Havana Rey was smartly away from his wide barrier (12) and went straight to the front. He then set a reasonable pace before turning for home with a nice break on the field and was untroubled in the sprint home to score soundly by a length. Riva De Lago was about eighth, three wide with cover and pulling a bit due to the average early pace. He switched out wide on straightening and ran on nicely in the sprint home for a good second. Monton raced outside the leader (Havana Rey) to the turn and kept fighting on fairly well in the straight to take the minor placing. Lightinthenite was seventh in between runners to the 400m, got a split at the 200m and finished nicely for a first-up fourth with Famous Seamus holding on for fifth after being same most of the way. The well backed Carlton House was a little slowly away and was about tenth to the turn but the failed to run on in the sprint home under his top weight (59kg) finishing thirteenth and was reported to be lame afterwards. *ANZ