On deteriorating ground Fat Al scored a strong on pace victory, his first since joining the stable of Peter Moody. Fat Al worked across from his wide barrier (9) to race on the outside of London Stripe. He enjoyed a slow pace in the middle stages of the race before cornering five to six horses off the rail. He gradually picked up the leaders hitting the front inside the final 100m and going away to to score by a length under hard riding. Bel Thor worked home late, wide on the course for second. He enjoyed a nice run in the race sixth one off the fence between runners. He was slightly held up for a run at the top of the home straight but worked to the line solidly when in the clear. Bass Strait was good in defeat. He came from tenth on the fence about eight lengths from the leaders. He stayed on the inside and finished on well against the slow pace and on inferior ground, a solid effort under the circumstances. London Stripe enjoyed a good run in front. He was in contention most way down the straight and just tired late to finish a close fourth. Spillway was the eye-catching run. He settled second last between runners before being taken wide on turning for home. He was finishing on well for seventh only beaten two and a half lengths. He should be followed especially up in distance. The well-back Shikarpour was very disappointing finding very little in the straight to tail off in last. *ANZ