This capacity field for a G3 handicap over 2300m saw a tight finished between the first two home and Hunta Pence got the decision by a nose in 2:21.82 for his second win a row, The 8yo gelding won at Listed level before this and today was winning his tenth race in fifty-five starts. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were third (three-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), fifth (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), led (one-off the inside and length and a half in front), fourteenth (one-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), second (one-off the inside and a neck from the leader), ninth (one-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), fifth (three-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), sixth (four-off the inside and three and a half lengths from the leader) and third (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader). Hunta Pence raced fifth or sixth the outer then moved up early the run home and was a close fourth at the 100m before getting in the stride that matters on the line. He has never raced better, which tells you the depth is not around anymore as this 8yo had prior to last start been out of form for all this season prior and for almost all this year. His last win in fact before the latest double came on June the first in 2019. A nose away was Dolcetto, also an 8yo gelding, and he was game in defeat after racing second the outer and fighting tooth and nail to the line. He had run fourth at G1 under WFA over 2040m behind Melody Belle in October this year to show that the depth of form is nowhere near as good as is being portrayed. He had run fourth at G1 under WFA last year behind Melody Belle too to show the true depth of the form is dubious to say the least and has been for a couple of seasons at least. Today he carried 60kg and went down a nose plus he carried three and a half kilos more than the next highest weighed runner, which happened to be the third finisher Camino Rocoso, the now South Island trained runner. Camino Rocoso, a 7yo gelding had won a G3 at Trentham over January of this year (2020) so he does not mind a trip away. Today he led up and fought hard once headed and was beaten just over a length. Fourth home was Sir Nate, which trailed the leaders to the home turn and he has been in solid form of late plus was ridden by an apprentice rider today. Fear was fifth home and beaten less than a length and a half and is very close to showing his true worth again. He last won a race, a Listed event, in April of 2019. Sixth home and beaten less than two lengths was Star Tsar, a three-win Australian-bred galloper having just his tenth start that started favourite in this. The big horse ran on gamely from eleventh the outer on settling and is still a work in progress but for him to start such a clear favourite says more about the field than him. Seventh home and beaten almost three lengths was Platinum Invador that was resuming and settled down last. He started second favourite once again showing the true lack of depth of this field. He ran on okay and should cash in over the Summer months in Cup races as he has done before. Next home was Platinum Rapper that ran on a bit from eighth mostly while Jacksstar, which had been out of form for ages, battled away for ninth after racing sixth and then the rider dropped the whip for the final furlong. The rest got beaten five lengths and up to over fourteen lengths with the biggest disappointment being London Banker, which ran eleventh beaten over five and a quarter lengths. This was an on pacers finish as shown by the first five home. Whether this is true Cups guide seems rather dubious albeit two or three should feature in the handicap events over the next two months or so.