The track at Awapuni was off and the times all day proved that plus the vast majority of races went to those in or near the pace throughout. This Listed 2100m event around two turns (usually negates track bias) saw a noted wet tracker bury them in Pump Up The Volume to score by a short neck and clock 2:12.15. The 8yo gelding settled back but improved to sixth centre track turning for home and finished best to get up narrowly and record his seventh win in fifty starts. Six of those wins have come at 2100m or further so stamina and rain-affected footing are his strengths. The runner up Alinko Prince had a good run handy throughout the outer and loomed up turning for home to show solid fight the closing stages. Five To Midnight was colossal and should have won easily after being wide throughout working overtime handy then taking the lead across the top to be a sitting duck thereafter. He wins easily but for the overland outing and will find Open Class very manageable in New Zealand. Blathwayt fought strongly to the line for a close up fourth after sitting seventh then moving up closer near the home turn. Willybe led and once headed across the top would not go away and fought well for fifth beaten just over a length. Our Gazza raced handy on the inner, which was the first shock, and then whacked away okay for sixth to be beaten less than two lengths. He is a mudder so that proved the track was off for him to race and perform like this even if in his older age he does not like it bottomless anymore. Guarantor is the improver after sitting a clear last and running on late so some form will be close at hand. Savaria was okay but the now 5yo mare has been disappointing overall since winning the G1 NZ Oaks (2400m) as a 3yo filly. Tiffany’s plugged away while Dragon Beauty and Red Sunset were dreadful. This was not a strong field at all and many of these will not be around for much longer this season when the tracks finally dry out after two thirds of the Spring so far being disastrously damp. Five To Midnight the 4yo from this you could see progressing as he is much better than a three-win galloper by far.