This G2 3yo 1600m drew an average field overall but the winner Surely Sacred scored in the manner of it not being the last time he salutes this season. The track at Ellerslie today was posted as a Good3 but the winners in the main came well off the inside and many got angled deliberately up the middle lanes, which looks and is quite unnerving for bettors. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were seventh (three-off the fence and three lengths from the leader), seventh (two-off the fence and three and a half lengths from the leader), led (one-off the fence and a length in front), tenth (four-off the fence and four lengths from the leader), fifth (four-off the fence and three lengths from the leader), ninth (six-off the fence and five lengths from the leader), sixth (nine-off the fence and three lengths from then leader), led (four-off the fence and a neck in front), sixth (eight-off the fence and two lengths from the leader) and led (two-off fence and two lengths in the lead). Surely Sacred settled down last and turned for home in that position four lengths from the leader and angled up a middle path before steered wider into clear air and let rip from seventh at the 250m. The gelding reached third at the 100m coming then the surge of momentum he had built up prior saw him power to the lead with 20m to go and score in the end by almost a length in 1:36.71. It was his second win in three starts and his first Group success plus he races like any cushion or cut in the ground is appreciated as too many hard track runs will be to his detriment. The times all day at Ellerslie were poor as the Open Class G2 mile race was 1:34.40 and the G1 1200m was 1:09.47 and neither of those clockings is anything of note. Surely Sacred ran a time that was fourteen lengths inferior to the G2 mile for Open Class older gallopers today so how good the runners he buried today looks very suspect at this juncture. Canstopthefeeling led this up only to be bombed the final 20m but did get it cheap in many key stages as shown by the overall poor time. Langkawi sat sixth or seventh wide (with cover) and was able to keep coming and reach fourth at the 200m then got third on the post, which showed this was not a tough run mile at all More Wonder once tardy looked a million to one for bettors as then the second favourite recovered but was buried on the inner and dictated too thereafter. He came through closer in and actually got to third with 50m to go but was nailed on the line being atop inferior lanes that cause deceleration rather than acceleration. Star Performance raced handy the inner and fought on okay to be just half a head and a head from third. Penteverest was another to absolutely confirm this was not taxing run mile at all as he sat wide fourth then third in the open and moved up second at the 200m with purpose. He was still third at the 50m then swamped to finish sixth beaten just over two and a half lengths but the effort had merit. Arrogant got back then wide and battled on the deepest and does not wind up as quickly as the winner obviously but he does look like he can sustain a longer run so more ground will help and a stronger pace overall. Tolemac sat outside the leader and offered no pressure whatsoever so the Australian trained gelding was outsprinted and would prefer a more searching gallop and more distance. He is here to try and get into the G1 NZ Derby and cut in the ground may well be imperative too. The other two in this race were outclassed. This was not a deep 3yo field for a G2 at all and some of these are not even milers plus the only runner in it that had attempted G1in the Spring started second favourite and finished fourth (albeit a good effort) after a poor getaway. The ping of Surely Sacred is his best weapon and whether that makes him a Derby prospect is debatable as stamina does not look to be in his blood though for the 3yo age group that often does not matter.