This G2 2yo over 1100m saw a field of seven (all maidens) and the trifecta was made up of all first starters with Aotea Lad prevailing. The track at Trentham was presented as a Slow and saw some tepid times run all day. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were second (length from leader), led (neck in front), led (head in front), fourth (length and a half from leader), fourth (three lengths from leader), second (neck from leader), led (neck in front), fourth (length and a half from leader) and twelfth (five lengths from leader). Aotea Lad raced fifth the outer and moved through fourth turning for home before driving into lead at the 250m and then holding well enough to score by half a length in 1:04.86. Killin sat second the outer and led turning for home narrowly before being headed at the 250m but the Australian bred colt fought hard all the way to the line. Aretha ran a blinder for third as the filly was never ever on the track fourth (albeit with some cover at times) and deep throughout but she kept coming like the making of a decent type. She reached third at the 200m and would not give it away and was only a length away from the winner, which is about the amount of extra ground she covered. Cinzento ran on well for fourth beaten two and a half lengths having prior on debut run second beaten over ten lengths, so the filly ran well and makes her conqueror at first start in the Australian bred Whiskey Neat stocks soar. She's A Lady weakened after being wide in the lead and may be just a speedy juvenile that needs the shorter trips at the moment. The other two in the race got beaten out of sight and were totally outclassed. The G2 status of this race must now be on a warning at least and in doubt for the future as it drew a small field of all maidens and handing out this level of prestige would have drawn the same line up if it was Listed only. It is very rare for a G2 field to have all maidens accepted and could only ever happen in a juvenile event. The first four home all have improvement to come for sure. Aotea Lad and Killin looked professional enough in the running while the fillies Aretha and Cinzento still have some ringcraft to come with the latter needing to jump away with the field or things will always be tough. The amount of progress a juvenile can make from the Summer to the Autumn can be astounding but likewise many go backwards the same amount and turn out to be deadest speedy squibs.