The winners and where they turned for home in order of this ten-race card were led, seventh (four lengths from lead), led, third, sixth (three lengths from lead), third, third, fifth (two lengths from lead), led and led, so the bias was as usual brutally on pacer helpful. You could not win if too far away turning for home and the times all day were nothing outstanding considering they said the track was a Good3. This 3yo at G3 over 1400m saw the hot favourite filly Xpression outclass the modest line up and win by two lengths in 1:24.05, which it should be noted was the slowest time of the day at this trip. Xpression raced sixth in the eight-horse field and was three wide with cover across the top not far away and under a big grip near the home turn. She gobbled them up quickly and led at the 300m and had a very easy kill indeed with NZ bookmakers perhaps over-reacting and making her a clear favourite to win the G1 1000 Guineas straight after. Her main rival Melt (which has the better and stronger formlines this season so far) has a similar racing pattern so it could be a double detonation day at Riccarton on November 17. Today was the third win from five starts for Xpression and now with a G2 and G3 success she is chasing that full set with a G1 the main Spring target. Our Flying Ace was one of two males in the race and he was unbeaten coming into this. The gelding was ridden cold and stalking the winner so had a chance to beat her but could not match her turn of foot early the run home. Fire Show, the other male in the race, was brave as caught wide fifth then moved up third deep across the top and actually towed up the winner. He was just over three-quarters of a lengths behind Our Flying Ace at the line. Wekaforce worked early before getting the lead and once headed at the 300m wilted to finish fourth beaten over three and a half lengths. Miss Curious, a maiden, ran on late from the rear but was beaten over seven and a half lengths. The rest were weak and would be only making up the numbers if aspiring to run in the G1 1000 Guineas. This was not a very strong field overall and run in a time that is considered standard for maidens, so nothing had too strenuous a day out. Xpression is out of the dam Xpress that won at a mile and there looks to be middle distance blood once into her second and third dams with the latter in particular. The filly should run an Oaks trip as she relaxes in the running and her connections may even contemplate a Derby run if the male colts and geldings do not shape up or show much depth this season. The temptation will be to chase the more meaningful and lucrative (both in stakemoney and blacktype prestige) Australian riches and the fillies do not look scary at the moment on the Eastern Seaboard. The chick fight between Melt and Xpression could a be a no holds barred battle royal at Riccarton in the G1 1000 Guineas where both will be tackling a mile for the first time.