home turn. He pinched a lead early the run home then was a narrow leader at the 200m and got headed and was back to third at the 100m. The gelding weakened further late to be fifth at the 50m was sixth at the post beaten just under four lengths. His mile credentials are suspect to say the least and he looks a sprinter only at this stage. Watchmaker, another South Island representative and a stablemate of the third finisher, ran on well from being last early and second last turning for home. He was paying $28 but is a much better horse that that and ran on well between runners the closing stages to be beaten a smidgeon over four lengths. A gap existed then back to eighth of over six and a half lengths with Mister Reliable running on from last midrace and across the top. The rest stopped or never got into the race and were beaten seven lengths and up to almost sixteen lengths. The winner Aegon is untapped but has a one dimensional way of racing so unless he can change his pattern then he will always need clear air to swamp his opposition. Just how strong this G1 for 3yos only turns out to be is still an ask and how some of them perform when out of their comfort zones will be much more determinative. It looks like a decent crops of 3yo's this season at first glance but they may be more local strength only due to the Covid concerns worldwide that have kept so many at home. Some very interesting clashes lie ahead next year if that becomes a reality once again post-Covid but that is the big question left hanging still.