This G3 over 1200m at set weights and penalties saw the behemoth Julius make it three wins from three starts this campaign. The big fast tank sat third in a gap, in what was a fast run race, and then as he does lengthened that big stride underneath his whopper frame and led at the 200m. He went on to score by a length and clocked a slick 1:08.32, which makes for solid reading considering the track record is 1:07.73 set in the 1987 G1 Railway Handicap. Interestingly only one track record at Ellerslie was set this century, over 1100m in 2010 by Castles Burning, and every other came in the 1980's and 1990's. This is staggering proof of how bad this track has been all this century and how poor it has been presented and has raced without any substantial rejuvenation. It is in fact quite damning that bettors have been asked to wager on this so called headquarters track that was to be honest, a dreadful surface that was either hard on top and crumbly underneath so shifty or became holding and excessively energy-sapping with not much rain or watering. Julius is a 6yo and was winning today his sixth race from ten starts and if he had been sounder and able to race more, who knows what the big fella that makes the earth move when he hits the ground could have achieved. The impressive aspect, apart from his imposing size, is in the three 1200m runs this time in all at Ellerslie he has on Good3 footing run 1:10.40 (Open Handicap) then 1:09.42 (G3) and now 1:08.32 (G3), so he has got faster as the depth got stronger. In those runs he drew gates five, six and seven so has not been gifted anything and he may well be scary too his opposition with the big shadow he casts. Heroic Valour came from fifth the inner to finish second and had every chance while Sultan Of Swing ran on well from back on the inner to get third and just missed second place. Passing Shot raced second chasing the tearaway fast leader and led at the 300m before Julius went past him at the 200m and finished fourth beaten just over a length and a half. Romancer fought on okay from seventh on settling and they just went a bit quick for him overall. Volks Lightning ran a game race beaten two and a half lengths after being sixth and wide for most of the race. The rest were beaten four lengths or more with Magnum running home late from last on his own and Fully Funded finished last and bled so is banned for three months. Julius is a name related to the Roman god Jupiter and the biggest planet in our solar system by far is of course Jupiter, so this imposing gelding is well named indeed. His rider Jason Waddell, who has had his own issues and strife, will not be getting off this fast monster anytime soon and after this G3 win scored the G1 NZ Derby in the following race. Where do you go with a 6yo gelding in imperious form that has speed, size and can run time? It is a shame the G1 Railway and then G1 Telegraph did not fit or fall into his schedule as he could have won both on the evidence of this so far unbeaten campaign.