Wingatui September 5

LEEDOX

This was a good first run back from Hong Kong for the 2022 Auckland Futurity Stakes winner. He was slow to leave the starting gates and settled at the back, then made up good ground down the straight to finish third.

Ellerslie September 6

TOMODACHI

The Proisir Plate was by far the toughest test so far for lightly raced mare Tomodachi, who proved that she belongs at Group One level. She jumped from gate 14 in a 16-horse field and settled a long way back and wide. She ran on strongly in the straight for third, only a short neck away from the runner-up La Crique.

Otaki September 6

BERRY THE CASH

The star hurdler put in an eye-catching run on the flat here, finishing better than anyone in the 2100-metre Rating 75 and running into a close second. He clocked the fastest last 400m and 200m. This was a perfect pipe-opener for the Great New Zealand Hurdle next weekend.

Woodville September 7

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

This three-year-old has now finished second in both of his raceday appearances. He found the line nicely here, with the fastest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m, and doesn’t need to improve much to break through.

Timaru September 7

SACRED DIOR

In her first start since April, she did plenty of work racing three wide behind a solid tempo. You would expect those efforts to take their toll, but she still fought hard down the straight to be second and only half a length from the winner.