The Bart & James Cummings-trained mare Shamalia staged a most impressive effort in winning. She was a little slow to move and settled seventh, one off the rails, and was still conceding the leader about six lengths at the 600m. Chad Schofield angled her between runners at the home turn, going to fifth on straightening. She took a moment to wind-up under her top weight (60kg) but then showed her class and finished too well to grab the lead in the closing stages to score a stylish win. Nicamorae was fifth between runners, got a split to challenge rounding the home turn, hit the lead at the 50m but could not hold off the late-closing winner despite her 5kg advantage to finish a sound second.