This G2 over 2100m for 3yo fillies drew a modest line up only and saw the favourite Queen Of Diamonds win with authority after being ridden too her strengths again. The filly has tactical speed but in her last two runs at G2 and Listed level against her own age she has inexplicably been ridden quiet (even with manmade track bias glaringly helping on pacers on the day) and got beaten into third and fourth. Today those obvious errors were not repeated on a day where outright leaders won half the eight-race card and then runners sitting second the outer and handy the outer scored too. One runner in a two-turn event swept up from last of a seven-horse field to lead turning for home and win and another winner came from second last (tenth turning for home) and surged to win in a time run almost nine lengths superior to the opening event at 1300m. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were led (one-off the inside and half a length ahead), second (the outer and a neck behind), led (the inside and a length ahead), led (one-off the inside and a head in front), led (on inside and two lengths clear), led (four-off the inside and neck ahead), third (four-off the inside and length from the leader) and tenth (one-off the inside and four lengths from the leader). Queen Of Diamonds used her best weapon of pace to negate barrier eleven in an instant and was up second the outer a lap out then ended up third with cover and she was always thereafter within striking distance. Once let stride up four-off turning for home she reached second at the 200m and led at the 150m then drew clear to score by a length and a half in 2:12.97. It was her third win in eight starts and her second Blacktype success with a clear cut G2 now to go with a dominant G3 win in December. A maiden Australian bred filly in Shezathinka came from back and wide with a sustained finish for second to put some realism into the field depth. Her four placings prior to today were reasonable but nothing out of the ordinary and the form out of them has not been that good either overall, so factor in today she was tackling Blacktype for the first time and rising 500m to get a gauge. Imelda Mary, the second favourite, ran home well for third after settling back and wide with cover. Tellingly when the winner settles ahead of her she finds it near impossible to pass what is a now a main rival for G1 NZ Oaks (2400m) glory in seventeen days. Jakkalbomb raced second and led at the 250m but wilted once headed with the 2100m seemingly the only excuse today bar not having raced for twenty-five days. Miss Labasa led up and weakened once headed at the 250m, so she will need to not go as keen in front to get an Oaks trip but she had not run for thirty-two days prior to today so has improvement to come. Let Me Tell Ya and Vee Cece deadheated for sixth with the former sound for a maiden while the latter was the superior running on late eyecatcher. Nerve Not Verve was not too bad late after getting well back for a maiden and Sentimental Miss was a marginal pass mark. Allacciato and Secret Allure disappointed and Miss Valencia had an overlander and will sleep well. Lady In Lace dropped out from last on settling and never ever got into the contest at any stage. The 3yo ranks have been consistency-lacking and stamina-lite this season and the form in the main suspect as almost all the Blacktype or Group performers have suffered inexplicable flops or crushing defeats bar the male Madison County and this filly Queen Of Diamonds. Interestingly they are stablemates and share the same owners. The 3yo crop this season have been very mediocre and uninspiring so far and we are now about to start the Autumn where that growth spurt or strength improvement can be substantial. The G1 NZ Oaks, once a strong and reliable race and guaranteed future form source for not just next season but thereafter too in New Zealand has lost its lustre and relevance alarmingly in the last few years. The good fillies don't even bother now and head to Sydney for richer spoils and kudos and since the G1 NZ Derby was moved to the Autumn that has weakened the Oaks even more as any good local filly tackles the boys now. Queen Of Diamonds has the tactical weapons to win an Oaks and the best stayer rarely wins the race these days, so she can almost pinch it early in the run home. Her main rival now is Imelda Mary and where they settle down is the key for those two combatants. Miss Labasa could steal the Oaks with that outing today an ideal top-off while the value looks to be Vee Cece, the stablemate of Queen Of Diamonds, the way she found the line late today. This race field today was not of a G2 standard overall and the lack of stamina in the 3yo ranks this season is rather alarming and can only be put down to the breeding ranks.