This G1 mile under WFA conditions lacked genuine depth and contained a lot of runners not suited to this scale as many are in reality handicappers only. Plus the track bias was massively in favour of on pacers (seven of the ten winners led or trailed inner/outer) and the inside lanes were markedly faster. So no surprise then that the reputations and credibility of many were bought further into question by the easy win of Aide Memoire, a 5yo mare in her first ever Group race. Aide Memoire is more of a wet tracker and her best win prior showed that with a Listed win on a heavy bog and she clocked 1:45.30 for the mile under 53kg so it came under handicap conditions. She handled the 57kg at WFA today without batting an eyelash and shamed the opposition after trailing the leaders to the home turn then strode through to lead at the 200m. Her winning margin of one and a quarter lengths was as dominant as it sounds and she clocked 1:35.87 (almost sixty lengths superior in time to her Listed win mentioned above). A Special Conditions (maidens and one-win basically) winning filly earlier in the card won easily in 1:36.53 to put the G1 time into proper perspective but it also makes Devise gain kudos too. Authentic Paddy ran a brave second after sitting fourth the outer then moving up across the top and taking the front at the 400m. He seems to have been racing all year around and ran second in this last year beaten a nose by Julinsky Prince that ran dead last today. Ringo ran a solid third and in many ways showed the field lacked true depth as he has ran seventh in this last year and has never been able to place at this level before. Scapolo was hitting the line hard for fourth and is a good handicapper but also confirms the point that this field contained so many of the usual suspects but all are much the same muchness and have turns almost. He was third at G1 under WFA at Otaki in February behind Volkstok’n’barrell (fifth today) and Julinsky Prince (won this last year and was dead last today). Big Dreamer ran fifth and should not be anywhere near competitive against all comers at this level so once again it reinforces that this field was not a true G1 serious field or result. Volkstolk’n’barrel after blundering at the start and settling well back ran on well late and will just about win next time out as long as it is clockwise. He is not competitive in Australia as an older horse but can clean up at this level in NZ under WFA as the depth is not here anymore. Abidewithme ran on well down the outer late but never looked a hope on settling and a riding change will be forthcoming next time seen out. Bel Sorriso, a winter mudlark and stayer, ran on late for eighth beaten just over three and a half lengths to show this is a very iffy result indeed. She has had eleven starts on good or dead ground for a single win and it came over 2100m in 2:11.84 in a 3&4yo weak field carrying 54kg. Slice Of Class is not a G1 horse against all comers and was holding third until being swamped the closing stages. Nashville was seen running on well the last bit from the back but he always does this the now 8yo gelding. Battle Time set the pace and weakened so he may be just a handicapper but at this scale and level is very hot and cold. Savaria was outclassed while El Pescado can be forgiven as he had a horror run wide and working in the midfield throughout. Julinsky Prince was dreadful and this stablemate of the winner kept the leader honest throughout but both stopped like pricked balloons. Aide De Memoire is a mare so gets all favours in New Zealand racing across the board but for her to demolish a G1 field at WFA of all comers screams the depth is non-existent. The mare may prove to be worthy and is very consistent but is yet to even race on good footing so may be weather reliant or tracks being over-watered in the next few months to show it was not a fluke. Her dam won up to 2000m so WFA at this trip would likely be a next step and she does manage clockwise so Ellerslie would seem a next target or be freshened up for next year. Volkstolk’n’barrell looks the next up winner from the race and it should be clockwise at Ellerslie over 2000m and Abidewithme in what should be her last start should provide the quinella. Tracks bias had too a big say in this result and with many runners either too old or out of form plus some have forgotten how to win it was ripe for a newcomer on the block and so it proved. This race will struggle to hold its current G1 status if fields like this and the result continue to happen when taken as an overall depth and relevance picture.