This G1 2yo over 1400m as expected saw some big margins of defeat for the beaten brigade with the Awapuni track presented a very tricky slow surface and draining on the energy of most runners throughout the day. Melody Belle won easily and led home a trifecta of filly dominance so the sex allowance was massive in such trying and testing awful wet ground. She had a soft run fourth or fifth the outer and got a nice run through turning for home under a grip and ready to be let loose. Her surge into second at the 200m saw the front taken with 100m to go before drawing away to win by a length and a half in 1:25.54. It was the first G1 for rider Michael McNab who did a massive extended celebration before the line and afterwards and duly was fined $400 but only got warned surprisingly despite being more than half a kilo overweight after the race. The time was good for a day of sluggish clockings and compared nicely to the Listed Open Handicap event that followed, which was a small field and sedately run but still posted just 1:26.77. Melody Belle ran seven lengths faster time and that augurs well for the filly that reveled in the wet ground unsurprisingly being by the sire Commands that can leave swimmers. It was her third win in five starts and she has now won from 900m to 1400m and both directions and on good, dead and slow footing. Belle Du Nord came from well back on the inner and cut the corner saving ground before running on well closer in than the rest albeit still markedly well away from the inside lanes that was an anchor to all runners and no go areas from the outset of the day. Joyfilly race second the outer and hit a flat spot at the 200m but fought back well to the line and snare the G1 placing with 100m to. Star Treasure was the first male home and brave in defeat as he was wide working in the open fifth then fourth and kept coming the closing stages to finish fourth. Hard Merchandize set the pace and once headed at the 200m wilted to finish fifth beaten almost five lengths. Nothin’ On Me, a maiden, ran an honest race for sixth after getting back on the inner. The eycatcher was Scott Base paying $84 with this maiden settling down wide in the rear trio but the gelding kept coming gamely down the outer. He is a winner in waiting and would be odds on back to all maiden juveniles. Ozil was not too bad and has a bit to learn still while Summer Monsoon from buried on the inner was angled off abruptly at the 400m and caused a rival to almost fall. The colt, a stablemate of the winner, is usually in or near the lead on settling so it can be forgiven after such an outing that caused so much trouble. The rest got beaten by ten or more lengths up to almost thirty-five lengths. Hasahalo was a disappointing second last after being hampered at the start and she may have had enough for the season. Divine Power is a total forgive as she got pole-axed at the 400m by Summer Monsoon and after clipping heels stumbled badly and almost fell. The rider of Summer Monsoon in Jason Waddell was suspended for three weeks. This is usually a respectable guide for next season and in particular the fillies ranks but this year a handful of males look to have scope too. The 2yo of the year for New Zealand racing now looks a choice of two with this filly Melody Belle having won the Karaka Million (open only to certain Sales runners) and this G1 event versus the Australian bred colt Summer Passage that won the other G1 juvenile event in New Zealand. Summer Passage will get the nod as he has since run second at G1 in Australia in the Sires Produce and has therefore done it against allcomers both times rather than a Sales specific event line up only open to some.