This G3 3yo over 1200m was run at a reasonably testing clip on a clearly manmade biased Te Rapa track with the rail out 6m and sand exploding out of the track from every hoof landed of every runner. The inner lanes track bias was on show in this as the two inside gates formed the quinella separated by a head between the filly Power O'Hata and the gelding Hanger. Power O'Hata at her first blacktype outing trailed third the inner and worked one-off at the 350m before taking the lead at the 150m and just holding on to clock 1:11.05. It was her third win from six starts and she looks a sprinter that should swim too on breeding. Hanger steamed home late from midfield the inner and was one stride away from victory. Merlini sped around from a wide gate to lead after 300m and kicked away turning for home only to be headed at the 150m and ended up third at the line beaten just over two lengths. Sacred Charm was an eyecatcher late from the rear and ran home stoutly up the ruck the final 100m. The Great Southern from sixth the outer lost two spots across the top to the home turn but ran on well the closing stages. The Ice Knight was a good sixth beaten three and a half lengths after being contacted early and ending up well back and wide throughout. He was the deepest runner turning in and kept coming on clearly inferior lanes so the effort gets an extra tick. Malambo raced handy the outer and had every chance while Le Castille plugged on okay from second last on settling. Caesour's Dream was wide working up second and the effort told the run home while Ozil after being tardy and last away did not ping the run in. Ozil would not be the only runner to be tripped up at a first run on the heavily-sand-slitted Te Rapa track. Two fillies with ability in Prom Queen and Astor were shocking in finishing eleventh and twelfth. Prom Queen was crowded early and then went up fifth and deep early and was wide until the home turn where she reached third briefly then weakened quickly. She lost a left-hind plate early so had some excuses but a trip to Queensland must now be in some doubt though to temper that she will strike better prepared tracks. Astor went up deep across the top from back and wide and actually got pushed even wider but she stopped badly and quickly after getting into fifth briefly turning for home. Her rider felt she has had enough this preparation but that does not ring true at just a fourth run and not exactly over-taxed. Astor today had not raced for six weeks and had won a trial easily not long ago so clearly has not had enough, so it must be something else or she had too big a gut buster in this considering the manmade track bias. Paulownia was dreadful after settling down ninth and going off stride after 200m did not help matters. Pop Star Princess was outclassed. Manmade track bias played too big a role in deciding this finish and with so many massive flops by in form runners the presented track has to take the brunt of responsibility. It is impossible to say that many in form runners had an off day on the same day as statistically and logically that never happens at any venue around the world. Many forgive outings today and several of these will make nice 4yo sprinter-milers but some runners connections will think twice about running again on this track, as vast numbers despised the excessive sand kickback and underfoot shift.