The well supported Long John ($3.80 fav) began smartly from his inside barrier (1) and led early before easing to be handy on the rails. He moved out to be fourth one off the rails from the 1000m, improved four wide nearing the home turn and dashed to the lead on straightening. He momentarily looked in danger at the 100m but he fought back strongly to well by half length. Divine Calling was quickly away from his difficult barrier (10) but was trapped wide and Nash Rawiller eased him to settle in eighth place, one off the rails. He moved up well wide-out from the 600m, challenged strongly at the 200m and kept fighting gamely to the post for a very good second, his wide barrier proving costly. Shamus Award also began well from a difficult barrier (11) and was caught wide before Glen Boss eased him to settle twelfth. He made a wide run from the 800m and put up a very good effort to take third, beaten two and a half lengths. Dissident settled ninth one off the rails, got a good run through in the centre from the 600m and worked into the clear at the 200m. He then fought on to take third, beaten two and half lengths. El Roca led early then eased to race in third spot on the rails. But he struck serious traffic problems shortly after turning for home and was pushed back suddenly. He recovered late, making ground for an unlucky fifth. Prince Harada settled back in eleventh place, moved up wide from the 600m but he only kept battling on after turning for home to finish sixth, beaten just under seven lengths. Éclair Big Bang led to the turn but stopped abruptly in the straight to finish last, racing well below his best. *ANZ