This G3 over 2400m showed the staying ranks in New Zealand are still poor with the winner of this being a 7yo entire that had not won a race for two and a quarter years. St Jean in fact was third up today having not raced prior due to injury (where he won) at Moonee Valley on September 6 of 2014 and paid over $46 on the tote. His 2400m record was good but he had never ever won or placed at Group or Listed level before so to win at G3 here in New Zealand said plenty about the state of the stamina ranks. He had finished last in a G3 in a field of four at Ireland and also finished last in a Listed field at Warrnambool. After sitting back and making a wide run across the top he sustained it and hit the front with 100m to run to score by half a head carrying 56kg from the outside stall in 2:27.92. It was his sixth win from eighteen starts and the promise of more to come in New Zealand if he stays sound and healthy. His stablemate in the field Candle In The Wind ran home stoutly for second at $29 on the tote and she like the winner was a 7yo too. In a tight finish that saw the first five over the line separated by less than threequarters of a length Five To Midnight drove through on the inside for third after getting a nice sit handy the inner throughout.. Marciano ran a super fourth after being back then wide and sustained his surge at what was his first look at 2400m. Megablast was a brave fifth after sitting handy the outer then moving to attack wide at the 600m before taking the lead turning for home. He was a sitting duck thereafter and may well have moved too soon but has been racing very well for quite a while now so had a good fitness core and over 2400m is yet to go a poor race. Blizzard was a game sixth after being wide for over half the race and moving up across the top to lodge a bid before turning for home second. He was beaten less than two lengths after such and overlander so did well all things considered but it must be tempered by the fact he was found out in Australia badly in the Moe Cup (finished last) and G3 Bendigo Cup (finished second last). Zambezi Warrior was a sound effort and Fanatic suffered cardiac arrhythmia so can be forgiven plus also add in the caveat she may be better left-handed and after an all clear could contest the G3 Wellington Cup that suits directionally. Snow Secret was okay and Nymph Monte actually did okay considering he sat last and was very wide across the top to home turn and in fact boxed on oaky late. He used to race handy and in fact his last four successes have come after sitting not too far away so maybe expect a proven formula to be re-adopted. The rest battled on or weakened out and while a couple had excuses such as Saint Emilion there was forgiveness for Lizzie L’Amour as she was dreadful. Saint Emilion under 60.5kg was wide and then up second before challenging to take the front on the outer then some early attacks came across the top so he never really got a breather therefore can be forgiven. This was a serious run 2400m race and many got exposed but also many were ridden indifferently so whether this was a genuine G3 contest for depth is debatable.. St Jean if he can beat these at 56kg third up after being away from the track prior for well over two years then he may have the measure of these. No sure any stayers in this field are competitive outside New Zealand either anymore or ever and certainly not at Group level in the city.