The inaugural running of this Listed million dollar 3yo mile saw more confirmation the age group this season are having turns and no runner has yet proven to be dominant in either sex worryingly. The depth is suspect as no runner can repeat the dose so to speak and the flops by several runners or excuses-less defeats gives no confidence that form can yet be trusted. This was the fastest run race of the entire all blacktype six-race card and even had a relegation that was not cut and dried looking at the head on, especially as it was for third money in such a rich race and was worth 62K. Scott Base was a stupendous winner and after settling down twelfth or thirteenth the gelding came with a thunderous surge and fair zoomed the last 100m to get the lead with 25m to go. He ended up winning by almost half a length even after the runner up veered out and bumped him late with that same runner incredibly having been wayward 250m earlier veering inwards and causing Kapoor to be checked badly. Scott Base gave the hotpot Embellish windburn as he went past even with the bump and he was too good in clocking 1:33.43 and winning his third race in ten starts. It was his first blacktype win and goes with two Listed placings and he has such a sustained strong finish that you would think the Derby distance is his oyster but his breeding suggests otherwise. He has the finish of a sprinter-miler but relaxes so well nowadays and you do not have to be the best stayer in 3yo only racing as being the most talented is often enough, Embellish had every conceivable chance after getting a dream run sixth the outer and he should have won if good enough being the G1 2000 Guineas winner last November. To make a mockery of form Embellish beat Scott Base home that day by fourteen lengths so this is some turnaround but does once again show the 3yo form this season is rather raffle-like. Ironically in that 2000 Guineas Embellish was one of two runners to cause deadset carnage early on and completely transform the race along with Ever Loyal that ran third in it. This same pair were protested again by the fifth finisher today in Kapoor that was checked by Embellish at the 300m and then copped some outward movement interference the final stages by Ever Loyal. The odds of the same two runners causing strife in another lucrative 3yo race is not a good look indeed. Savvy Coup ran fourth but got promoted to third so her earning rose by 30K and she ran a game race from midfield on settling and being a game finisher the run home. Kapoor finished fifth but was promoted to fourth so her earnings rose by 13K and she was the one that copped not one dollop of grief but two from the 300m to the 50m. Her protest against Embellish the runner up was dismissed as the margin of defeat was two and a half lengths so was never going to beat it home and that is the rule in New Zealand racing now so fair enough. However after checking Kapoor at the 300m clearly it was strange the rider of Embellish got no suspension or fine as it looked bad as the replay shows. Ever Loyal was wide then sped to the lead and was let run along freely to the home turn before being headed at the 150m. He ran out the final 50m but crossed the line third however was just a nose and half a head in front of Kapoor. It was not a clear cut call at all to relegate and the tight margin was probably the deciding factor with Ever Loyal losing 43K by this relegation. The rider of Ever Loyal it should be noted was suspended for 12 days afterwards and received no fine. Danzdanzdance ran home very attractively for sixth from last on settling and looks a filly with scope galore. She was beaten five and a half lengths but the Australian bred filly really did unleash some fancy steps the final stages. Hard Merchandize led then trailed but never kicked and needs west ground it seems plus maybe just a sprinter. On The Rocks raced second the outer and was still third at the 200m before feeling the strain. Hasahalo got back as usual and was ran on okay but was not that far from the eventual winner midrace and he beat her home by almost six lengths. Scream Park was ordinary plus one-paced and needs cut in the ground or wetter it would seem. Marcellina was not too bad for a maiden as after being well back and wide so to pass several was quite brave and she is a winner in waiting. Athletica was just fair the inner after settling back and needs middle distance now while Countessa Vanessa stopped after being wide in the midfield. She has been in her three prior runs a G2 second, a G2 winner and a G3 third but like many 3yo’s this season needs the right run and track bias to perform. Smokin’ Oak was outclassed and Alternative Fact needs cut in the ground or wetter footing. Mighty Power and Secret Ambition were also outclassed. Lots of future winners from this as it was such a searching run mile. Scott Base turned around fourteen lengths on Embellish since November and that is hard to accept as truly possible unless the G1 2000 Guineas was somewhat misleading form and the blatant interference in that race early caused so many massive defeats. The 3yo form this season continues to take one step forward then two steps back as flattering to deceive seems to still be the norm. Scott Base has such a withering finish you have to wonder about 800m more but he might be one of those gallopers that defies his breeding. Embellish when tried over 2000m will answer some obvious Derby stamina doubts at the moment but he has tactical speed. Savvy Coup and Kapoor are thriving on constant racing and Ever Loyal is best let run along being such a strapping gelding as no point fighting him. Danzdanzdance is a filly that comes out of this still on the way up and you cannot drop Hasahalo yet plus the maiden filly Marcellina is a soon winner for sure. Once again more questions posed than answered after this and the 3yo pecking order still keeps changing like the flight times on an airport arrival and departure board.