The perfect G1 record for female gallopers in New Zealand for 2014 continued to six now with Viadana taking out this feature narrowly. The opening 400m of this 1400m was torrid between four runners and no surprise they finished last, third last, fourth last and tenth. The overall time of 1:22.19 was barely faster than the last event on the card a Benchmark 75 but they went very hard in this G1 early. It is just the ninth fastest time this century and this decade the slowest time. The four previous winners this decade all ran 1:21 and change and one ran 1:20.99, which makes the 1:22.19 of Viadana not in the same league but an iffy track does balance that out somewhat. Female gallopers have won two of five runnings this decade and after four of ten from 2000 to 2009 that can be equalled or likely bettered from 2010 to 2019. Mares this year finished first, third, fourth and fifth of the top five and Viadana was capturing her second G1 today but first under WFA versus all comers Her rider Craig Grylls, who captured G1 just a fortnight ago atop A Touch Of Ruby, rode a daring race on the mare and was helped by the stablemate Needly that sucked her into the race turning for home. Viadana strode to the lead at the 200m and was clear but being closer in than all the closing threats she did fall in the last bit to win by a head. The runner up Sacred Star probably should have won and being partially held up from the closing 300m to the 200m was the difference. This 4yo male almost won a G1 at WFA and has been a revelation since coming to New Zealand after being basically a midweek galloper in Sydney. He was several notches inferior to genuine Saturday class in Australia but since coming to New Zealand has won three races and missed by a head today of a G1 at WFA versus all comers. He was third at his prior start in the G1 Thorndon Mile under handicap conditions carrying 53kg so rose 6kg today and almost scored. The runner up in the Thorndon came out and won the G1 2000m feature at WFA today versus all comers namely Costume and she rose 5kg. The form thread is sound but the query is being able to step up and score at WFA where rising so much weight should matter. Diademe was a game effort for a close third after making a wide move across the top. Xanadu should have been in the money when flying home late for a close fourth beaten half a length. The finish was a run on one and Fleur De Lune that usually is on the pace or handy wide came from the back of midfield and unleashed well the closing stages for fifth. Durham Town once again found the last little bit beyond him at G1 and sixth was his lot plus 1400m is a tad past his best distance. Barbaric was sound and Nashville again was too far back but hit the line hard. He was last for too long before being detonated and did well to be beaten less than three lengths but giving away such a start at this level is asking for regular defeat. Final Touch was better the final bit though it is not the same mare that won this last year. Scapolo is a 4yo with serious upside and he may make a WFA galloper next season but for him to be a clear favourite today at his first G1 start and at WFA for all comers was absurd. In another credibility blow for the Triple Trio bettors got put onto Scapolo after Bounding was a withdrawal on the morning of the race. This has happened twice now with Cauthen scratched and Triple Trio bettors going onto Barbaric on a concrete track in the G1 Telegraph then the debacle today makes for awful product PR. Scapolo was the first runner home from the four that went silly early and his big race time will come. There were five of the sixteen runners today that had won at G1 and after the result the number is the same. Whether this form would stand up in Melbourne or Sydney is almost certainly no with so many instances and examples to cross-reference highlighting this fact. The efforts of Xanadu and Nashville highlight it in one devastating dollop regarding Melbourne and as mentioned earlier Sacred Star albeit improved is the Sydney evidence. Durham Town was not competitive in Queensland putting doubt on any of these measuring up in Cane Toad country but he was sixth today so five beat him home. It was a shame the Te Rapa track was so visually damning as the sand-slitting makes the times seem better than what they really ever are and with the rail out 4m on a G1 day the trust in accurate measuring then becomes an issue.