This Listed Open Handicap over 2400m drew an ordinary field and was won by easily by Orepuki Lad, a two-win galloper prior to today trying this trip for the first time. The track was allowed to be released as a Good3 but that was simply not true as the times all day were tepid and downright dreadful in some events. The winners and where they were turning for home in race order were second (outer and half a length from the leader), seventh (five-wide and three lengths from the leader), led (two lengths clear and one-off the fence), ninth (three-off the fence and three and a half lengths from the leader), fourth (two-off the fence and two lengths from the leader), led (inside and two lengths clear), second (one-off the fence and three lengths from the leader), sixth (inner and two lengths from the leader) and fifth (five-off the fence and two and a half lengths from the leader). Orepuki Lad soon led and was never really put out of his comfort zone then kicked away turning for home and scored by three lengths in 2:30.96 carrying the minimum of 53kg. It was his third win from twelve starts and the 5yo gelding was winning at his first Blacktype race try, first look at a mile and a half and first time on good footing but the latter was not true. Aboli, a three-win galloper that had never raced in better than a Benchmark 72 and having a first try as well at 2400m ran a sound second after racing fifth or sixth them moving up wide before the home turn. Shakti, a 9yo, ran on for third beaten four lengths from sixth or seventh the inner. Pamir had every hope from the trail and the also three-win galloper was having her first look past a Benchmark 82. Sulcifera settled well back and was running on too late but tactically the mare had no hope and was one incredibly of six runners in the Listed race ridden by apprentices. The rest got beaten almost nine lengths and up to nearly twenty-four lengths. This was a poor field and the equal least race winning runner in Orepuki Lad beat them easily when rising on his prior outing four grades at least supposedly plus achieved a litany of firsts. It was his first time at Blackype and at 2400m but the first time on Good3 footing is not true as the times all day reflected that was a complete and utter falsehood. An equal second least winning runner in the field ran second and also was rising multiple grades for the first tine and tackling Blacktype level for the first time too. Orepuki Lad had won on a bottomless bog in over 1:53 for a mile and the natural leader clearly can keep going in his races but the lack of real stamina in New Zealand racing nowadays both breed-wide and performance-wise is an astounding fall from grace.