This Prestige Steeplechase (5600m) drew a smallish and largely out of form field with the winner It's A Wonder taking the lead with threequarters of the race to run and was never in doubt thereafter. The track at Riccarton was a bog the first day and a holding swamp the second day and today was an absolute quagmire with the 1400m being run ten seconds over standard (or sixty lengths slower) and the 1600m being run fourteen seconds over standard (or eighty-four lengths slower) to get a flat race feel. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were third (six-off the inside and a length from the leader), tenth (eighteen-off the inside and five lengths from the leader), sixth (sixteen-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), fifth (fifteen-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), second (nine-off the inside and a neck from the leader), led (eight-off the inside and ten lengths ahead), second (eight-off the inside and a length from the leader), sixth (seven-off the inside and four lengths from the leader), led (on the rail and two lengths ahead) and third (four-off the inside and half a length from the leader). It's A Wonder won the traditional lead up Koral Steeple (4250m) on the first day here by sixteen lengths and in this scored by twenty-three lengths in the incredibly slow time of 7:25.90. The winning time last year on a heavy track rated just one-band better was twenty-four seconds faster or one hundred and forty-four lengths superior and the winner of that ran today and was pulled up a fence out totally spent. The footing was prehistoric in many places and so many horse all three days never finished or stayed upright plus the flat races saw margins of defeat as big as ever seen. A lot of equine snoring was heard on floats and stabling blocks after today such was the appallingly deep and testing footing presented. It did not matter today where a horse went as you either copped the ground or would drop out down to a walk beaten by daylight. It's a Wonder was only having his fifth steeplechase outing today and has now won three and been placed twice in that role so the 9yo could well be back next year to defend his crown. Overall he has now won eight of his forty-nine starts and six of those have come as a jumper (three each as steeplechaser and as a hurdler). Gagarin settled down last and was a long way from the winning leader until improving a distant fourth with 1200m to go. The 11yo reached third across the top and was second turning for home ten lengths behind then boxed on but ended up beaten over double that margin behind at the line. Mr Enthusiastic a one-win steeplechaser (he won his maiden late last month) was back early but fourth a lap and a half out then a distant second 1200m from home before being third turning in. He kept boxing on and was third just a length and a half behind the runner up. Des De Jeu settled down second last then was a distant fifth across the top and fourth turning for home, which is the position he crossed the line in though quite close to the second and third finishers. The only other finisher was Macklemore that was third early then fifth before drifting out seventh down the backstraight the last time struggling. He was left sixth turning for home as one ahead pulled up and then left fifth as another failed to bother clearing the final fence. The other four runners pulled up with Who Can Tell and Doctor Hook withdrawn across the top and Shamal (last year's winner) and Chocolate Fish (third in this last year) both pulled up without clearing the last fence. This was not a very strong field at all and the footing was Jurassic Park-like rather than Riccarton Park and it was a slog all three days of the week here.