This Listed 3yo filly only 1400m saw the clear favourite Excelleration beaten fair and square into second by Courte Zarindi. The fact that Excelleration had not raced for a month, after bolting in at both South Island starts prior (separated by two weeks it should be noted) was most likely the key factor. Courte Zarindi was beaten almost fourteen lengths by Excelleration in January but has got better with two more runs after that when third each time then the big win today. She sat fifth the inner and came off the inside near the home before surging through to a close second at the 100m and took the lead soon after. The margin of victory was a length and a half and the time 1:25.67 with this being her third win in eleven starts and a first at blacktype. Excelleration was wide then fourth the outer and got to third at the 200m but her usual surge was not there and that month between runs is looking more and more like the culprit. She tried hard and got second near the line over the leader Pipiana with Kiwi Ida that ended up outside the leader after 400m finishing fourth beaten under two lengths. The Sparkle was a one-paced fifth equal after sitting sixth the outer and Global Thinking deadheated with her after sitting seventh the outer. The luckless runner was Greenpark Gem that was last away and eighth at the 200m then through fifth at the 50m but ran out of room badly when having lots to offer. Dreaming Easy trailed third the inner and weakened while Raven Darkholme was bucking wildly after a few strides and became hopelessly detached. She has been ordered to trial before being allowed to appear again. Courte Zarindi inside five weeks has turned around a near fourteen lengths staggeringly on Excelleration to defeat her by a length and a half and all this came in three runs. In her race prior to today Courte Zarindi was a strong finishing third at Listed level over a mile behind Global Thinking, which had been easily beaten by Excelleration in a Listed 150m before that. So the form does not quite stack up and another clash might settle it once and for all if that does eventuate.