Real Love put up a good staying effort in winning here. She settled in fifth place, one off the rails, tracking a solid pace (first 1400m 1:25.94) before fanning deep rounding the home turn. She challenged at the 200m, got to front at the 100m and proved too strong in the closing stages to win well. Sir John Hawkwood raced back in sixth place on the rails before improving between runners nearing the home turn but was blocked on straightening. He angled deep at the 200m and then finished well for a good second, looking somewhat unlucky. Volkhere went to the front and ran along at a good tempo. He held the front until passing the 200m and did well in holding on to take the minor placing. Junoob was well back in eighth place until nearing the home turn and caught the eye running on late for (1.1 lengths) fourth under his 60kg top weight in a sound trial for next month’s Brisbane Cup (Gr 2, 2400m).