The first G1 of the season was run at WFA over 1400m and contested on a manmade biased track towards on pacers and the inside track. The nine races run today saw all the winners bar one be not too far away turning for home and that exception to the rule winner Te Akau Shark looks special albeit he may be a wet tracker only. In a range of distances and classes the winners in order turning for home today were fifth, seventh (Te Akau Shark), led, third, third, third, third, fifth and led. The footing was a holding slow and energy sapping looking at the margins many runners got beaten today at the line hence almost all found it impossible to make up much ground at all. Melody Belle once again after a dream run the outer remained unbeaten this season as a 4yo mare and after winning at G2 resuming under WFA got her G1 under the scale today against allcomers, which is gold for breeding purposes. She was second early then got cover from a rival that was not going to stop on her so ended up fourth the outer in a dream spot. Once she came up third and three-off turning for home the mare challenged at the 200m and led soon after. She held well to score by half a length in 1:24.59 and record her seventh win in fourteen starts of which six of those are Group or Listed successes. The daughter of the now defunct Australian racehorse and sire Commands is registered as New Zealand bred, as her dam will have been served in Australia but she had her foal in New Zealand. Can the mare stretch out to a mile and does she need a decent gate to prevail? In her seven wins the worst barrier she has drawn is seven with her gates being one, two, three, four, six and a pair of sevens. Hi Flyer after being fourth at Listed level twice in Australia came back to New Zealand and ran second at G1 under WFA and that is a very telling fact indeed. He dropped half a kilo today too so is Sydney at Listed grade the equivalent of G1 in New Zealand these days looks a very fair question to ask let alone ponder. The 6yo gelding was a tad tardy clearly and eleventh away at the jump before going to the money lane of the fence and being ninth then seventh and through sixth across the top. He worked off and into clear air at the 300m and was close enough if good enough. The gelding unleashed but at WFA his surge is nowhere near as vehement as when under handicap conditions. Hi Flyer kept coming from fourth at the 200m to be third at the 100m and reached second with 20m to go but once again he had every chance. His biggest plus is the second leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown being over the mile and that is his best trip. Our Abbadean proved the fence was golden and a faster lane all day even if strangely an inexplicably many riders failed to notice so, when running third at $58 a win. The 6yo mare was fresh up and after being tenth the inner on settling got a dream run through near the home turn and drove through quickly to be fourth at the 200m and reached second at the 100m. She ended up third at the 20m but was beaten less than a length from the winner, a stablemate, and it shows the WFA depth is still dire in New Zealand. The mare is a middle distance type and by an American sire out of an Australian dam. Jon Snow ran his usual one-batting rugged race when fourth at the line after settling outsider the leader and he kept on keeping on the run home. His racing pattern suits Australian racing as he keeps out of trouble and can make his own luck but that lack of change up speed or ping is a negative over shorter trips but at middle distance all is okay. The incredible fact with Jon Snow is he has never won a race from 1201m to 1999m and for a big stakes earner that is incredible but then again he has won just four races with a G1, G2 and G3 his trio of notable successes. Savvy Coup caught the eye the closing stages fifth after being crowded at the start and in the rear quartet at the jump and she looks in for a lucrative season if aimed at realistic races. Ocean Emperor led up and was run over into sixth equal beaten just over two lengths and should have done better too but like the runner up prefers the mile more. However he is not causing Winx any sleep regards the Cox Plate, if that is still is over-ambitious pathway for the Spring. Wyndspelle fresh up ran on okay for sixth equal and he shows the race depth was nowhere near espoused by some as he could not win in eleven starts in Australia with four placings his lot. If he is competitive at G1 under WFA in New Zealand then that is very telling indeed plus it must be highlighted he is just a two-race winner from twenty-six starts so is very shy saluter. Scott Base was awkwardly away and part of that rear quartet at the jump but he too improved the inside early and then was angled one-off to be ninth between runner across the top. The 4yo lost his spot and was held up before being angled second widest and in lanes that held no benefit all day and were a negative drag in fact. He wound up strongly late the closing stages and was impossible to miss. The start is always key in any race but today for Hi Flyer (runner up), Savvy Coup (fifth beaten two lengths), Scott Base (eighth beaten just over two lengths) and Seventh Up (tenth beaten just over three and a half lengths) it was costly. Francaletta had every chance after trailing the inner while Seventh Up can be forgiven as the 8yo found traffic and cramped quarters the run home. Underthemoonlight was eased back to the rear early and was noticed warming up last from second last on settling. Sensible Princess was found out at her first try at G1 under WFA versus allcomers but settling back and wide made her task impossible with the manmade track bias presented. She deserves one more chance better drawn as the 6yo mare has some dash. Authentic Paddy was trapped wide fifth then fourth and the 9yo was a struggling ninth at the 200m before ending up thirteenth at the line beaten five and half lengths. My word he has had some gutbusters in his eighty-five starts. Start Wondering was dreadful again and the 8yo clearly now must have decent footing or else he does not try or put in. Son Of Maher was outclassed and never cleared last on settling. The manmade track bias today gives pause to the relative merit of the result and the depth was not there whatever way you slice and dice it in the round up and analysis. Melody Belle won a G2 fresh up at WFA on a horrendously biased and manmade Te Rapa track that was shocking beyond belief and five of the runners from that race all failed today behind her. Racing patterns win races due to manmade track bias and Melody Belle has had two huge dollops of help this time in. She was good enough however to capitalize even if narrowly each time, so an awkward or wide gate could just as easily spoil her unbeaten 4yo season so far from this point onwards. Hi Flyer may have won with a proper start but it has to be noted he was only able to finish fourth at Listed level in Australia twice prior so to almost win a G1 at WFA in New Zealand is very telling indeed. Our Abbadean showed the manmade track bias mattered most with a close third at G1 under WFA fresh up and this middle distance mare it should be added today was having her first run at this level under this scale against all comers. The three 4yo runners showed there is hope for some new blood with the winner of that age but a sprinter at this stage however the miler and middle distance types Scott Base and Savvy Coup both will be more fearsome next time out. Jon Snow is a shy winner but likes the big purse races and his racing style makes him competitive in most types of races at 2000m or more. Wyndspelle as a two-race winner was competitive at G1 under WFA today in New Zealand and that is quite glaring albeit not as surprising as the third finisher in the race. Most of this field today are wet trackers and/or handicappers and this lack of fear or not being in awe of G1 in New Zealand has meant for years now everything thinks they are up to the task. When the ultimate level or pinnacle of the sport is seen as weak and vulnerable in New Zealand by so many trainers and owners and riders then that perception becomes reality by everything having a go at this level. The respect of the G1 is gone it seems as no one fears it in New Zealand as a bridge too far or sees it as the domain of only the very gifted. The disrespect is shown by the horses (trainers and owners and even some riders are suggesting to connections to not be afraid) that are running in it for this decade at least, as while no one begrudges the odd or rare hail mary and dreams are after all free, when it comes to the blatant lack of depth continuously having a futile throw at the stumps it can only cause future downgrading. The Ratings65 final race of the day at Hastings ran about ten lengths inferior time to this G1 and the gap should be double that surely for a rise of six grades at least and likely more. If a not so manmade biased track is presented at Hastings in three weeks for the second leg of the Triple Crown and the footing is decent therefore closer to firm rather than a holding slow then the form may flip dramatically.