The G1 NZ Oaks (2400m) winner was the odds on Amarelinha and she led turning for home and scored by a length leaving nothing to chance in 2:29.65. The filly after an awkward start raced wide but then got in over eighth and one-off the last mile and she sat there until being asked to move importantly before the home turn. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were fifth (on the fence and two and a half lengths from the leader), ninth (one-off the inside and three and a half lengths from the leader), fourth (three-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), led (four-off the inside and a length from the leader), fourth (on the inner and two lengths the leader), co-leader (one-off the inside), tenth (four-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), led (six-off the inside and a neck in front) and fourth (six-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader). Amarelinha was scoring today her fifth win in seven outings and in her other two runs she has finished second beaten a head by Aegon at G3 and she missed on debut by a nostril to Wild Moose. She has won from 1300m to 2400m and on footing from Good to Slow and she really is a push button filly. Her near defeat two runs ago was not repeated today as the regular rider had her up leading turning for home today rather than spotting the leader several lengths and it matters. Second home was Charm's Star that raced one spot further back than the winner and on her inner then worked off across the top and moved to sixth deeper turning for home. She was second at the 300m and had her chance to run down the winner but the task proved beyond her though the G1 placing has added untold too her worth. Third home and stiff was Llanacord that raced fifth the inner and then she got held up badly by stoppers to be eighth turning for home before being angled out and surging. She hit the line well for third at the 150m and was beaten less than a length and a half. Prior to today she had won her maiden by a big margin over 2040m then last start won at G2 by a nose over 2100m and today gets a G1 placing. Her improvement in the last month has been staggering. Fourth home and finding the line well was Cheaperthandivorce that raced seventh the inner then worked off across the top and was ninth and crowded turning for home. She was flat and a long way from the leaders but really got her second wind the closing stages. Fifth home was Spine Tingle that raced tenth the outer and she ran home well the closing stages after being seventh at the 200m. Sixth home and beaten just over six lengths was Zee Falls that raced sixth the outer and was the first to move wide before the home turn. She came up sixth and five-off turning in and had carted up the winner prior but then wilted and was fifth at the 200m. Next home was Dragon Queen that raced second and was fourth turning in before wilting as well. There was over nine lengths back to Slave To Love and she ran on from twelfth on settling to be ninth at the line. If Affare ran tenth beaten over nine and a half lengths and she settled last and ran on but was distant at the line. Her fourth in the G1 NZ Derby prior clearly took more out of her and they went so much harder today early and faster overall too. Tenth home and beaten under ten lengths was Beautifulnightmare that raced fourth the outer and weakened out. The rest got beaten almost thirteen lengths and as much as over twenty-three lengths. Needle And Thread, the Australian bred, led up and stopped badly to finish last and clearly went too hard in front. The winner is a superior filly this season in New Zealand and she should be undefeated but in saying that she has been ridden poorly and her quality has got her home. She is a closer but has a turn of foot so can make up many lengths quickly therefore it is purely rider error if she is beaten in New Zealand. How she measures up in Australia will determine the ratings of the fillies she has beaten in New Zealand as the depth looks suspect at the moment. The match ups due to Covid have not always eventuated and there have been shocks and surprises along the way this season. The depth this season in both New Zealand and Australia has a huge asterisk beside it as a result.