This G3 3yo 1400m drew a modest only line up and saw the Australian bred Spirits Aubeer work to the lead and win easily at $11 despite laying out the run home. The track at Ellerslie was a Dead5 (upgraded to a Dead4 following R3) and the Rail was out 6m and the winners and where they turned for home in race order were seventh (five lengths from the lead), led (four lengths clear turning in…2200m race), fourth (two lengths from the lead…2200m race), fifth (two lengths from the lead), sixth (two and a half lengths from the lead), led (length clear turning in), led (neck ahead turning in) and led (neck ahead turning in…2200m race). The times were off all day and in fact this 3yo event could not break 1:24 for the 1400m (they ran 1:24.30) and the fastest 1200m was the Open Handicap of 1:11.34 (a maiden race on the day ran 1:12.88 or nine lengths inferior). No double digit barrier won all day (four races on the card had a dozen or more runners) and the closest in winner came three-off the fence with the vast majority double out that or centre track. When leaders are being deliberately steered well away from the inside the run home or directly to the middle lanes then clearly there is a track issue if it is just a Dead5 or Dead4. Spirits Aubeer worked early wide but got the front after 300m and then led by two lengths then a length coming up to the home turn. The gelding was steered three off the fence turning in then lay out and ended up in the middle lanes but was always well clear and in control. He won by two and a half lengths to record his third win from six starts and of course his first Blacktype success was achieved today too. The natural on pacer ran out the 1400m well albeit the time was ordinary so still an asterisk on his distance range at the moment. His brave third two runs ago proved a reasonable guide as the runner up that day Hypnos ran a cracking third in this and the winner that day Masetto ran a brave fifth in this. The cut in the ground clearly helped almost all of these runners but whether they are anywhere near the top shelf now or will even get there is still open to debate. Surely Sacred ran on very well the closest in (on the slower lanes) for second after turning for home tenth and three and a half lengths from the winning leader at that stage. It should be noted he was angled four-off the inside when running on the strongest and also the lone runner that stayed on the inside lane (Quizmaster) ran dead last beaten over thirteen lengths. Hypnos ran on stoutly from the rear duo and came the second widest runner with his sustained surge going from sixth at the 200m to reach third with 15m to go. Total Excess surprisingly started favourite having never been clockwise on raceday before and after getting a good run fourth the outer reached third at the 300m but never kicked on. Masetto ran on the widest after settling down third last and then being wide across the top then turned for home last and deepest. He finished fifth beaten three and a half lengths and it was a reasonable effort with the gelding looking a Derby type considering his dam won five races and was unbeaten in both her 2400m runs. Cantstopthefeeling raced seventh wide and was running on the closing stages so far from disgraced while Star Performance can be forgiven after getting back further than normal but he too was finding the line okay and will keep. Roll The Dice raced sixth between the runners and came up wider the home turn then hit a flat spot like a few others before running on again late. Langkawi disappointed after trailing the leaders while Bocce looks like a sprinter only and never ran out the 1400m after sitting outside the winning leader. Cavallo Veloce was a poor eleventh beaten over eight lengths and some of the Spring 3yo form is looking a tad more dubious by the day, as he showed today and his stablemate Langkawi too. Quizmaster was a distant last and his prior run for sixth at G2 left-handed now seems very suspicious as that race provided the G1 2000 Guineas winner that ran third that day when a blatant manmade track bias victim. The 3yo form has become more confusing than ever and too many are having turns to think it is a very special crop at this stage. Things can change quickly with the 3yo's as the Summer to Autumn improvement can be colossal but until it happens it never did. Four runners in this field had some sort of form around the Spring main 3yo's (male and female) and but all of them got well beaten in this (seventh, ninth, eleventh and twelfth) from five and a half lengths to over thirteen lengths. That is a worry but with the Ellerslie track today not racing fair for all (inside lanes go slow areas and nothing won from too far away turning for home), so it may require more data proof yet to say with any surety yet.