The gluggy heavy track at Otaki provided far from acceptable footing and times all day were poor including this Listed juvenile feature that saw the slowest 1200m clocking. The winner Secret Spirit won by a length in 1:16.32, which was over two seconds inferior to the Open Handicap earlier in the day or a dozen lengths slower, and came with a sustained finish the closing stages. The intriguing thing was this filly was the lone female that stood up in this blacktype event with the other fillies filling the eighth back to last spot. The daughter of Swiss Ace, which is leaving swimmers, has now won her last two outings at Listed level and both came on bogs. Her lone miss in four outings came as a result of a shifted saddle. The runner up Stradivarius was a game second after racing wide near the pace throughout and hitting the front at the 200m. He loves the wet and is not lacking in size plus can do work in the running and keep kicking. The maiden The Dom ran a ripper after sweeping up deep before the home turn from midfield and wide to be a threatening third. He will not be a maiden for long after such a Listed placed performance. Lucky Edie fought on well from the trail but had every chance. The eyecatcher was The Axe that came from last and boomed home down the outer. Five To Midnight ran on respectably and has more success in store as an early 3yo while Master Platinum was not too bad. The fillies like Miss Fi and Stella Di Paco flopped big time while two other fillies that had won before in Sheradream and Honor That were poor. There looks some scope in the first six home for next season but that lingering concern of a terrible track today does hold back of lauding many if any in this. One thing is sure and that is the wet track form will stand up left-handed on similar boggy footing.