This G2 2000m for 3yo fillies was notable for many reasons including the glaring small field size for a once sought after event and of course the end of an unbeaten run for the odds on favourite. Just eight runners in this race was alarming in itself as female gallopers are the strength of New Zealand racing and if these numbers are dropping then a seismic correction is coming. It also saw the unbeaten filly Volpe Veloce badly exposed when a tepid fourth beaten over three lengths at $1.70 for a win and she looks anything but a stayer. She had never ever run time in a race and her margins of victory had been getting less and less of late so her defeat was not a total surprise when they ran this at a reasonable clip. Bonneval won the race by a head in 2:02.30 over her stablemate Nicoletta that led up. She was fifth the outer and then went up third wide across the top before turning for home second and ominous. After a struggle with her stablemate she gained the upper hand at the 25m to win her second race in five starts. She is out of a Zabeel dam so the G1 NZ Oaks (2400m) at Trentham next month is the main aim now. Nicoletta tried hard and the track bias in play most of the day almost got her home and she too will go onto the Oaks. She is by sire son of Zabeel so no stamina concerns. The G3 mile for 3yo fillies at Trentham late January provided the same trifecta today albeit the first and second were reversed but that is a slight worry as that was not a strong field at all either. Devise ran third again behind these two fillies and had every chance in the trail with two lengths the gap away at the line. The dam of her sire is a daughter of Zabeel, so once again that middle distance blood shines though when you get to two-turn events. Volpe Veloce was exposed big time today and her participation in either the Oaks or Derby looks unlikely as she looks every inch a non-stayer. Fillies can get away with it in a weak season and have done so in the past but rival trainers and riders now know if your run time that she will buckle, so the battle plans of defeat are now proven and for all to see. She drew gate seven today in a field of seven and that was her worst barrier draw incredibly this season so she has been in cherry-picked races for the majority of the time. Volpe Veloce was sat in the rear duo the outer then tracked up wide with cover (following the eventual winner) across the top and got to fourth turning for home without expending anything extra. The fact she did not ping at all and in was gone 50m out is the telling visual evidence she is on a downward spiral when it comes to stamina. She may well be a sprinter-miler only plus if continued this season then her weakness has been badly exposed for all to see and exploit. The maiden Grand Soleil battled on okay for fifth but was beaten over five lengths and the rest came at bigger intervals and either cannot stay or do not have the quality at this stage. The filly crop this season looks well down on past years and the 3yo crop overall does too with so many having turns and so many being exposed badly at times too. The Derby will settle the 3yo season unless yet another different name salutes and then Ugo Foscolo must win by sheer time and demolition of his rivals in the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) last Spring. Sacred Elixir however can wrap up 3yo of the year with a Derby win and can cement his favouritism after this weekend and then outclass his rivals a fortnight later.