Runner-up in the recent Canberra Cup (Listed, 2000m), Taikomochi scored his fourth win in 13 starts and his first stakes success here. He went to the front and then set a reasonable tempo in the heavy 10 conditions, before lifting the pace from the 600m and stuck to his task well, fighting back to score narrowly but well. Libran raced in fourth place, one out and one back, moved up approaching the home turn, challenged strongly at the 200m and kept battling on well for (short neck) second. Goathland had a good trip in third place on the rails, was a bit cramped for room at the 250m but then battled on over the closing stages for third. The favourite Moss 'N' Dale raced in last place in the six-horse field, switched deeper and into clear running on turning for home and then just fought on in the heavy conditions for (4 lengths) fourth.