Lucia Valentina was ridden quietly and settled at the tail of the 16-horse field. She remained there to the 600m, stuck to the rails rounding the home turn and saved a lot of ground, going to fifth shortly after straightening. She went to second at the 200m and then finished too well, drawing clear to score impressively by a length at the post. Solicit went forward as usual and then soon took the lead. She then slowed the pace and ran along on passing the 600m. She had a clear break at the 300m and was only run down in the latter stages to finish second with the third-placed Forever Loved being five lengths further back. That Gai Waterhouse-trained filly was a handy fourth most of the way and held on quite well to fill the minor placing. The NZ-trained mare Rising Romance settled well back in the field and was 13th passing the 600m. She improved in the centre of the track on straightening and kept making ground to finish fourth, beaten six and a half lengths. The well supported Zanbagh went back from her outside barrier (16) and raced tenth place, wide with cover. She moved up (wide-out) coming to the 600m, fanned deep at the bend and ran on quite well in the latter stages for fifth, putting up a sound performance after a wide trip. *ANZ