Having his third start for new trainer Chris Waller, Nature Strip broke through for his first Group 1 victory here, his tenth win from 15 starts. He began well from barrier 9 and with the early pace not overquick, James McDonald soon took him to the lead. He then set a good tempo, got a clear break on straightening and although tiring in the closing stages, he held on to score by the barest of margins. Pierata raced back in eighth place until into the home straight and then ran on strongly to fail by a nose for second in a really smart effort at his second run back. Easy Eddie raced in sixth place, one off the rails, moved up well (wide) at the home turn, went to second at the 200m and then battled on really well, advancing in class here. Encryption was back in tenth place at the home turn and made good ground for (2.7 lengths) fourth, while the favoured pair Redzel weakened from fourth at the home turn under his top weight (59.5kg) for (6.4 lengths) eighth and the three-year-old Graff tired from fifth at the home turn to finish (8.5 lengths) last in the heavy 8 conditions.