The G3 mile for fillies and mares only was run at a very fast clip and saw those that were in the drag race early all buckle the run home unsurprisingly. The winner Coulee sat midfield the outer and moved into contention the run home before reaching third at the 200m and coming. The mare got up the final 15m to win by a head and record 1:34.44 and post her sixth win in nineteen starts. It was the first blacktype attempt by the 4yo today so to snare G3 was impressive and it also gave her the hattrick of wins such is the form she has been in of late. The runner up El Salgrado was massive in defeat and the visitor is just a two-win mare down from the North Island. She was back and wide before moving up across the top then lodging her bid for glory quite early at the 400m. She hit the lead but was a sitting duck though fought very well to go down the closing stages. Charmont was just a long neck away in third and she too fought hard to the line after sitting fourth or fifth then moving up near the home turn. Meursault ran on late for fourth and Hayley Maree got going well the final stages for fifth. Merci Cheri was seen getting home solidly too from well back. The Diamond One had a horror run wide then when she got up second in a fast run race attacked before the home turn so had to be running near empty at the 200m. Ina Jam was not too bad the last little bit. Locket paid for the price for disputing the lead wide then talking the front before being headed as she had nothing to offer the run home as a result. Illuminati also drag-raced for the lead early then took it before being eyeballed before the home turn and offered nothing once headed the run home. The winner Coulee is another tidy mare from the deep South and prepared by Brian and Shane Anderton at Wingatui. She can improve next season too so should clean up if kept to the South Island only but Team Anderton are not afraid to have a look up in the North Island. El Salgrado was stupendous in defeat and should be in for a good year if she stays healthy. Charmont now back in form will hold it and she can grab some more blacktype this season plus a trip to Queensland for the winter carnival is always on the cards. Forgive the likes of The Diamond One, Locket and Illuminati as they just did too much work in a very fast opening 600m.