The winner of this G3 3200m was the favourite Waisake by half a length in 3:22.85, which was the second slowest time since it had been returned to this distance the last six years. The time overall was the seventh slowest gallop in the last 50 runnings to show how far this once serious race has fallen. The only two slower times run this century have been Magic Chai in 2018 (3.25.19) and Cluden Creek (3:26.49) in 2004. The winners and where they came from were seventh (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), sixth (eight-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), third (eight-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), tenth (ten-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), fourth (nine-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), seventh (ten-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fifth (twelve-off the inside and a length from the leader), fourth (twelve-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fifth (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader) and second (six-off the inside and a neck from the leader). Waisake raced seventh or eighth the inner and then was worked off at the 600m before being fifth and steered even wider turning for home. The 6yo gelding unleashed to be third at the 200m and led at the 20m to win his sixth race in twenty-three starts. To show you how far this race has dropped it was the first attempt at Blacktype by Waisake and he carried the minimum of 53kg. Second home and the rank outsider by miles ($130 the win) was the five-race winning 7yo gelding Bluey's Chance now trained in the South Island that was wide early then settled second the outer. He was third midrace then moved into second again across the top before taking the lead on the inside at the 800m and he only succumbed the final 100m. In his lead up race to today he had run last of twelve at Riccarton in a Benchmark 74 (five grades at least inferior to a G3) and was beaten over eleven lengths. Third home was Justamaiz that steamed home deepest from third last and his finish was very strong late. He has not won a race since December 2019 and in this very race last year ran fourteenth of seventeen runners and was beaten over fourteen lengths. Fourth home was the Australian bred Swords Drawn and he is just a four race winner but after racing tenth or worse and wide with cover came with a big run too. Fifth home was Sergeant Blast that was ridden impatiently as he raced sixth the inner then went up second turning for home and was slugging it out with the eventual runner up. The fact he got swamped the final 5m suggests the rider moved too soon and he was beaten just over two lengths under topweight of 57kg (4kg more than the runner up). Next home was Te Akau Caliburn, the Irish-bred, that came from eleventh the inner then through up the middle turning for home only to be held up briefly. He fought well for sixth and was beaten just over two and a half lengths. Duplicity fought on well up the middle and was beaten less than three lengths. Dr Velocious was wide early before settling fifth the outer and went up third wide across the top and fought on well once he was eighth at the 200m. Dee And Gee finished ninth after being third early and then fourth the outer before going up second at the 600m then wilted to be a beaten little less than four lengths. Plushenko was the next home after settling second last and then coming through closer in from the home the home turn and he briefly reached sixth at the 300m before weakening to be beaten five lengths. Vee Cece was next home but hung throughout and was a clear last on settling then stayed the fence turning for home and came through briefly to seventh at the 200m before weakening. The Good Fight ran second favourite and after being back and wide he never ran on deep and was beaten over seven and a half lengths. Robusto was next home beaten just under ten lengths after settling fourteenth on the inner mostly. The rest got beaten almost thirteen lengths and up to over ninety-four lengths. This was a poor field and run at a substandard gallop overall and the result is very suspect as well. This race cannot go any lower than G3 it seems but like the NZ Cup it is a substandard staying event and has been getting worse and worse for many years now. If the rank outsider Bluey's Chance had won this after running last in his lead up race in the South Island in a race five grades lower at least then I rest my case.