Toydini began well but Blake Shinn rode him patiently, as usual, and eased him to settle back in eighth place in the ten-horse field. He improved wide with cover from the 600m, fanned very wide nearing the home turn, challenged at the 100m and lifted in the closing stages to score a gutsy short head win. Speediness was ridden closer to the pace from his improved barrier (2) and race raced in about third spot on the rails to the 600m. He challenged coming to the turn and looked the winner when he took a clear lead at the 100m and was only to be caught nearing the post for second. Sacred Falls travelled well in seventh place on the rails and was switched between runners at the 600m to be fifth turning for home. He then kept making ground in the straight for a close third, putting up a good effort. Rain Drum led until half way down the straight before weakening to finish fourth, beaten length and half. *ANZ