Noted leader Brave Ali staged a bold front-running effort to win. He soon crossed to the lead and he then ran along at a good tempo. He was pressured from the 800m by Grey Assignment and they had established a five length advantage at the home turn. Brave Ali beat off his rival at the 200m and then fought back particularly well to win by a length. Noisy Ocean was seventh one off the rails. He was urged to improve from the 600m, was a distant fifth at the turn and came with a late run to take second with Grey Assignment only a long head away in third place after working hard outside the leader from the mid-stages. Ironstein came from eighth and wide at the turn to finish fourth while Garud (fifth), Catalonia (sixth) and Angola (seventh) all made late ground, without looking winning threats, after being midfield or worse to the 600m. *ANZ