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Devise wins 2018 Haunui Farm Classic Group 1 NZ$200,000 at Hastings (NZ), 1600m.
With five Group placings to her credit, including second in the 2017 New Zealand Oaks, (Gr 1, 2400m), Devise deservedly broke through for a wellearned Group One victory. She got away fairly well but quickly improved to sit fifth down the back straight, keeping the leaders in sight starting the bend one off the fence.
Rider Michael Coleman pushed her wider inside the 500m and she turned in four wide but with a great view. Coleman asked her for more and she levelled up to the leaders inside the 200m and after a short tussle gradually asserted herself, edging to a half length win, her fourth in total.
Consensus sat second for most of the journey, took on the pacemaker rounding into the straight and looked a great chance before being tackled by the winner, giving a good fight but outfinished for a solid second.
Travimyfriend was fourth (rails) at the 600m, got past the pacemaker at the 150m and fought well for third from Brilliant Shine, who led deep into the straight and kept on fairly well to the line for fourth.
Start Wondering tacked onto the winner’s back rounding into the straight but was not able to get much closer for a fair fifth.