This G3 3yo over 1200m is usually the first time this age sees reasonable footing for the season so far and that applied today again albeit the manmade track bias at Ruakaka was off the charts as usual. On the pace and the inside were of outrageous assistance all day no matter if the race pace was tepid or torrid. The winners in order and where they turned for home were second, second, led, second, led, second, fifth (dream inside run and led at 300m), sixth (dream inside run and led at 150m) and fifth (inside run and third at 200m and led at the 100m). It was a broken record all day for on the pace and inside lanes and why so many riders steered wide defies belief and logic considering the evidence (the first six races saw nothing win from further back than second on settling). This 3yo race is usually a good portent to the later Spring and rest of the season with the honour role significant and even stallion pathway assisting rather than making for such as Sacred Falls and El Roca to name a couple. Ten started and three of them were fillies including the impressive winner Melt, while the other two ran respectable races. Melt had won fresh up well so had race fitness over her expected main rivals and so it proved to be the case as she actually led out then got headed quickly and lost her place. The filly was seventh the inner across the top but on the inside and she got a dream run through turning for home to be fifth and surged through quickly to lead at the 300m. It was all over in a flash as she scored by a length and a half in 1:10.47, the second best time at this trip all day and only bettered by the Open Class allcomers race of experienced and older sprinters that ran 1:10.01. Melt has size and a surge that she can sustain and today was her fourth win in six outings with now two G3 wins, a Listed win and a G1 second on her rapidly strengthening resume. Only a very hard track could hamper the strapping gal as she hits the ground very hard when unleashing with her now signature surge. Madison County ran a ripper fresh up and is in for a big season as he sat back eighth the outer and was the widest runner turning for home. The detonation was super and he went from fifth at the 200m to second at the 100m in a part of the track today that offered no real help whatsoever and in fact was a negative. Reevederci also ran a good race fresh up and after sitting handy the inner reached second at the 200m and fought well when third at the 100m. Nulli Secundus finished fourth beaten almost seven lengths but the filly was good in defeat as she came up wide from the back early on and attacked for the lead across the top to the home turn. She was fourth at the 200m and fifth at the 100m but kept trying and regained fourth with 20m to go in gutsy fashion. Hapi Ella was the other filly and she disputed the pace on the inner to the home turn and she looked likely to run fourth before wilting a tad but was far from disgraced. Sword Of Osman was a flop and played up in the barriers prior to the start and needed a vet check to be given the all clear to start. He had undergone laser wind surgery last season and had been trialled twice to prepare for today, so there are now questions galore to be asked and answered regarding bettors. When he leads he is a different horse it showed last season but that may not always be an option as a 3yo plus he seemed to be over-reacting today at the 200m when between runners. The gelding battled on again late but his mind was not on the job and some gear additions and changes may be forthcoming. Jon Wick was trapped wide all the way fifth and can be totally forgiven. The rest were maidens and found out big time. Melt has a main aim the G1 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 17 against her own sex but still is nominated for the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) a week prior against the colts and geldings so be wary. The first three home in this look G2 or G1 winners in New Zealand and if Sword Of Osman can get back into his best rhythm he is too plus Jon Wick cannot be dismissed from gaining some form of blacktype this preparation. A hard and fast track is the one thing that can derail Spring 3yo's striving to get to the G1 mile at Riccarton, so getting their in one piece and with no setbacks or hiccups is vital. Melt may well end up in Australia next year and quite possibly in a new yard too if she chases Sydney and /or Melbourne big purses over Autumn as they are far more valuable blacktype for a future broodmare. Watch this space.