The track at Pukekohe with the rail out 7m was very biased towards on pacers all day and you could not be too far away turning for home and angling too wide was an episode in futility. The winners of the eight races and where they turned for home were led, second, sixth (but three lengths from leaders in small field), second, led, co-leader, third and third. This Listed Open Handicap mile was run at a searching clip midrace as two runners (Admiral and Waipipi Lad) crazily drag raced and it is important to note that both were ridden by apprentices. Tomelilla ended up bolting in after racing fifth the inner and third in a gap across the top giggling as the two up front were totally gassing each others chances. The mare strode through one-off into second at the 400m and led at the 300m then powered away to score by three lengths in 1:35.87, the best time very significantly of the three mile races held today. The 6yo mare was winning her eighth race from twenty-five starts and of that tally she has a G3 win and now two at Listed level. Excalibur, a stayer second up, enjoyed the solid clip set up by two apprentices going silly up front and ran home stoutly closer in from tenth turning for home and then reached second at the 200m. The 5yo gelding kept coming to be second at the 50m. He's Cavalier was awkwardly away and last initially for a normal on pacer but recovered wide to be seventh after 400m and then raced there across the top. The 7yo was sixth turning in and third at the 200m then fought on well to hold that placing considering the overland run he endured. Admiral won this same race two years ago after leading by five lengths carrying 53kg but today was involved in a motor-matching contest to the home turn and ended up fourth beaten over four lengths with the same weight. The drag racing cost him a dividend bearing position for sure, as he would not have beaten Tomelilla but it shows that apprentices in Blacktype races are a no-no unless there is a shortage of riders available and even then it is a risk. Saint Emillion is an improver and needs middle distant these days to get into a rhythm. Caricature, a one-win mare, ran on late from the back and is a massive chance next time seen out if put in the right race. Maygrove is a stayer and an improver. Waipipi Lad is a total forgive after attacking Admiral for a large portion of the race. Gobstopper, a stayer, will be better for this second up outing and obviously needs middle distance or more. Deluxe Edition was outclassed while Galaxy Miss stopped and again showed the mile is a tad too far for the sprinter. Hello M'Lady ran a shocker and finished a very distant last after being tardy and second last on settling. The winner Tomelilla has more wins in store if entered in the right races while several stayers in this look sure to show some form if not next time out then the following start. Neither apprentice staggeringly was spoken to by the Stipes panel of four on duty chaired by Alan Coles nor even asked the question of why the tactics of drag racing were adopted that ended up detrimental to both runners chances of winning the race, a Listed feature. The field was not strong as too many runners came in clearly underdone and not fully cranked right up plus those two apprentices gassing each other absurdly up front changed the race complexion totally.