All Too Hard was smartly away and settled one out and one back. He was taken wide after turning for home, took a little while to wind-up before dashing quickly after passing the 200m. He grabbed the leader in the closing stages to win going away by half length. The noted frontrunner Rain Affair led as expected but Craig Williams rated him not seeking to set up a big lead as he had done previously. He then got a good break on turning for home and was only caught in the final stages holding for a good second. The stayer Fiorente, having he first run since finishing second in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), came from last at the home turn for an eye-catching third. Outsider Rolling Pin surprised in running on from seventh on the rails at the 600m for fourth, he unfortunately pulled up in a distressed state. Rangirangdoo was second to the turn and held on particularly well for a good first-up fifth. Epaulette with sixth one off the rails to the turn, put in a dash at the 200m but only battled from there to finish sixth, while the high class mare More Joyous was third to the turn but raced well below her best, tiring for seventh. Smokin’ Joey was never a chance and finished last in the eight-horse field. *ANZ