This G3 under set weights and penalties saw the best weighted runner prevail in a field that incredibly had just a 2kg spread (55kg-53kg) from top to bottom. These types of race conditions are determinant on depth and New Zealand racing does not have such a factor across the board so it is very alarming and counter-productive they are becoming so prevalent. It is having an effect on depth at all levels and the Group status of many races is being pared back and rightly so plus can only get trimmed worse in the future to get some realism back by realignment. Seize The Moment was thrown in here at 55kg after having finished second in this same race last year at 58kg behind Mabeel. In the time since this 6yo gelding has raced eight times before today for an Open Handicap win at 55.5kg and five Open Handicap placings with four of them coming at Listed level. The last time he has carried less than 55kg came in December of 2015 and he won an Open Handicap that day at 54kg beating El Pescado (G1 and G2 second at WFA since). He was deadest thrown in and loves this track too, so after sitting second the outer he took the front with 300m to go and never looked like being caught. The half a length win came in 1:35.25 and was his seventh win in twenty-eight starts Thee Auld Floozie after sitting fifth the outer ran a sound second and looked the winner when surging into second at the 300m but could not overhaul her stablemate. She has come up well this season and had beaten Seize The Moment in her prior start when getting 3kg but not today with just 1.5kg less. Aotearower another 5yo mare ran home stoutly the fence from well back the inner on settling and was a nose away from getting second money. Son Of Maher the South Islander ran a sound fourth beaten just over a length and a half but had his chance and was a tad one-paced the run home but as usual kept coming. Mae West ran on well between runners the closing stages from ninth on settling plus she must be getting sick of Seize The Moment beating her home ad nauseam. Summer’s Day was an honest sixth but is yet to win at the mile. Skyweka ran on well late from last after blundering at the start while Henree Winkler after being crowded early came from second last on settling. The latter was the better run as he came around them and was the widest runner across the top and turning for home so covered move ground plus carried 2kg more. The gaps back from eighth to the last trio home was three and a half lengths out to six lengths and two of them raced on the pace but crucially both did work early to get into those positions. Once again you have to take these set weights and penalty races with a big grain of salt as they expose a glaring lack of depth and usually greatly assist very few runners. The key is they are not an attempt at a level playing field, as a normal handicap ultimate aim is, but are detrimental to many runners and advantageous to a few so are skewed in that regard. There will be winners from this at many levels for the rest of this season at least but that is in all range of classes and when better weighted. A 2kg spread from top to bottom makes the race result irrelevant as that gap is simply not realistic for a G3 event.