Race Synopsis:The winner of this G1 1200m at WFA was the $1.60 pop Avantage and the Australian bred 5yo mare outclassed a suspect field to win by two lengths in 1:07.95. The mare got a great run fifth wide with cover and once angled out deeper the run home she surged and led at the 200m for a soft win. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were ninth (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), eighth (eight-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), ninth (on the fence and four lengths from the leader), led (on the fence and half a length in front), seventh (five-off the fence and three and a half lengths from the leader), led (three-off the fence and a head in front), fourth (five-off the inside and eleven lengths from the leader), fifth (six-off the fence and two lengths from the leader) and second (six-off the fence and a length from the leader). Avantage was winning her sixth G1 today and repeated her success in this race from a year ago at the same weight of 56.5kg and why wouldn't she attempt the hattrick in 2022? Her record now in New Zealand is nineteen starts for twelve wins and six placings and a fourth at G1. The most dominant force in New Zealand racing many years now have been racemares because they get all the possible advantages weight-wise and have such an excessive landscape to get Blacktype these days too. Second home was another Australian bred mare in Spring Heat that ran on well from sixth or seventh the outer and it comes after running third in race last year. Third home was another mare in Burgundy Belle, the stablemate of the winner, that ran on hard from eighth and wide with cover. This 5yo mare is just a three-race winner but she has tackled Listed and G3 grade five time before today for two placings at Listed level. She was entered in this field today because the field was so substandard and the numbers were lacking too and she was rewarded with the G1 placing. The last time she won a race was back in August of 2019. Fourth home was the first male to cross the line in Mascarpone that went huge and actually set up the winner. The 4yo gelding was fourth then third wide in the open the whole way and giving the winner a great sit with cover to the home turn. He led at the 300m but was headed 100m later and wilted to finish fourth beaten just under four and a half lengths. He carried 2kg more than the winner under WFA and she was a five-time G1 winner before the jump so he was always badly situated here but his run was brave. There is a big race in him and a getting a better barrier would help his cause too. Fifth home was the clear second favourite Tavi Mac that raced third the outer with cover and was fourth surrounded turning for home before reaching second at the 150m only to weaken. He was beaten almost four and a half lengths and for just the third time in his career so far missed paying a dividend but it is worth pointing out that two of those three misses have come at G1. Deerfield after sitting second the outer stopped to be sixth and beaten almost seven lengths while New York Jazz ran on from last to be seventh beaten almost seven and a half lengths. The rest of the field showed no real dash and were beaten almost eighth and a half lengths and up to just over ten and a half lengths. Enzo's Lad going for the hattrick in this race got back and never fired a shot but he has not been racing that well this season. This was a substandard G1 field and probably the best five runners on form in the field as of now finished in those positions bar the odd flip or two of third, fourth and fifth. This once genuine G1 event at Handicap level has lost its oomph since turning into a WFA event and a reassessment is urgently needed as it is losing its lustre fast.