Preferment went forward from barrier nine and after racing deep, settled well outside the leader (Awesome Rock) travelling at a very steady pace (first 1400m 1:29.99). He put pressure on that runner coming to the home turn, challenged strongly at the 200m and fought gamely to miss narrowly in a photo but he was subsequently awarded the race for interference in the straight. Awesome Rock soon crossed to the lead, he then slowed the pace, held a good break at the 200m but drifted out from that point. He was first past the post but was relegated to second for hindering Preferment over the latter stages. Rising Romance was third on the rails, got an inside from the 300m and battled well in the sprint home for a sound third. Fenway was sixth, one off the rails, moved up (wide) rounding the home turn and kept fighting well in the sprint home for (1.5 lengths) fourth. Our Ivanhowe was fifth on the rails, travelling well, went wide on turning for home and fought on well for (1.6 lengths) behind disadvantaged by the slow early pace. Favourite Bow Creek was slowly away again, raced in last place on the rails, switched back to the inner at the 200m and kept running on, without threatening for (2 lengths) eighth, another being disadvantaged by the slow early pace.