This G3 2400m Open Handicap drew only nine runners, as it did last year, and the quinella was very much expected of Mongolian Marshal and Igraine but not forecast in that order. The track at Te Rapa today had so many textures and changes in ratings that it made for great suspicion as it went from a Dead5 into a Dead4 and then out to a Dead6. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were fifth (length and a half from the leader), third (length and a half from leader), second (outer), fifth (three and a half lengths from leader), seventh (four lengths from the leader), seventh (four lengths from the leader), second (two-off the fence and a length from the leader), ninth (two and a half lengths from the leader) and fifth (two and a half lengths from the leader). Mongolian Marshall had been a distant second at his last start at G3 behind Igraine, when both carried 53kg, so today both had 53.5kg therefore it was hard to imagine the tables being turned. The 4yo gelding raced handy the outer, as he did in the prior start and moved up an ominous second turning for home, as he also did in his last start. The difference here was he went past Igraine and led at the 100m and ended up scoring by over a length in 2:27.30. That time was just under three lengths superior to the Ratings72 winner earlier in The Good Fight, which looks a rising stamina force and is also a 4yo male. It was the fifth win in thirteen starts for Mongolian Marshall and his first past the mile plus a first Blacktype victory. Igraine led up and that was different to her prior win when sitting fourth the outer and moving up to lead turning for home, which seems the best tactic with the mare as the grades get harder. It was also her first ever look at 2400m so there is only better to come for the mare bred in Germany. A close up third was the topweight Five To Midnight carrying 60kg and he tried hard to defend his title from last year under 56kg. He raced handy the inner and fought gamely to the line to be beaten all up just under two lengths. Excalibur ran a better race and was noticed finding the line for fourth after settling down in the rear trio but he was four lengths from the winner at the line so the first three home were significantly superior. He's Cavalier raced second and then turned for home third before a battling fourth at the 200m and then fifth at the 100m. It is extremely doubtful he is a genuine 2400m galloper but the stayer ranks are single ply tissue paper thin at the moment in New Zealand racing. Blue Breeze ran third in the G3 Counties Cup (2200m) last start and Kyrie Eleison finished fourth, so once again they crossed the line one ahead of the other but the margin between them this time was a nostril. Last start saw an over three length gap between them and both carried the same weight again but also Blue Breeze has never won left-handed where as Kyrie Eleison has. Wooden Edge was outclassed and Maygrove had a nightmare trip wide all the way and stopped to finish a distant last. The two best horses in this formed the quinella but the depth was very dubious overall of this race and result therefore suspect as so many not real stayers involved or majority wet trackers.