This G3 race now under WFA saw the best suited runner in the 9yo Tommy Tucker prevail and show his evergreen status. He had run second in this the last two years carrying 60kg but today had 59kg under the WFA scale and duly scored by half a length in 1:39.09. The 9yo was eased back wide early and then improved deep across the top and reached an ominous fifth turning for home before taking the lead at the 100m. It was his sixteenth win in fifty-one starts and he has won on all types of footing and from 1250m up to 2000m. Gallant Boy the stablemate of the winner ran a game second after sitting wide fifth or sixth and striding up to take the lead at the 300m. Princess Brook ran on well for third from seventh or eighth the inner and she found coming back to the South Island from the North Island very much a stark drop in depth. Kolonel Kev ran an honest fourth after racing fifth then through to third midrace and he seemed to cope at WFA. Shakti ran on late from well back for fifth beaten four lengths and the 8yo had prior won a Ratings75 so was rising multiple grades in this and carrying the same weight as the winner so was dreadfully situated under this scale. His effort alone showed the depth of this race was not that good as today was his first ever Open Class outing and it came at G3 under the WFA scale. Coulee was honest beaten four and a half lengths and the stablemate of the first two home was wide for the entire race sixth mostly. Timy Tyler after bounding in the air at the start ran on from the rear duo and the now 7yo last won a race in October of 2015. Flying Sardine battled on closer in after drifting well back and Fascinate plugged on from the rear duo and was the fourth runner in the field from the same local yard as the top two home. The leader Batman stop along with Dontpokethetiger that sat second while Spider never handled the WFA scale. Hayley Maree ran a shocker and stopped for a distant last and the in foal mare has now been retired. Whether making this race WFA will retain its G3 status is dubious indeed as that is not the way to keep a rating considering it is based on race results to show an event is worthy. If the race results over several years are up to scratch then the rest takes care of itself so credible blacktype racing is paramount for industry relevance and standing. Playing musical blacktype shuffling of the deck chairs is a disaster waiting to happen as merit is the only true standard a thoroughbred race rating rises or sinks on.