The strong front-running mare Steps In Time went to the lead as expected but Jim Cassidy rated her carefully in the early stages before picking up the tempo abruptly approaching the 600m point. She turned for home with a big lead and although tiring in the closing stages, just lasted to score by a narrow margin, putting up a good effort with her weight (57kg). Sweet Idea raced outside Steps In Time in the early part of the event, then had the task of chasing her when that mare sprinted 600m from home. She dug deep in the straight, getting to within a short half head of her rival at the post, in an impressive and gutsy effort. Top weight (58kg) Catkins ($4.25 fav) came across from her wide barrier (13) to race in fourth place most of the way to the turn. She too chased gamely in the straight, fighting on for a sound third, beaten just under two and a half lengths. A Time For Julia had a good run from her barrier (3) being fifth on the rails to the 600m. She kept fighting on quite well in the straight to finish (two and three quarter lengths) fourth after seeming to have every chance while last year’s ATC Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Royal Descent was last in the 16-horse field to the 600m, fanned wide rounding the home turn and came with a strong run to finish fifth. It was an eye-catching effort and she looks on-track for a good class event over a longer distance during the carnival. The Japanese mare Hana’s Goal missed the start, was last early and was never a chance at her first Australian start before finishing 14th.*ANZ