The G1 NZ Derby (2400m) for 2018 drew an average rating field at best and not one single G1 winner alarmingly was found in the field of either sex before the jump. The first five home were covered by two lengths and from sixth to fourteenth were covered by six lengths so the obvious bunching does cast doubt that many of these are topliners and/or actual stayers. Vin De Dance won by a nose in 2:28.44, which since this race was moved to a March date in early Autumn is only the eighth best time in thirteen years. The gelding sat third or fourth in the running then led at the 100m and after a ding donger scored by the narrowest margin. It was the second win in nine starts for Vin De Dance that is clearly a late maturer and lacks any ping but keeps grinding on so is hard to get past in a slug fest. He was fifth of ten last Spring at G2 over 2040m and beaten almost ten lengths with the first two home Aloisia and Cliff's Edge notably and the rest are not much chop. Aloisia since that race staggeringly has in three runs not even paid a dividend but she is a top filly at peak, while Cliff's Edge has won at G3 and placed at that level since in four runs and a decent draw would help this on pacer. Both missed at G1 on the weekend at Flemington in the same race with Aloisia a total forgive when pole-axed and Cliff's Edge did too much work from a wide draw to lead and ran along too quickly so felt the strain late and was run over. Vin De Dance on the damside family has a lot of sprinting blood so it must be his sire Roc De Cambes that gives him that one-batting stamina speed and he can cover extra ground as is able to maintain this constant rate in running. Mongolianconqueror after a soft run sixth the inner lost his place across the top then worked off and came through at the 400m then reached third at the 300m, before getting to second at the 100m. He was in a ding donger thereafter and got done by the cruelest margin in thoroughbred racing at G1 level. Better footing today saw him almost form reverse on a seventh here prior at G2 beaten over five lengths against many of his rivals again and it showed the vast difference in footing that is presented on New Zealand racetracks. The only filly in the race Danzdanzdance started a clear favourite and ran a game third but was a length and a half behind the first two home. The Australian bred filly lost a midfield spot the outer when the race saw two runners sprint around across the top wide from the back and change the race complexion as they were not breaking any records prior. The Mayor ran on stoutly for fourth and missed third by a nose, with his effort being an eyecatcher down the outer widest after settling twelfth and deep the final third of the race. He had been massive prior at G2 when off the track the whole way to finish sixth beaten two and a half lengths, where he beat home that day Mongolianconqueror by one spot and over two and a half lengths. Endowment ran a blinder after settling back and then being four-wide midrace before being detonated very early to sweep up and attack for the lead across the top. The gelding led at the 300m and was only overtaken 100m out and beaten less than two lengths so he may well have won if not let rip so far from home. Mission Hill, the stablemate of the winner, was a tad disappointing after racing fourth or fifth and he was one-paced the run home when finishing sixth beaten three and a half lengths. Civil Disobedience was massive in finishing seventh beaten four lengths as he was wide the whole race and in the open for the second half of the event plus came up deeper near the home turn and ran widest turning in. He boxed on like 3200m will be his go next season and if not for such an overlander today could well have been right in the photo finish. On The Rocks disappointed overall but knuckling at the start never helped and if he ran out the 2400m totally is still in question so the just is still out. In fact many in this do not look like true stayers and likely never will be. Time Lord had a soft run the fence and just battled while Irish Flame led up for the very first time in his career (which is extraordinary coming over 2400m at G1) and was run over the final 300m. Joe's Legacy passed a few from the rear duo on settling while Humble Pie did too much the first half the race and paid the price. Bel Ragazzo was green at times and only plugged while Jimmy Rocket passed four from last turning for home. Of the last four home Tavlin and Maktoum will be better next season and Secret Ambition was one of two runners that sprinted up fast and wide across the top from the back to attack for the lead and then the effort told the run home. Eight runners copped chain reaction interference with 1750m to run and that never helps as at the time they were the last eight just past the winning post for the first time. For the umpteen time this season another 3yo male had a turn at winning at Group level in New Zealand and nothing has stood up yet with the last one left of this class of 2017 and 2018 being Age Of Fire to try and hold up the G1 3yo feature Spring form at Riccarton now in Sydney. Otherwise can Vin De Dance out-grind them in Sydney and pinch the 3yo award or will he be exposed too? This was not a deep race at all but some of them can get stronger for next season and most of these are not stayers so will find the correct lesser distance range as 4yos. Riding changes for some can make a difference such as the filly Danzdanzdance, while Civil Disobedience needs a senior rider and of course if Endowment did not take off before acceptances so fast and wide a long way out then he may well have won the feature at $52. The Derby and Oaks winners almost always these days are not Melbourne or Caulfield Cup winners next season and bookmakers that have markets out very early know it, after their wins are fresh in the minds of bettors. Three-year-old form means nothing until they show as a 4yo they can first handle older horses and secondly are either WFA capable or handicappers only. Twenty years ago So Casual won the 1998 G1 NZ Derby and clocked 2:24.80 or almost twenty-one lengths superior to today and that is the fastest running and in fact the track record at Ellerslie for all comers. Damien Oliver rode So Casual to win and twenty years later won the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on board Grunt.