Race Synopsis:The winner of this G1 NZ Derby (2400m) was the favourite and Australian bred colt Rocket Spade that prevailed in a driving finish between three runners on wet ground to score by a short neck. He was allowed to settle back and find his feet early and raced in the rear duo to near the home turn before moving off the inside and surging to seventh centre track at the 400m and not that far away. His momentum saw him reach third at the 250m and then he led at the 150m before settling down into a battle royal with two other colts. The winners and where they turned for home were second (three-off the inside and half a length from the leader), seventh (four-off the inside and three and a half lengths from the leader), third (five-off the inside and half a length from the leader), led (one-off the inside and a length ahead), second (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and half a length from the leader), fifth (eight-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), second (eight-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), seventh (six-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader) and eleventh (ten-off the inside and four lengths from the leader). Rocket Spade clocked 2:35.51 in his win on a Slow7 track and was winning his fourth race from eight starts today. He had won twice at G2 on this track this year and made it a hattrick with the G1 win today and answered a couple of key questions in that he ran out the trip and copped the footing. Second home and game in defeat was Milford that was at his seventh outing and having just a single win too his name but it came at Listed level over 2100m here. The colt today race midfield the inner then worked off across the top and came up wider and into an ominous second turning for home. He led at the 300m only to be narrowly headed at the 150m but dug deep to go down narrowly. Third home was Frontman having just his fourth outing and he enjoyed the footing racing sixth the outer before moving wide before the home turn. He came up and led and was second deepest turning then was headed at the 300m and only lost second on the post. His margin of defeat was a short head and short neck. Cut in the ground at least looks to be his best weapon and he is bred to win more than just once too. Fourth home and one of two fillies in the field was Il Affare that race in the rear duo with the winner then saved ground the inside across the top and went right through near the home and turned in off and fifth on straightening up. She reached fourth at the 300m before being fifth at the 100m then rallied to regain fourth at the 20m and was beaten just under two lengths. Fifth home and going a brave race at $115 a win was Iffie Show that raced eighth wide before being cut loose and taking the lead with 1100m to run. He got softened up across the top and was headed and fourth turning in before being fifth at the 200m then fourth at the 100m and fifth at the 20m. The gelding was beaten two lengths and was the unheralded run of the race as he worked hard almost the entire trip. Sixth home was the luckless Central Districts raider Montre Mio that raced eleventh the outer mostly and was wide across the top before being the widest runner turning for home. The second favourite ran home well late to reach sixth at the 25m and was beaten just under three lengths. Next home was the other filly in the field Tokorangi that settled back and was in the rear trio and wide at the 600m before running on to be beaten just under three lengths. Next home and beaten four lengths was Jason Belltree that raced fourth or fifth the outer then made a move third wide across the top. He wilted a tad the run home and probably moved too early as well. There was a big gap to the rest with Lord Ardmore the next home beaten ten lengths home in ninth place. A lot of this field was beaten in the tricky wet footing and several just could not stay plus it was not a capacity field and had just fourteen runners so staying 3yos have been in short supply this season. The last runner home Edge Of Wonder was beaten thirty-six and a half lengths. The first two home at least will be tackling their age Group in Australia and it will be interesting to see if they can cut it as stamina will not be a concern but class might be. The weather wreaked havoc with this track today and the meeting was run a day later than normal to avoid a Level three Covid lockdown. The footing was tricky all day and some of the margins of defeat were massive showing the footing pole-axed many runners chances. Whether this is decent groundwork or not for the Sydney staying ranks is still to be known but Aegon was well beaten last week there and he had all of the 3yo's covered in New Zealand prior.