The picture for the G1 NZ Derby early March became murkier after this G2 3yo event over 2000m. The track at Te Rapa is more often the not manmade biased and six of the seven races today went to either leaders or those close up on settling, which is a very convincing sample. The stablemates Rangipo and Raghu formed the quinella with a nose between them and just a short head back to the third finisher Get That Jive. The first two home were running two and three and the third finisher sat handy the outer plus the eventual fourth finisher worked to the lead so the quadrella barely changed in the running. The winning time of 2:02.52 was over a length superior to the Open Handicap held prior. Rangipo is an Australian bred and was capturing his fifth victory in ten starts today and handled the middle distance as expected being out of a Zabeel dam. Australian breds interestingly captured all four blacktype races held around New Zealand today with the distances ranging from 1400m to 2400m. Raghu is also out of a Zabeel dam and fought hard to the line to be beaten the smallest margin possible. Get That Jive, also an Australian bred, is a huge improver having had a minor setback before today. The trio above all can make their own luck in the running plus Rangipo and Get That Jive can swim if need be. Ronchi was a brave fourth after being wide and working before getting the lead midrace and once headed at the 200m fought well all things considered. He is certainly bred to win feature 3yo events. Ali Baba ran on well enough to suggest he was near some form again. Zacada fought on okay and being by Zabeel he will enjoy the Derby trip of 2400m. Bamarru was wide the whole way so to not drop out but rather box on for seventh was commendable. Thunder Down Under ran on late as he often does. Scrutinize plugged away but has now had three ordinary runs in a row so where too now has become a head scratcher. Henree Winkler and Gravano did not look like stamina 3yos at this stage of the season though the former is best when put in or near the lead. Tavago the clear favourite was awful in finishing last and whether he can run middle distance has to be an issue now. The one thing that could save the reputation of many in this would be Te Rapa is such a manmade biased track and more from reversals occur here after failing the next time out on a more normal and fairer surface than any other track in the country. In a fortnight when several of these clash clockwise over middle distance could see some runners form reverse from today and get their Derby campaigns back on track.