This Prestige Steeplechase (4200m) was after two venue changes run on a total bog at Te Aroha and drew an ordinary line up. The race is usually over 4900m but Ellerslie is having remedial work done so initially transferred the meeting strangely to the left-handed over sand-slitted Te Rapa but that track now is an utter shambles. So the meeting was moved to a clockwise track of Te Aroha today in a cringeworthy musical chairs display over the last few days prior. Perry Mason got the winning verdict today after racing third then second and taking the front 600m from home and then held on comfortably to score by two and three-quarter lengths in 5:29.84. The 9yo gelding after falling at his first two steeplechasing runs has since June this year in four runs won three of them and finished runner up the other time. He jumps efficiently and is by the form wet weather sire Zed that is now a good source of jumpers and swimmers. It was his seventh win from forty-six starts and four of those have been as a jumper (three as a steeplechaser and one as a hurdler). After the utter shameful debacle that is the Te Rapa racetrack the Great Northern Steeplechase meeting on September 9 with slight distance alterations is now also going to Te Aroha. Clockwise preferring leapers are now back in the fold as Te Rapa has been a total turn off track for a very long time. Old Countess settled down last and then improved quickly through into a distant third turning from home and kept coming to be second over the final fence. The 9yo mare has as a steeplechaser in eight starts won twice and placed three times. Thenamesbond after a last start deadest shocker (he fell) here at a track he has won ten times on dropped 3.5kg suddenly and ran a distant but rugged third. He led as usual and then got headed down the backstraight the last time to be third in a gap 1000m from home. The 10yo was fourth and one-batting and looked sure to finish there but kept grinding on and regained third at the 100m with his never say die licensed to instill coming off the canvas belief. The fact the Great Northern Steeplechase will be run here now at his favourite track is a plus but can he get the extra distance will be the big question. Top Choice raced seventh mostly and plugged away for fourth after being fifth turning for home and over the final fence. Speedy Jax was ditto after racing ninth and from sixth turning for home and over the final fence passed a stopper late. Zamora is distance dubious it seems as after racing fourth or fifth he took the lead down the backstraight only to be headed at the 600m and be second in a gap turning for home. The 7yo was still third over the last fence but weakening visibly and stopped fast late to end up sixth beaten over twenty-one lengths. Stagehand was the only other runner to finish and the 12yo never ever looked any hope. The rest pulled up before the last fence or before the home turn exhausted and too spent to risk trying to ask for anymore leaps. This was a weak field and contained many very old and out of form jumpers. The farce of multiple track changes did not help nor the direction flip flop but the depth of steeplechasers at the moment is poor and many are still running that would not be allowed to race in Australia due to old age. Steeplechase depth is not very good or appealing at the moment and the hope is hurdlers come through but that as has been shown in the last few years at least is not happening. The stamina of the breed is playing a role too as many jumpers now cannot stay to save themselves but at least the wet track sires are enjoying the usual very lengthy wet period each season in New Zealand.