The G1 NZ Oaks was once the best guide to future big race success in New Zealand hbut has been diluted now due to the movement of the G1 NZ Derby to a first week in March date and the attraction of the rich Sydney Championships. Fillies are what New Zealand racing and breeding does best so while the race is not the first or even second choice of many now it can still throw up stayers and WFA players for next year. This year looked like a reasonable depth field and the 2:29.67 clocking augurs well too. The winner Savaria was only having her sixth start today and now has won half her starts. She looks and races like a stayer with the best part of her races every time the closing stages. It has been a while since trainer Roydon Bergerson has had one with as much scope as this daughter of Savabeel. She is out of Amathea, whose third dam is Solioquy that left the likes of Solveig (14 wins including two at G1). Savaria pulled off a big betting coup in the process too as she sat midfield the inner (eventual runner up on her outer) and rider Hayden Tinsley played the one-off card turning for home and it all opened up thereafter. The filly savaged the line the final 100m and had them covered at the 50m along the inside. Platinum Witness was game in defeat and having to come around rivals the run home was probably the difference in the end as she had the winner on her inner for most of the race. These two fillies in their previous outing had deadheated for first so this was the formline that stood up today. Charmont fought well for third beaten less than a length after taking the front at the 250m having sat in the trail for most of the race. Her breeding was the bloodline you knew would get the 2400m for sure and so it proved. Exquisite Jewel ran a brave race for fourth at $76 after sitting outside the leader throughout. Belle Miraaj fought well for fifth and the showy South Island filly was rising 800m on her previous outing so has it all ahead. Bel Sorriso ran on late from the back and being out of a Zabeel dam it showed she can stay but would have loved a wetter track. Saavoya was okay but for her standards below par to be beaten five lengths into seventh. Consensus ran on late from the back and seems to do this every start so her racing style is not conducive to bettering her record. The rest were disappointing or simply did not stay the mile and a half. The in form South Island filly Another Coup looked outclassed surprisingly when second last and beaten almost sixteen lengths. The first three home are quality fillies and would be competitive in Australia.