This Listed 3yo 1600m saw a luckless runner in the two previous age group races of this grade in the South Island namely Weaponry be ridden differently and leave nothing to chance on a Slow8 track at Ascot Park The winners and where they turned for home in race order were led (one-off the fence by a length), led (one-off the fence by two lengths), sixth (five-off the fence and a length and a half from the leader), fifth (eight wide (widest runner) and a length and a half from the leader), led (two-off the fence and by half a length), led (two lengths ahead the inner), led (three-off the fence by a length), led (five lengths ahead the inner), led (one-off the fence and a length ahead) and led (neck ahead and three-off the fence). The home straight here is only 210m so leaders turning in win the vast majority of races no matter underfoot conditions and it is a momentum track as moving up wide the dummy straight before the home turn is not a negative but in fact a tactical plus. Weaponry was a tad tardy and third last away but got sent up wide fast quickly to be outside the leader and in the open after 100m. The gelding was then third the outer midrace and sent up third wide across the top and share the lead at the 400m before taking the front near the home turn and scoring by a length and a half in 1:41.88. It was his third win in five starts and his first Blacktype success (he ran a Listed third and Listed fourth in the first two races of this deep South Triple Crown). Upscale was tardy and last away and still second last the inner midrace but worked off and charged through fourth across the top then challenged three-wide for the lead. The filly ended up a co-leader the inner with the eventual winner at the 400m but could not go with him though she tried hard the run home. Air Max the favourite had been a closer in winning the first two Listed legs of the deep South Triple Crown but was ridden differently today. He was fourth and wide and got sent up second the outer at the 1000m and therefore gave the winner cover and a good sit. The gelding challenged across the top but when the first two home put the pressure on he was third at the 400m and struggling but he fought on to hold that spot albeit three lengths in arrears. More Jools a maiden at $26 ran a good fourth and she was trailing the leaders then got held up at the 450m and went back second last soon after. She ran on again the run home to belie the fact this was her seventh start and she had run just one third but was able to finish fourth at Listed level now trained in the South Island. The filly was beaten nine and a half lengths but her effort alone tells you the lack of depth in this Blacktype race. Sulu Sea, also a maiden, was not too bad from last at the 400m but was beaten ten and a half lengths. The rest got beaten a dozen lengths and up to just over fourteen lengths. This only looks South Island relevant bar the winner Weaponry. There will be winners out of the race back to their proper grades and back in trip for some.