This Listed 3yo over 2100m saw the clear favourite Cutadeal prevail in a tight finish where the first four runners over the line were covered by just over half a length. The track at Ellerslie with the rail out 8m saw no leader on settling win but you could not be too far away turning in though unusually coming wider the run home was not a negative and that is most unusual on a Dead5 announced track. It is strange to see runners fanning the width of the track almost looking for faster lanes on a track that has cut in it but is not a slow or heavy bog, so visually it is a most unnerving sight. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were second (neck back), eighth (four lengths from the leader), third (length from the leader), eighth (four lengths from the leader), led (neck in front turning in), co-leader (three off the inside), fifth (seven-off the fence and two lengths from the leader) and led (closer in and a neck in front turning in). The race start marker for R2 was incorrectly placed as the time looked too sluggish and it proved to be so worryingly and these timing problems happen because of these constant rail movements so always be very wary. Cutadeal the clear favourite outstayed his rivals down the outer after racing fifth or sixth the outer and moving up deeper turning for home. The Australian bred sustained his finish to lead with 15m to go and scored by a neck in the unremarkable time of 2:14.40. It was his third win from five starts and first at Blacktype plus all his victories have come on rain-affected going, so cut in the ground is what he likes and needs it seems. Incredibly the first three home in this 3yo stamina test were all Australian bred and that should send a shiver up the spine of all New Zealand breeders. Factor Me In ran on stoutly too deeper out after settling down eighth surrounded for much of the race then came up seventh and the second deepest turning in. He too maintained a strong surge the run home. Swords Drawn, a maiden still, settled back between runners then came through closer in at the 300m and led at the 150m only to be caught at the 15m and then lose second with 5m to go. Prince Albert, also a maiden still, ran home strongly from thirteenth on settling and was still seventh at the 200m and sixth at the 100 before reaching a close up fourth at the 50m. He was just a neck, half a head and a long neck from the winner, runner up and third finisher respectively. Heavenly Emperor after settling the pace was joined at the 200m and headed at the 150m but fought on okay for fifth but was two lengths behind the fourth finisher and just over two and a half lengths from the winner. Bobby Dee was noticed running on strongly late down the outer from well back and wide plus he is stablemate of the winner. Let Me Tell Ya, a maiden filly, had every chance in the trail but battled away while Masque after being trapped wide went up outside the leader and wilted the run home. Danelyn, a maiden filly, plugged away followed by a couple more maidens in Bayeux and Rely On Me. Capellani (a one-race winner) raced fourth the outer and did not stay while Mighty Connor, a maiden, showed little the run home from well back on settling. Thomas Aquinas, maiden raced fifth mostly and came up wider turning in but showed nothing the run home and the stablemate of the winner was disappointing. Desirabull was outclassed. This was not a very strong field at all and way too many maidens involved to be considered a serious contest or a true stamina result. Cutadeal has that will to win but may need rain-affected footing to always truly let go the run home. This may be the second level or tier of G1 NZ Derby contenders as so many maidens ran super in this and will be winning a race or more shortly but it is still an unknown because the improvement from now until early March and the Derby can be enormous for this age group. The cut in the ground helped many of the field too it should be noted but on the basis of this the 3yo event, the stamina ranks cupboard is looking bare at the moment and Old Mother Hubbard is a in a muck lather of panic. The first three home were all Australian bred and that is very telling indeed from a where the New Zealand breed is situated at the moment.