This Listed million dollar 2yo 1200m was once again dominated at the finish by inside gates with five of the first six home drawing the five inside stalls. The favourite Avantage, an Australian bred filly, lived up to her unbeaten record and after a good run fourth the outer moved into an ominous second at the 200m then took a while but gained the upper hand with 50m to go. She won by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.54 and is now four starts for four wins with two coming left-handed and two right-handed. Today was her first piece of blacktype earned and being out of a Zabeel dam she should run out the 1400m if that G1 at Awapuni later this season is attempted but before that a G1 1200m here at Ellerslie can be pursued. Al Hasa, a stablemate of the winner and one of five in the field of fourteen, came from gate ten to run a good second after getting back between runners and then angling out at the 250m. He was strong the closing stages and will run out the 1400m no worries later this season on this performance. Bocce led up and was taken on early by The Real Beel (stablemate of the first two home) that went from last right around the field fast and ensured the pace was testing for the first half of the race. She’s A Thief was away awkwardly and it proved costly as she ended up seventh the inner but ran on well the closing stages for fourth beaten a length and three-quarters. Pinot Grey trailed the leaders and battled on but did have every chance plus was from the same stable as the first two home. Thomas Aquinas, a maiden at his second start, and Sir Nate a two-race winner already, both began awkwardly and settled well back. The former ran on okay the inner and the latter ran on okay too the outer. Sword Of Osman disappointed and maybe it was the direction being a first race clockwise for the stablemate of the first two home. Imelda Mary plugged on and the maiden was not too bad. The Real Beel once sent up around to attack early on was never a chance and not surprisingly weakened out to tenth beaten almost six and a half lengths. The rest were beaten seven and a half lengths to eighth and a half lengths and showed that draws matter in this dash for the cash open to specific runners only. Avantage keeps bashing her opposition senseless and giving her rivals a good kicking is now her trademark on the track. Some decent form will come out of this early Autumn chasing the two G1 juvenile events (here at Ellerslie over 1200m) and Awapuni over 1400m) but the majority will show more as a 3yo next season. The query on races like this and for that matter the 3yo earlier in the card is that the best of the age groups do not always compete because they were not sold at certain sales. Melt could be the best juvenile this season and never ran in this through ineligibility so until the two G1 races are run and won the true pecking order of the babies is still in limbo. Ditto for the 3yo crop and it explains why Listed level is the highest race rating the races have at this stages because unless open to all it is never a true or conclusive guide.