The track at Te Aroha today was a holding Heavy10 and it ensured a slow pace in this Prestige Great Northern Steeplechase (6300m) that saw of the just nine runners two be pulled up the run home. The margins were big too as the field was weak overall and 100m less of the usual trip plus Te Aroha is a flat track so no three times over the Ellerslie hill where real stamina is required. Ellerslie has been closed for several months for much needed repair work that may or may not be a true long term solution as across the top was not dug down anywhere deep enough but time will be the best arbiter if they have to revisit sooner than later. Te Rapa was chosen as the replacement venue for Ellerslie this year unwisely as it is a biased and left-handed track and has been a disgrace for so long plus perception became reality and it was closed recently as an eyesore. So the third pick became Te Aroha and back to a clockwise venue. Chocolate Fish had won just one race in twenty four starts before today and that was a maiden steeplechase (4000m). Today the 9yo gelding won his second ever race and after racing second or third took the lead at the 300m and scored by four and a half lengths in 8:08.47. Perry Mason after racing fourth the inner then sixth worked off and made a sharp move to take the lead with 700m to go only to be run over. It was a daring move and backfired as the 9yo got clearly outstayed. Shamal was always racing second or third and fourth at the absolute worst but turned for home third and chased in vain. This 8yo at his prior run had won and Chocolate Fish ran third beaten five and a half lengths that day and at his run prior he won also and second that day three lengths back was Perry Mason. Tizza Secret was a very distant fourth and Old Countess less than a length behind him. The other two finishers got beaten over twenty three lengths and over twenty five lengths with Speedy Jax and Top Choice pulled up before the last fence thoroughly spent. This was the weakest field in living memory if not ever and the fact it was contested over 100m less than usual and did not go over the famed Ellerslie hill three times, just accentuates this point.