The lightly raced Safeguard, winner of his only other start at Flemington in December, was trapped wide early and eased to settle second last in the nine-horse field. Kerrin McEvoy looked for inside runs from the turn and he navigated a good course through to be fourth at the 200m. He switched the colt around heels and then finished too well for a good win. He looks suited to further and is very promising. Everage had a nice trip in fourth spot on the rails before getting a split at the 200m. She looked the winner when she hit the front at the 100m but could not hold off the late-finishing winner. Diamond Oasis was fifth, one off the rails to the turn. He moved to fourth at the 200m then battled on quite nicely for third. The favourite Il Cavallo was slowly away but recovered, driving through from his inside barrier to hold the lead. He led to the 200m but dropped out shortly after for a most disappointing seventh. A post-race veterinary examination of Il Cavallo revealed the colt to be displaying a poor post-race recovery. *ANZ