This G2 feature for fillies and mares had all sorts of drama during the race and after it from a suicidal pace midrace to a post-race scratching for the fourth finisher after a slow opening gate to a bleed and three month ban for the second finisher. The first three home (Kelly O’Reilly, Moochi Me and Kisses) were all unproven mares under the WFA scale and at this level but a furious early pace then absolutely bionic midrace speed did set the trio up. The race commentator Bruce Sherwin infamously said ‘they haven’t broken any records midrace’, which was as far from reality as possible. They were going ballistic and even faster across the top with the early leader The Filly stopping to finish a clear last and the mare that went berserk in front midrace to the home turn in Goldminer ending up second last beaten nine lengths. The Filly was found to have been galloped on post race to add more drama to the event. Goldminer just stopped like a pricked balloon at the 200m. The winning time by Kelly O’Reilly was 1:21.55 and that very slick gallop was almost a second (six lengths superior) to any other time at the 1400m on the day. Just for further proof how fast they went early and across the top the closing 600m was run in a tepid 36.79 and that is very slow indeed and explains why so many pounced the run home. The 2200m Counties Cup on the day at G3 ran the closing 600m in 34.78 (two seconds faster or twelve lengths) and even if that race was a dash home the gap is extraordinary for a staying race in contrast too a sprint. It was the first win this season by Kelly O’Reilly and she was certain to run second until the eventual runner up Moochi Me stopped dramatically the final 50m. She never actually led in any part of the race until the last few strides having sat sixth then fifth the inner and into fourth at the 300m. Kelly O’Reilly reached second at the 150m but Moochi Me had been detonated and was a sure winner at this stage then hit the wall at the 50m despite rider Michael Coleman hitting the mare hard and often to the line. Moochi Me had sat midfield and then when let rip the run home quickly gathered in the field and led at the 150m. She was found to have bled and is automatically barred for three months so is on her last strike as a racehorse in New Zealand because it becomes a life ban if she bleeds again in a race. Kisses fought well for third and was the closest runner to the torrid early and midrace pace on settling so her merit gets an extra tick. The fourth placed finisher across the line but later declared a non-runner by New Zealand stewards was Pussy O’Reilly after her gate was slow to open. Tardy barrier stalls have become an epidemic throughout New Zealand thoroughbred racing and it is hard to ask bettors to put their money on when a mechanical malfunction or in most cases old and tired gates could cost them. Casino bosses must be laughing as they give their customers better odds by way of more reliability plus less things can go wrong for the money-spending players. Pussy O’Reilly ran a blinder and it is unusual she is declared a non-runner for two basic reasons. First four bettors got pole-axed without a single thought for their consideration and in catalogues at thoroughbred sales they now mention fourths in blacktypes races and this being a G2 it would have been a surefire shown. Better Keeper ran on well late but notably drifted across the top when they were low flying. Miss Pelear did well late after settling well back and coming deepest turning for home, so she may be back now too her best. Fix the favourite was ordinary again and the mare has been disappointing it must be said of late as while placing in prior efforts she has had her chance to win more than once. Queens Rose and Immigration are next time wagers if in lesser depth events or under handicap conditions, as both ran on okay late from well back on settling. Moozoon was wide and working from the outset so forgive her overland gutbuster while Needlly plugged away only. Goldminer was gassed by her rider Danielle Johnson and being the clear current leader in the jockey premiership she should know how fast she is going early and especially across the top. The Filly went hard to dispute the early pace and led before being burned off by Goldminer then had to chase that tearaway and was gone soon after turning for home. Her near-hind leg was galloped on in the race so she had a medical excuse. Not sure this result will stand up if many of these mares met again under WFA as hard to envisage such fast early run race then absolutely ballistic midrace sectional. The run on mares were set up for sure in this.