The track at Ellerslie was a very testing heavy bog and the times all day dreadful (at least ten to twelve seconds over standard or 60-72 lengths). Haussmann, a maiden, won the Listed 1400m for juveniles that was not a very strong field overall and in fact had just one raceday winner it, the runner up and favourite So Far Sokool. The connection however between the first two home from a form thread angle was clear for all to see as both had finished a distant second to the unbeaten Ardrossan on raceday. Haussmann had done it at Listed level already and runs home solidly whereas So Far Sokool is an in pacer type. After settling back and wide Haussmann crept up fifth and deep across the top before reaching third turning for home in an ominous manner. The gelding revelled in the mud and took the lead with 200m to go but had to earn it as So Far Sokool kept fighting on gamely. The winning margin was half a length and the time 1:35.47, the slowest time on the day for the 1400m. So Far Sokool, the only raceday winner in the field, ran freely in the lead and once headed at the 200m did not chuck in the towel at all and was part of a three-horse war thereafter to the line. Ohceedee, also a maiden, settled in the rear trio then improved up sixth and deep turning for home before he kept coming gamely. The colt was a meritorious third and beaten less than a length plus it should be noted he finished fourth on debut behind Ardossan and the runner up today, so once again the formlines are linked. Lily The Pink on debut ran a sound fourth beaten just over two lengths after drifting back early then coming through the field to fifth turning for home. Miss Foxy Gal was fair for fifth and may prefer not as deep footing. She was a very distant Listed fourth here two runs ago behind Qiji Phoenix and that youngster got shown up at Eagle Farm weakening out on the weekend at G2 level, so maybe the form is suspect overall. The rest got beaten eleven lengths or more and either could not swim or were not good enough. This was a weak Listed race with no real depth so no surprise that the best formline thread proved the trifecta. Haussmann and So Far Sokool both look like they will be more tractable on top of the ground so can stand up in the Spring next season. Lily The Pink has scope galore on her effort and looked to have been entered in this race on debut because the field had no depth whatsoever and blacktype was on offer. It nearly was a well executed stable plan.