Last year’s VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Dear Demi raced a bit more handily placed then expected settling sixth one off the rails. She moved up three wide with cover from the 600m before switching to the centre of the track on straightening. She then finished powerfully and won, going away by a neck at the post. Driefontein raced behind the leader (Song And Laughter), got between runners at the turn, dashed clear at the 200m and was only run down in the final stages putting up another solid performance. Longport raced outside the leader to the home turn and kept battling on quite well in the straight for a sound first-up third. Royal Descent was one out and one back to the 600m and held on nicely for a good fourth especially considering the rise in class at only her fourth start. The favourite Bennetta was trapped wide from the outside barrier (11), eased to get some cover, before moving up again very wide from the 600m. Her effort in finishing fifth was quite sound under the circumstances. *ANZ