This Listed Open Handicap over 1400m had a 7kg spread top to bottom and ended up being only a nine-horse field. The time posted was a scarcely believable 1:21.80 on a day no other times were of any significance whatsoever, so there would be a legitimate query. However the track record at Riccarton and it also is the National Record in New Zealand is 1:20.21 set in 2007 by Mr Dexter. The reason this is more than relevant as it came in this very race, when a 50K race at Listed level and sadly the Stake is the same today a decade later much like time has stood still in the South Island. Mr Dexter was having just his fifth start and first time in Open Class when he set this record and was a perfect five-from-five before leaving New Zealand shores. The gelding would win another three races after that in Hong Kong but would run last or poorly almost every other time and in fact over those eighteen runs never ever placed, so was the classic hit or miss badly type. Boots ‘N’ All after sitting third the inner with a perfect sit and carrying 56kg moved up and took the lead 150m from the line and held it comfortably by a length. It was his first win in ten months and his sixth overall from twenty-eight starts of which three each have come at 1400m and the mile. Son Of Maher sat second the outer and led with just over 400m to go but was hauled in by the winner easily though did fight on for second under 58.5kg. He has run a clear favourite in his last two runs so is munching the win money of his backers at the moment. Gallant Boy ran on strongly for third beaten over three lengths and carried topweight of 60kg, after settling down seventh but a fair way off the leaders. Spider set the strong pace and was clear in the lead but got headed the run home and was still third at the 100m before losing that placing with 50m to go. He ended up beaten almost five lengths and clearly went too hard in front for the apprentice rider atop in a non-claiming race. Dynamic raced fourth the outer and only battled for fifth beaten just over five lengths while Laaffaire settled in the rear duo and was the only one to be running on well late and finished sixth, also beaten just over five lengths. The rest were poor and beaten over nine lengths and up to just over a dozen lengths, so either footing was too dry or the time too slick for them. This is a South Island relevant race only albeit run in a fast time.