This Listed event over 2200m was solidly run and saw an all the way winner in Big Mike ridden by the apprentice Hazel Schofer and the pair scored by three and a half lengths in 2:18.12. The well travelled 8yo gelding never looked like being beaten from in front as he kept the pace just solid enough whereby nothing could or wanted to get near him. It was his twelfth win today from forty-five starts and it was his second Listed win having won the Pakenham Cup (2500m) in 2018 by two lengths in Australia. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were third (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader), fifth (one-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), second (two-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), second (on the fence and a neck back), fourth (six-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), seventh (six-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), led (three-off the inside and two lengths ahead) and four (six-off the inside and a length from the leader). The bias all day was almost entirely in or near the lead turning for home and the distance range was from 1200m to 2500m. Big Mike was second up today and carried 58.5kg plus he has become a bit of a Cups specialist with today going with his Moe Cup in October last year in Australia and the Wairoa Cup in February last year in New Zealand and of course the Pakenham Cup in Australia in 2018. Second home today was Sir Nate that raced second and was in effect chasing the winner the whole way but he could not get near him. He had 5kg less but could not haul back the natural leader and in fact the final margin got bigger over the final 100m. Third home was Yatima, which ran a clear favourite, that raced fourth the inner and chasing hard but to no avail as she was beaten over five lengths. The 6yo mare was ridden by an apprentice in Ashwin Goindasamy that won the other Listed event on the card so he had a good day indeed. Fourth home was Sherwood Forest with the Australian bred 4yo having last won a race as a 3yo being the G1 NZ Derby (2400m). He started a clear second favourite today but incredibly he has not even run a placing since that career high result to date. Today he raced third the outer but could not ping when asked and he ended up fourth beaten five and a half lengths. Next home was Skyphyta beaten seven and a half lengths that ran on up the ruck after settling down second last. Rangitata was next home after racing fifth the outer mostly and he was beaten almost eight and a half lengths. Next home was Hunta Pence that raced ninth the outer and ran on a shade after coming wide near the home turn. Eighth home was Sinarahma, the fourth favourite, that raced seventh the outer and then she was wide the last 800m but never kicked on. She last won a race back in February of 2020 with a Listed win against her own sex. The rest got beaten almost fourteen lengths and as much as twenty-two lengths with On The Rocks the clear last finisher. He was ridden by the apprentice Sam O'Malley and his last win came in January of 2020 and before that at G1 on February of 2019 but he has been out of form for ages since. This was not a strong field at all but the old warhorse Big Mike showed how to run the stuffing out of all comers. And he loves anything with a Cup attached too.