The race was slow run in stages but the first male winner in New Zealand for 2014 in any G1 race so far saluted in Nashville and he defended his crown from this event a year ago. The track was somehow rated a Good3 but looked very iffy and was dodgy because it chipped up from the outset and you had to be well away from the inner or wider to be a win chance. It was yet another poorly presented track on a G1 day in New Zealand (we have 22 G1 races a season so to keep getting it wrong takes real ineptness) and this cannot instill confidence in bettors so turnover will continue to suffer as it has been for a few years now. The winning time of 1:35.68 was poor for a G1 event and even allowing for the indifferent run race. This race has been held at a mile since 2006 and today was the second slowest time with only Culminate winning in 1:37.46 on a testing slow track in 2009. To show the sheer folly of a Good3 track rating by stewards the winner of this last year on an officially rated Dead4 track at Otaki was Nashville in 1:34.07 (ten lengths faster a year ago by same horse on a track rated worse than this year says it all) The year before on a Dead4 rated track the winner was Veyron (who was runner up last year) clocked 1:34.03 (and again the folly from the track ratings stewards are handing out does not mirror reality nor show common sense). The other five runnings of this race on a Good3 track has seen 1:32.69 the fastest time and 1:34.97 the slowest of those time. The track rating simply was an insult to bettors, the customers of the TAB, which is overseen by the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB). Something is awfully askew for credibility with these G1 days, the shop front window of a season, as misinformation at best is being dished out and disturbingly parroted by stewards and Trackside (the broadcaster with their on course and studio hosts). It must get checked as at least accurate before being put out as gambling gospel because turnover will continue to drop like a stone. A maiden winner on the Otaki card today that was a 4yo mare scoring at her nineteenth start clocked 1:36.89 so was just nine lengths inferior to a G1 under WFA. The winner of the Ratings 65 on the card had not won a race since December of 2012 and it clocked 1:36.59 or less than six lengths inferior to a G1 under WFA. They are not Good3 times regardless of their respective limited ability as average maidens go quicker. You have to admit there is an information flow problem before something can be done to rectify it. Once again the Good3 rating given out gleefully by stewards and stated endlessly like a ventriloquist’s puppet by Trackside hosts (they use this word ‘perfect’ way too much and it is now a totally pointless term that even some jockeys and trainers have fallen for sadly/worryingly) is simply an insult to bettors/customers. Nashville was able to get through handy the inner after an ordinary start, which told you the pace slackened appreciably early. Even so it does make you wonder why this backrunner has never been put in a race prior. The nine-horse field helped his cause as big fields have shown Nashville up in the past but also consider he was taught early to be ridden cold and that has proven to be a mistake in hindsight. There were five previous G1 winners in the field today and no surprise they filled the first four placings with Fleur De Lune the other finishing last and surely her broodmare days are beckoning as she is not competitive at this level. Her G1 win came at a handicap when gifted the Railway Sprint under set weights and penalties. This is not a serious G1 race and would be G3 at best with ample proof. Nashville was tenth in the G1 Emirates Mile last spring at Flemington at 55.5kg under at handicap conditions. The field was not strong at Flemington and winner Boban has in two runs back this year struggled though he may be taking longer to peak this year. The form otherwise from the Emirates is suspect. Xanadu was a strong second today and this mare knows how to G1 perform in New Zealand but when tried in Melbourne was demolished multiple times. Nashville and Xanadu are devastating proof that the NZ G1 form is not really at that level and therefore they are both massively overrated as far as internationally accepted classifications go. Final Touch has been poor for several starts but finished third today as if she was coming back too her best. The fact she won three G1’s in New Zealand last season also confirms they are nowhere near international standard and at least two grades inferior. Viadana was a hard luck story for fourth and should have been in the money but got held up and lost her place at a vital time then could not get through the final 400m to the 250m. More proof this G1 was many lengths inferior to an acceptable standard is the sent home as thoroughly uncompetitive former Hong Kong galloper Packing Tycoon ran on gamely for fifth from last and widest turning for home. Do not downplay this as Packing Tycoon was only a G3 winner in Ireland before sent to Hong Kong and was a total flop from many starts at Sha Tin/Happy Valley. Since sent to New Zealand he has in two starts won and finished fifth at G1 under WFA. Some honesty in the New Zealand classifications is long overdue and the days of keeping up appearances to retain some G1 races is over. Speaking of classifications and NZ Free Handicaps we see Alamosa won this Otaki race, which must be one of several under downgrade pressure in New Zealand, as a 3yo in 2008 and Darci Brahma (sire of winner Nashville) won this in 2006 at the same age. Alamosa has done what Darci Brahma (even with more seasons as a sire) has been unable to do yet and that is leave a G1 winner in Australia, with the 2013 VRC Oaks winner last year in Kirramosa. The Diamond One can be forgiven as the race was not run to suit at her first serious test as a 4yo mare. Iamishwara is nowhere near a G1 galloper under WFA and the fact he could be slow then loop around very wide throughout without any cover and fade from fourth at the 200m is more proof this race was very suspect. If this same horse had that sort of run even in a Listed race in Australia under WFA he would drop out a clear last. Postmans Daughter is now getting painful to watch her go around so often over all manner of distance and the cow cocky trainer joke has well and truly worn off. Fleur De Lune was another flop and the excuses ran out a long time ago. Just consider the overland outing Iamishwara had today and it beat home both Postmans Daughter and Fleur De Lune, which he gave 2kg to each. This race was once won by some stars of Australasian racing such as Our Poetic Prince (1988-89) and Rough Habit (1991), when held at 1400m in the autumn and John Wheeler trained both of them. It has been a stallion maker this century for Alamosa, Darci Brahma and to a lesser extent King’s Chapel. This year just three male gallopers ran and none were intact. The time for honesty and realism is now and a reset of where New Zealand form stands internationally cannot come soon enough.