Final Touch again proved superior to what she is racing against at the moment when it comes to G1 in New Zealand and she may not be finished yet this season. The durable South Islander was capturing her third G1 since the spring and they have now come at WFA over a mile, an Open Handicap at 1200m and now WFA at 1400m. The ride, as in the other two G1 successes, was a pearler and Chris Johnson looks a rejuvenated man very much suited to the late closing spurt this mare can unleash. The solid pace ensured the race would set up a swamper and after sitting midfield the fence Johnson eased her out into clear air halfway up the run home and pushed that G1 button. Final Touch can win a fourth G1 and even possibly a fifth as she has Otaki soon and then a fillies and mares only mile at Te Aroha. Her winning time of 1:21.38 is the sixth fastest time clocked this century in the feature. Only the big horse Veyron has broken 1:21 this century in this feature and he did it last year. One can make a strong argument now for Final Touch to win Sprinter of The Year and for a South Island trained runner to do is very rare let alone a mare. Xanadu is looking more and more like she will be a bridesmaid for life as her powerhouse finishing efforts are super but she cannot give away a start to anything at this level that knows how to win at G1. No surprise the females filled the top three placings and the run that caught the eye most of all was Zurella, which dashed between runners very smartly late. She will be a force if kept in New Zealand as very capable over a large range of distances. Better Than Ever just missed a placing but did all the work in front and set up a strong gallop so was game in being beaten just a length and a half. If he did not have to be used so much early and if not let run along quite so clear across the top then he would just about have hung on to score. Fleur De Lune disappointed and missed paying a dividend for the first time ever at the sand-slitted Te Rapa. It showed her G1 Railway win prior was gifted at 54kg plus that event is proving a sub par G1 race as already mentioned in the Race Review for that New Years Day feature. Guiseppina was stiff when badly hampered not once but twice the run home at the 250m and 150m, as she had something to offer. Jetset Lad ran on well late but keeps beginning too poorly to win at G1 while the effort of Sir Lovesalot was sound in the big time. Antonio Lombardo is a winner when put in a race a notch below this level. If the ride on Revolt in the other G1 held at Te Rapa today was in line for a 2013 Golden Raspberry award for such an absolute shocker then the runner up or best supporting blooper could be Fazzle here that finished dead last beaten almost sixteen lengths. Hayden Tinsley disputed the hot early pace then sat second before taking the trail third across the top and the mare stopped badly the run home. The problem is this mare is a natural backrunner and was in the right race to sit cold then detonate but it was sheer madness to ride her different. In this very race last year she finished third to Veyron and Mufhasa after sitting second last, so Fazzle was ridden as far upside down today as you can possibly get. Maybe the thoroughbred world should have the Gooseberry awards or a Goosie for short! *ANZ