This meeting was postponed by one day due to a very substandard wet track at Awapuni that could not handle much rain and today was decimated by scratchings as twenty-four hours does not change that much in racing surface reality. Just 58 horses went around today in an eight-race card and that included a three-horse field, two five-horse fields, a six-horse field and a seven-horse field. so The Listed 2100m Open Handicap ended by being a field of eleven only after four scratchings in what was a dubious line up anyway. The pace however was energy-sapping early and the two matching motors for almost the first half of the race (Gobstopper and Saint Kitt) stopped liked pricked balloons to finish second last beaten over nine lengths and last beaten over twenty-two lengths respectively. Both of these runners carried two of the top three weights plus the third last finisher was the topweight, so the big imposts got found out to some extent and Gobstopper started second favourite it should be noted too. Seraphim, a three-win mare only prior to today and tackling her first ever blacktype field, won narrowly after sitting back on the inner under the minimum of 53kg and then being sent wide across the top. She swept up second deepest turning in and sustained the run to lead at the 100m and scored in the end by half a neck clocking 2:09.63, which is a solid time and just over six lengths inferior to the track record. The 5yo mare was winning her fourth race today from thirteen starts and her current distance success range is 1400m to 2100m. Seraphim will handle much more distance being out of the G1 Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winning mare Ethereal. Itsallbelt, an 8yo under 58kg, ran home stoutly for second after sitting in the rear duo and then moving up widest runner turning for home. He has never won at Open Class level and today was his first blacktype earned after two misses (both here with a reasonable fifth at Listed level and an honest eighth at G3 level). Leading Role, a two-win 4yo on the minimum of 53kg like the winner, fought on for third beaten a length having prior at G3 in Open Class here run an average ninth at G3. Dr Watson sat handy the outer and moved up third turning for home then reached second at the 200m looking a moral to pay a dividend before missing third by half a head. China Star was the first runner home from near the lead and carried the minimum of 53kg like the first and third finishers. The 7yo mare led turning for home and was only beaten a length and a quarter so some form is very close at hand. Princess Brook ran on well from the rear duo under 58kg and the South Island prepared mare benefitted from the cold tactics applied. Gravano was a two and a half length gap behind her in sixth place and was boxing on okay after losing a handy spot the inner when worked out across the top. Alfie Dee, a one-win 7yo gelding way out of his grade finished a battling eighth beaten four lengths, so was not disgraced but it also showed the depth of this race was suspect beyond belief. Blathwayt under 60kg felt the strain while the last pair home gassed each others chances completely the first half of the race for sure. Two of the least winning runners in the field ran first and third and that encapsulates what this field represents and once again highlights the alarming lack of serious stamina in New Zealand at the moment. The blacktype stamina Handicap events this season so far have been dreadful fields in the main and often lacking in numbers and certainly bereft of real stamina types with many older horses having turns too, so the depth is not there or coming through. Anything can win blacktype Handicap stamina events in New Zealand at the moment, as being way out of their grade and only having won a handful of races is not a negative at all. The G3 NZ Cup (3200m) was a poor field last November and Gobstopper bolted in carrying just 53.5kg and today finished second last in a gap at Listed level carrying 58.5kg, so he is a very hit or miss type for sure. The G3 Wellington Cup (3200m) looks almost sure to be an ordinary field so that leaves the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and that has not been a deep race for decades and it is very lucky indeed to hold a G1 rating due to a moratorium inexplicably called out of the blue. The stayer depth is non-existent these days in New Zealand and the breeders and buyers are not catering for that market nor are they purchasing them anymore as time is money and waiting for a return is not the way of a want it now not later society today.