This Listed 2000m Open Handicap was run at a furious pace with the strong winner being Guarantor in 2:00.09. The 6yo gelding won by a length and a quarter to record his fifth win in twenty-five starts and to show his stamina credentials four of his victories have come from 2000m to 2500m. Thee Auld Floozie ran on well for second after sitting buried on the inner not spending a penny until angled off turning for home. Matimba the pacemaker was only run over the final 50m and did a good job for his first try at this trip. Silverdale ran on strongly from well back on settling for fourth while Trojan Warrior hit the line nicely the closing stages for fifth. Gustavo and Saint Emilion the stablemates were okay with the former better but the latter did race too keen at times second up so with the edge knocked off him should be right from now on. The rest either weakened out or were flat to the floorboards to run on with the race pace sapping any finish they may have usually shown before. Fast Dragon stopped badly but his rider has suggested he be ridden cold next time out though that can be tinged with risk as what say he is seen next time out on a massively biased on pacer track? Guarantor looks a Cups horse this year in New Zealand so his next outing is expected to be the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 12 and he will be uber-competitive in that.