This Listed 1100m sprint race contained a plethora of names to back next start or over the sprinting feature races this summer and both right and left-handed. It was no surprise to see three of the first four home being mares as they dominate New Zealand in every facet nowadays but when you consider they only had five runners in total it was more significant. In Style was winning her fifth race today at start number twelve and the 5yo mare was scoring blacktype at her first attempt in such a race. She was not away cleanly but soon sped up handy then settled third on her own before challenging at the 400m and then taking an eternity it seemed to haul in the leader and eventual runner up Ruud Awakening. In what was a tight finish it saw the first five over the line separated by less than a length. Ruud Awakening had her ears scrubbed off early to hold the lead on the inner then controlled the race across the top to the home turn but never gave her customary kick at the 250m. The 4yo mare has bigger and richer sprint targets this summer so an in form trainer Stephen Marsh will be looking to see more explosiveness from her next time out and then of course when her first G1 target arrives third up. Shelford was huge after being slaughtered for the second time in a row and just needs a barrier draw to win now trained in New Zealand. He is certainly up to the top sprinting ranks here as long as he does not keep getting dulled by shocking rides. Hannah Mary makes the result a bit suspect by finishing a close and luckless fourth as she has only won three races and took fifteen starts before winning her maiden. This was a big jump from her Ratings 75 win prior and first look at blacktype so to be beaten three quarters a length into fourth is staggering. Whosyourmaster ran on powerfully from well back under 58kg for fifth and would have preferred some cut in the ground at least. Carnavalito in running sixth beaten just over two lengths also puts some doubt on the race depth as she came into this Listed event as a two-win 6yo mare. Time After Time was the eyecatching effort under 60kg fresh up for over a year to be beaten only two and a half lengths. He settled down last the inner to the home turn then ran on nicely and this 7yo reject from Hong Kong that had not won a race since October of 2012 looks a G1 force now in New Zealand. Mosse ran on late from the back after being keen in his first race for two years. He is a big horse with closing power and can only improve from now on so should target the G1 Railway and G1 Telegraph this summer if he can get a start, which was the scandal in 2012. The draw was the undoing of Rich’N Unhitched and Durham Town could not handle his 60kg, while Civics Rock needs cut in the ground or a wetter track. The winning time of 1:03.62 was reasonable but nothing out of the ordinary on a day where some times were very quick and others ordinary such as the mile events. The G3 Cup at 2100m ran 2:09.98 while the first race at 2200m for Ratings 85 clocked a staggering 2:13.30. The close up nature of so many in this sprint is a worry as a couple of them are not Open Class sprinters nor blacktype mares (yet anyway). More will be known come the G1 Railway at Ellerslie and G1 Telegraph at Trentham although with both of those now run under set weights and penalties it makes them iffy races these days.