This G3 2100m Open Handicap was run at a searching gallop and unsurprisingly saw a lighter weighted runner prevail. Clarify under 54kg was allowed to drift back on the inner to the last duo then was worked off and improving wide after 600m. The 5yo was always wide and coming forward thereafter and was seventh midrace and then into an ominous fourth across the top before taking the lead with 250m to go. He held on well to score by a long neck and clocked 2:07.67, which broke the track record set in 2008 of 2:08.17 by Antipodean by three lengths. It was the fifth win from twenty-seven starts by Clarify and all his victories have come at 2000m to 2200m. Blathwayt was brave for second as he carried 6kg more than the winner and the 8yo sat back before being angled second widest runner turning for home. His sustained finish saw him go from sixth at the 200m to second with 10m to go and still coming at the line. Alinko Prince was a good third after sitting last the outer then moving wide midrace and reaching seventh across the top. The 6yo maintained his finish and briefly reached second with 25m to go before ending up a short neck behind the runner up. Princess Brook, the South Island trained mare, ran a sound fourth beaten just under a length and a half as she carried 58.5kg after sitting fifth the outer mostly. Woodsman was a huge fifth after being wide and working fourth for a large portion of the race and then attacking at the 600m and taking the lead turning for home. He was a deadest sitting duck and headed at the 250m but was still second inside the final 100m only to be swamped the final 25m. Dr Watson ran home well from the back and Sampson was ditto after being one spot behind him on settling. Itsallbelt was okay the closing stages and Leading Role plugged on late but the rest tired markedly. Balham, the last finisher, stopped and was beaten a big distance after making the pace and then being headed before the home turn. The field was not overly strong but the best stayer won and he is still low enough in the weights to make a Cups progression early next year at Ellerslie and Trentham.