This Listed 1400m Open Handicap saw a $35 winner absolutely bolt in called Fascinate from the ace gate after trailing the leaders. The 7yo mare once worked off the inside turning for home cruised up under a grip and led at the 200m before swimming away to score by three and a half lengths in 1:24.95. It was her tenth win in thirty-nine starts and first ever on this track but it should be noted two other outings here came at G3 against her own sex and one of them resulted in a second during the Autumn last year. Nine of her wins have come on dead or wetter footing and even her other win came on ground that was not hard as the time suggested that day for an Open Handicap. Kolonel Kev was crowded early and got back but ran home powerfully for a good second (carrying 58.5kg) so gave the winner 4kg. Raise You Ten, a four-win 4yo and stablemate of the winner, ran home resolutely for third from second last on settling and looks to have many more wins to come this year. La Fille En Jeu led up as expected and was headed at the 400m and third at the 200m but fought back to be second at the 100m only to be passed at the 50m and then with 10m to go. Twoznotenough raced sixth the inside and worked off and through early the run home and the mare was fourth at the 200m. She fought on well for fifth and was as nostril from fourth. Zawhip raced outside the leader and momentarily led at the 400m before being headed but was still third at the 100m only to be swamped late. Wills Road battled on late from back and wide on settling but was beaten eight lengths at the line. The rest were battling the run home mostly and few had many excuses apart from the obvious elephant in the room being the awful track footing. This was a strange race and to some extent result as at the start a natural leader/on pacer Batman was a tad tardy and let ease back to last and he never passed a single runner throughout staggeringly. It looked more a case of you either handled the tricky Riccarton footing presented or you did not as all the winners on the card are noted wet trackers. This only looks relevant for future South Island racing as some of the failures in this could form reverse back onto more decent and fairer footing.