This G1 under WFA over 2000m was run at a searching clip throughout and saw from first to last a nearly twenty-five length spread at the finish. Consensus won her first G1, as it was for her in form rider Alysha Collett too, in a tight finish by a short neck in 2:01.25. The 5yo mare was fourth the outer then sixth midrace before being wide across the top and launching the run home. She was third but coming at the 200m and led at the 100m then fought off her main threat in Volkstok’n’barrell. It was the seventh win from thirty-two starts for an honest mare (she has been top five in twenty-seven starts of her career so far) that handles most types of footing and has won from 1000m to 2000m. The mare was a luckless third at G1 under WFA here in March behind Volkstok’n’barrell over 2000m so got some divine justice. One of her owners post race easily avoided the bleep censor with a rhymes with duck live on air swear with the F-bomb actually ending up a bigger talking point afterwards strangely. Volkstok’n’barrell, a clear cut favourite, ran a sound race for a close second but had every chance in reality from a dream sit fifth mostly. Authentic Paddy was in the early speed before talking a trail and fought on well for third. Saint Emilion was brave in defeat for fourth and was in effect denied third when checked the final 50m by the runner up. He was in the speed dual early then sat second chasing the clear leader throughout before challenging at the 200m and fought doggedly. The margin between him and the runner up was too big to force a change in positions but that is a weakness of the rule used as this is a G1 and Saint Emillion got cost third for sure. The rider of the runner up did cop a fine and hefty suspension but does not have to start it until after January 1, the other big G1 raceday here, so where is the true G1 punishment? Promise To Reign ran home well as she always does and Girl Of My Dreams, the solid pacesetter, wilted to sixth beaten two and a quarter lengths. Hasselhoof had a good sit sixth in a strong run race early but then amazingly was sent up wide before ending up fourth the outer. He did not ping at all the run home and was one-batting albeit bravely as found to have bled and is now stood down for a mandatory three months. The gap back to the rest started to get bigger and bigger and was either a case of being outclassed at this level and WFA scale or through the hard ground or for health reasons. Bel Sorriso was beaten almost twenty-four lengths and could not keep up on better footing while Sound Proposition ran last and was found to have suffered cardiac arrhythmia. He had won the G1 Easter (1600m) here last Autumn so to drop out this badly there had to be a health issue. The WFA depth is poor at the moment in New Zealand and runners seem to have turns like none of them are bad but not that good either. Lot of disappointments in the race but overall not a genuine G1 race and result with only the solid time standing out as they could run this again and get a different winner.