This G2 for 3yo's only over 2100m saw the clear favourite ($2.30) and Australian bred Rocket Spade prevail by a neck in 2:12.49. He raced eighth the inner then was worked off to be ninth surrounded before improving wide near the home turn to be fifth then surged to lead at the 100m. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were led (one-off the inside and three lengths clear), fifth (three-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), fifth (deadheat for first-five-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), sixth (deadheat for first-six-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and a length from the leader), fifth (six-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), seventh (nine-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fifth (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), sixth (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader) and led (one-off the inside and a length in front). The colt was winning his third race in seven outings today and his second win at G2 and on this track. He has come back this year a much more mature 3yo and he is now unbeaten clockwise. Tellingly the same quinella and trifecta was recorded today that happened here at G2 on New Years Day in the Auckland Guineas over a mile with Jason Belltree second and On Display third. Whether he will run out the 2400m strongly of the G1 New Zealand Derby is still a massive unknown for Rocket Spade but his form and preparation this year cannot be much better. Jason Belltree ran another good race and his record is now seven starts for two wins, four seconds and a distant fourth, which came in Open Class and the winner Royal Performer has since scored easily at G1. Third home was On Display and his form reads well this year with a fourth before this at Listed level in the Karaka 3yo Million behind the unbeaten Aegon that has since won at G2 in Australia. Second home in that Listed event in New Zealand was the filly Amarelinha that has since won easily at G2 over 2000m and now has a stranglehold on the G1 NZ Oaks (2400m). Fourth home was Lord Ardmore that was a luckless seventh in the Listed Karaka Millions for 3yo's so the form is very solid. Fifth home was Milford that had won at Listed level here over 2100m prior and he looks suited to the New Zealand Derby over 2400m. Next home was the filly Il Affare beaten just under three lengths that raced wide with cover from the 1000m and moved up deep and reached third across the top to the home turn before wilting. She had run fourth prior at G2 behind Amarelinha over 2000m so her form reads solid enough this year. The rest came home in a gap over six lengths and up to almost sixteen lengths with Ulaanbaatar being checked and losing his rider after 200m when on the fence. This may well prove to be the real NZ Derby guide with so many involved here but the filly Tokorangi could well come from a different formline and prevail. It is not a great Derby field this year so anything is possible.