In a tight finish the 2016 G1 NZ Derby (2400m) saw the first five over the line be separated by half a length and there were hard luck stories galore. The Australian bred Rangipo again won in a tight finish to score by a short head over a luckless What's The Story while the stablemate of the winner Raghu was third just a head away. Rangipo clocked 2:28.89 and has been a revelation this season since coming to the Tony Pike yard. He is by the sprint sire Stryker so must get his stickability from a Zabeel dam in Holloway. His ten runs this season have yielded seven wins and that contains a G1 and three at G2 while the worst he has finished is fourth twice. A dream sit third or fourth saw the gelding loom up at the 200m and after challenging at the 50m he narrowly got to the front and of course is now unbeatable in a photo finish it seems. The race was marred with a big crowding incident at the winning post the first time and many runners got hampered and some checked badly. One of those was What’s The Story in copping some strife but he settled down midfield the inner and got off turning for home before unleashing. He was really coming hard the final 50m and significantly closer in than the rest so to go down so narrowly was even more too his credit. Raghu sat second and then attacked before the home turn before his rider pushed the go button at the 300m and tried to win the race right there and then. It almost worked but going for glory that far out for a first look at 2400m proved his undoing and he was tackled at the 50m then headed late. Capella was a super run for fourth after having an interrupted campaign over summer and she should have just about won the race looking at her closing power the final stages. She got hampered at the start and then was wide in the midfield across the top before coming up the middle turning for home. To beaten just half a length was very creditable indeed. Valley Girl also ran home hard for a close up fifth after being hampered a lap out and she too just needed to be a fraction closer turning for home and not so deep at the 400m. The quinella should well have been the two fillies Capella and Valley Girl but such are the vagaries of racing. Tavago was sixth beaten just under two lengths and was huge after being last on settling then coming the deepest runner turning for home. He has a future looking at the way he ran out the race plus factor in he was crowded early and hampered a lap out. Predator was honest after getting a nice run sixth mostly while Get That Jive had every chance in finishing eighth after trailing the inner. The Hassler and Brighton were boxing on at the line with the latter a more likely stayer into the future. Humidor despite wanting to hang outwards for most of the race was warming up late down the outer and is a name to note down as when he learns to harness his power properly will win more races. Piece Of Kate was not too bad considering she had won her maiden prior while Splendido, which is still a maiden, got pole-axed a lap out and required vet treatment after the race. Son Of Maher stopped badly after leading to be beaten almost thirty-six lengths and was headed at the 50m so stamina may not be his calling. Just how strong this field will pan out is a conundrum looking at the close margins between many but certainly several will win multiple races in New Zealand at all levels. The runner up What’s The Story was the male that should have won but Tavago might end up the better horse as his run from last was super. However the fillies Capella and Valley Girl that ran fourth and fifth should have formed the quinella and do have the most scope. Certainly many miler and middle distance types in this but as for outright stayers that is the debatable factor once into next season when meeting the older horses. Humidor for example has upside and only finished eleventh. Locally this race always provides a poultice of winners for next season but whether there is overseas quality seen out today is the key question.