The winner of this Listed Open Handicap over 1800m was Whale Song, which was ridden by the apprentice Wiremu Pinn. The 5yo gelding ended up well back on the inner and was tenth midrace and across the top but stayed closest in near the home turn and saved heaps of ground. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were twelfth (sixteen-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), fourth (seven-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), co-leader (four-off the inside), led (six-off the inside and a head in front), second (four-off the inside and a head in front), eighth (fourteen-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fourth (two-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), sixth (eighteen-off the inside and a length from the leader). Whale Song improved to be fourth turning for home and led at the 200m and just held on at the line to win in packed finish by a nose in 1:37.90 under 53kg. The first six home were separated by less than a length such was the packed nature of the finish from the inner to the outer. Today was the fifth win in twenty-three starts by Whale Song and was his first win at Blacktype after two attempts over December last year and January this year resulted in a Listed fourth and a sixth at G3 respectively. Both were close up efforts and saw him run on powerfully. Today the winning of the race was the ground saved near the home turn as he got home by the smallest margin possible. Second home was the deep Southerner in Lightning Jack that started a clear favourite and raced fifth or sixth the inner early then was seventh and wide across the top and came up deeper and sixth turning for home. The 4yo gelding carrying 55.5kg was still fourth at the 100m but coming and he really unleashed hard late to just miss. He already has two Listed wins and a G2 placing as a 3yo so has it all ahead of him this year. Third home was Belle Fascino at 56.5kg and the 7yo mare has been in remarkable form and going for her fourth win a row today. In fact in her last six starts including today she has won four races and been placed twice. The two placings have been second beaten a long neck and third today beaten a nose and short head. She raced second throughout and fought tooth and nail the run home to be beaten narrowly. Fourth home and coming with a stupendous late run the widest was the North Islander in William Wallace that flew home from the rear duo on settling. The 8yo gelding was still tenth at the 200m and deepest but fair flew late to be beaten a nose, a short head and a long neck. One more stride and he wins today such was the power of his finishing run. Fifth home was another North Islander in Pullyoursocksup that raced fourth the inner and was second at the 150m before being swamped late. The 5yo mare was ridden by the apprentice Darren Danis and is only a three-win mare so did very well all things factored in. She has a Listed placing as a 3yo but is clearly better than her record indicates. Sixth home and beaten less than a length was the 4yo mare Bronte Beach that two weeks prior had run third at G3 over a mile behind Belle Fascino, so she was in form. She raced today in the rear duo with William Wallace early and was last on her own before the home turn and got angled wide turning in. The mare was eleventh and one spot behind William Wallace at the 200m today and she ran home hard plus was ridden by the apprentice Kozzi Asano and is also far better than a three-win runner. Next home and beaten over a length was Kilowatt with the deep Southerner carrying the same weight as the third finisher Belle Fascino today of 56.5kg. He raced third mostly and was still fifth at the 200m and fought on well. Eighth home was Beneficial that raced seventh or eighth wide and she fought on well the run home to be beaten a length and a half. The 6yo mare was ridden by the apprentice Kin Kwo. A gap then existed to ninth home that was beaten all up just under four and a half lengths in Malo Bik, the North Islander that led up today and was headed at the 200m and weakened out. Rock Sensation plugged on for tenth beaten four and a half lengths and a nostril behind him was All About Magic, with both racing back eighth or ninth mostly then turning in tenth and twelfth respectively. The rest got beaten home almost five lengths and up to and over ten lengths. The time was a length inferior to the Listed 3yo filly only event held prior so the time was nothing special but the finish was a ripper. Three of the first six home were separated by less than a length and ridden by apprentices. This will no doubt prove to be a good source of future winners owing to the closeness of the finish at the line (eight runners beaten a length and a half in total).