This G3 3yo filly only event at 2100m saw the durable Contessa Vanessa score after trailing the leaders on the inner and then taking the lead with 200m to go. She was having her ninth start since October so can handle the racing and scored today by three-quarters of a length and clocked 2:09.78. The time was almost three lengths superior to the Ratings65 winner of the last race on the day in a strong closing stayer called Felaar, and that is notable. It was her fifth win in seventeen career starts and she has won at G2 and G3 this season. Gold Spice after winning her maiden prior on a bog was a stout closing second on dry ground after settling back on the inner. Marcellina ran on from the rear duo for third and the still maiden filly now has been placed at G2 (over 2000m) and G3 (over 2100m). Kapoor settled back on the inner and ran on to be close up but is best when put in the race, so an awkward start today proved unhelpful. Blanco Belle led up and at her first clockwise outing gave a sight until headed at the 200m and she fought well to finish fifth beaten a length and a half. Sunburst sat second the outer and wilted the run home while Fiscal Fantasy got back and then was wide across the top before being pin-balled between two rivals at the 300m. She has not had much luck at all of late. Terra Sancta was noticed warming up very late from second last turning for home. Insight disappointed from handy the inner while Gris Dame never let go the run home and the harder footing seemed a partial reason plus she was wearing concussion plates up front. Excelsior Island stopped badly from fifth the outer and finished last beaten fifty-six lengths and was found to be lame in the right foreleg post race. Contessa Vanessa has only really missed twice this season with a luckless seventh at G1 over a mile last November in the 1000 Guineas and a thirteenth after a wide run in the Listed Karaka Mile that saw Scott Base bury Embellish the final 50m. Can she get that extra 300m in the G1 NZ Oaks in a fortnight? Her durable constitution says yes and her racing style of being able to race close are big ticks but 2400m on the big roomy Trentham track is a stamina test. She will also strike much more depth than today and the G3 filly only race at Hastings last week over 2100m too had much more depth than this. It also was run and won on dead ground in a time almost three lengths superior.