Godolphin-raced mare Beautiful Romance followed up her seventh in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at her first Australian start to take out this Group Two race well, albeit very narrowly. She settled nicely in fifth place, one off the rails, behind quite a good tempo before behind shuffled back near the tail of the field coming to the home turn. She got a split at the 300m and then came with a late bid to grab victory in a deceptive photo finish. Almoonqith remained near last in the eighthorse field, went widest of all at the home turn and then put in a strong run (in the centre of the track). He took a narrow lead at the 50m and just missed to finish second in a bobbing finish. Big Orange went to the front, set a good pace, was challenged coming to the home turn and then kept fighting back very gamely for a close-up third. The three-year-old So Si Bon raced in seventh place, on the rails, got through along the inner to challenge at the 400m and then battled on well for (4.3 lengths) fourth. Last year’s winner Who Shot Thebarman raced in fourth place, on the rails. He got a split to challenge at the 400m and then kept fighting on for (4.5 lengths) fifth after seeming to have every chance.