Sangster outstayed this very dubious strength G1 field at WFA and the first two home in the race can thank an extraordinarily bad ride on Revolt that opened the field up across the top. The field had some former G1 winners including Sangster but all bar one came as three-year-olds (which proves nothing until you race the older horses and have to carry WFA). The older G1 winner in the field scored in a handicap mile that was nowhere near top shelf and the form out of the race so far has not stood up with multiple failures in this race today. Too many long time between drinks runners and far too many handicappers that will never prove competitive under WFA at Group level also ran in this disappointing line up. Sangster had not won a race prior to today since the G1 VRC Derby by a lip over a certainty beaten in Induna (has not run even a place in five starts since) in the spring of 2011 and the form out of that race has proven disastrous in Australia. He is meeting inferior opposition in New Zealand and the stable know it as they want to get his confidence back. The biggest achievement apart from getting Sangster to win again is they have beaten the handicapper senseless as the four-year-old will carry just 54.5kg in the G1 Auckland Cup early March. A now dual G1 winner at 54.5kg is making a fool of someone or some people with the field as is the norm in recent years certain to be sub standard. Dolmabache was a game second and the mare has not had much go her way of late plus being a natural backrunner she has been ridden totally different at last two starts. The first two were clearly aided by perhaps the worst ride seen at G1 for a long time by Shane Dye on Revolt, an older handicapper. You will never see a horse sent around from last in a 2000m race at G1 under WFA for the first time in its career as fast with just under half the event to be run and then to shoot clear across the top with 600m and keep going was ludicrous. Revolt stopped like a pricked balloon the run home and if they had the Golden Raspberry awards like they do for total dud movies then this is the favourite for 2013. Asavant being able to nab a G1 third over another mare in Better Together sort of tells you the strength of this field was non-existent under WFA but just maybe some divine intervention occurred. A last start fifth for Asavant in the G2 Wellington Cup will not show up in her form as a slow to open gate caused the stewards to remarkably make her a scratching and in doing so trimmed odds for betters in various betting pools plus cost the connections several thousand in stakemoney. The decision was rash and showed no thought for the two branches that racing exists as a result namely the punter and the owner. The fact now Asavant has a G1 placing in her record is justice and her stable of Team Parsons are having the most wonderful run at the moment in both Islands. Historian went a sound race and one-batted to finish fifth but his G1 win in the Thorndon Mile has shown that race was barely G2 in reality (Revolt ran a huge fourth). Shootoff went an honest race and since he is a clockwise performer his payday will be coming at Ellerslie next month. The last time he ran right-handed in New Zealand saw him placed third at G1 under WFA behind proven performers at that level in Veyron and Shez Sinsational. Artistic is an improver and something must be wrong with Lady Kipling even if she is suspect at 2000m as the mare was in reverse across the top when Revolt looked like the throttle had jammed open for the rider. The winning time of 2:02.31 was nothing special again emphasizing the lack of genuine depth in the field with this century alone eight of the thirteen winners having gone faster. The fastest time this century is the mare Giovana in 2001 clocking 2:00.78 (or nine lengths superior to Sangster clocking. Mares have won six of the runnings this century. Watch the replay if only for the Revolt insane bolt and then stop to a grinding halt.