The heavily sand-slitted track at Te Rapa, as is often the case, had a manmade bias for the inner lanes throughout the day and with the rail out 6m it became more blatant as the day progressed. The footing was iffy and then got plus looked worse and worse as a surfeit of sand explosions coming out of the track after each hoof was pushed off the turf caused colossal kick back and kick up. This G2 fillies and mares over 2000m at WFA was run at a genuine enough clip and saw an in form Our Abbadean bury her rivals. She sat back and came up four-off (the widest lane in reality you could) to fifth turning for home then kept coming to lead at the 50m. The 5yo mare scored by half a length in 2:02.43 for her seventh win in twenty-four starts and such has been her form since put over ground her last three outings now read two G2 wins (over 2000m) and a Listed second (over 2200m). China Star had finished fifth then fourth in the last two years running of this and showed this was a weaker line up when finishing second. The rising 8yo mare was second in a gap chasing the leader and kept coming in a game manner. Nicoletta was a clear leader on settling and tried to run them into the sand, with her effort looking still likely at the 200m. A narrow lead at the 100m then saw her headed at the 50m and end up third at the 25m but just three-quarters of a length from the winner. Youwantmore sat fourth then fifth the outer and was importantly kept held in by the winner turning for home. She got going again to run on well and reach fourth at the 50m. Adriatic Pearl, the rank outsider, ran on well the closing stages between runners closer in from seventh turning for home. Thee Auld Floozie raced third the outer but could not lift enough the run home and is not a true middle distance mare in her older years. She battled on as usual and finished sixth beaten less than two and a half lengths. Lovelight had a soft run fourth the inner and could not ping but rather one-batted to the line for seventh beaten two and a half lengths. Cote D'Or ran as favourite and after settling down last never ever looked a win possibility and she ended up a poor eighth beaten five and a half lengths. Mime, which won this last year, ran a third shocker in a row this campaign and her breeding days may be her future now because if not putting in on the track anymore then no reason to keep racing. Platinum Command settled down second last and then dropped out last the 200m never looking a hope at any stage. This was not a strong field at all and some very tired looking mares ran and some are not even true middle distance types. The track bias and sand mushroom clouds from every hoof of every runner was visually alarming and is not ever a wagering confidence inducing factor. Our Abbadean has handicap potential next season and today ticked off the WFA aspect against her own sex. Many of these are unlikely to be seen next season as the breeding barn surely awaits.