This G3 3yo over 1600m drew a mostly field of the B-graders so it was not a shock that the best horse in the race and favourite namely the Australian bred Sherwood Forest prevailed. The track at Riccarton had the rail out in places 8m and in others areas 11m and this can make for confusing and downright inexplicable results. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were co-leader (one-off the inside), ninth (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fourth (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader), ninth (five-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), sixth (one-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), led (one-off the inside and a neck in front), ninth (eight-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), co-leader (three-off the inside and a neck from the leader), led (one-off the inside and two lengths in front) and seventh (seven-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Sherwood Forest was tardy and settled down in the rear and wide and was still back ninth and deep across the top. The gelding surged up wider near the home turn and then was let rip to be fifth at the 300m and such was his momentum he led at the 150m. He ended up winning by just under a length and clocked 1:38.39, an ordinary time but that was more to do with the track presented and the Rail being out so far. The time was the best for a mile all day at the meeting it should be noted but anything over 1:38 at Group level on dead ground is an average gallop anywhere. It was the second win in seven starts for Sherwood Forest and his first Blacktype win with the promise of better things to come. The stablemates Chuck A Luck and All About Magic both ran on strongly from well back to get second and third respectively with the latter a filly. Sorceress ran on well the deepest to finish fourth after settling down last and was beaten only a length and a half. She won her debut late August by over five lengths at $63. Hot Tap fought on strongly closer in for fifth from midfield the inner while Bronte Beach battled on after trailing the leaders and hitting the front at the 300m then being headed at the 150m. Aotea Lad was back and wide and then went up fifth deep but the effort told and he finished seventh beaten just under four lengths. Lightning Jack, a maiden, led up and was headed at the 300m then weakened but was only beaten four lengths so he is a winner in waiting back to his proper grade. Charlie Awesome was just fair and Woodcote Lass disappointed after racing handy but she may be just a sprinter so the mile proved a bridge too far. Feel The Rush and Far Site will be better back to a lesser age group races or Benchmark 65-75 events and The Tailor's Niece was a shocker running last beaten almost twenty-three-lengths. The Tailor's Niece was found to have bled in the race and now has a mandatory three month stand down. The winner Sherwood Forest is an A-grader and deserves to play in the Premier Age Group League but not sure much else in this does at this stage. Eight of this field were fillies and most would be best served sticking to their own sex and sprint trips it does appear for many of them.