This G2 1400m under WFA drew an average and mostly out of form field that went to the post and then the scratching at the barrier of a heavily favoured runner in Ocean Emperor at the order of the vet importantly took out an on pace or sit trailing runner. Nine runners left the stalls and the winner was Shadows Cast easily, a 6yo gelding that this season had not fired a shot at all. The track at Awapuni saw nothing win from too far away turning for home (three and a half lengths the biggest deficit made up to win all day) and off the inside lanes seemed popular for all riders. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were second (neck from the leader), led (three lengths clear), led (length clear), led (neck and three-off the inside), sixth (three and a half lengths from the leader), seventh (three lengths from the leader and eight-off the inside), second (neck back the outer) and co-leader the outer (six-off the inside)). Shadows Cast has never measured up at WFA prior to today and did not even look like he come up this season but after sitting fifth the inner poised behind the leaders he was third the inside midrace and then pushed off and into second on straightening up the run home. He led at the 300m and was holding at the 150m then drew away the final 50m to score by two lengths in 1:22.62 on a track that has had a reconfigured top bend and some race times are getting sideways looks it should be noted too. Today was the first win in eleven months for Shadows Cast and his ninth win from thirty-two starts. It was his second G2 win after a Handicap deadheat for first over a mile carrying 52kg in November of 2017. He has failed in all four G1 attempts (once as a 3yo, once in an Open Handicap and twice at WFA) and has had overall thirteen Blacktype races for two G2 wins, one G3 placing and two Listed placings. It is fair to say he may have been a spot back further the inner had Ocean Emperor started so this race could have been so much different had that runner been passed fit to start. Contessa Vanessa disputed the pace then led and was joined after 400m then held the front comfortably only to have the runner right behind her pop out and threaten turning for home. When headed at the 300m she tried hard until the 100m but then the big male gelding put away the 4yo mare. She has not won a race since March against 3yo's only so is yet to score versus the older horses or allcomers at Open Class or Stakes level under Handicap or WFA level. The mare was found out twice at G1 at Hastings in the Spring but almost found the right soft G2 race today. Dolcetto has not won a race for over a year and is not a WFA galloper but after sitting fourth the outer fought on for third and was just under three lengths from the winner. Wyndspelle was a disappointing fourth but he is just a two-win galloper so does have an aversion to winning. Heni finished fifth beaten over four lengths and the 8yo mare against the males was never a serious hope. Lady Kartel is a three-win mare and rising in this four to five grades on her last start and going up 3kg as well so no surprise she found this a bridge too far. Bisou Bisou, another mare, found the males superior under the WFA scale and never looked a possibility on settling. Lucyinrio is a sprinter and a handicap mare so WFA versus allcomers was way too ambitious. Southern Icon has run shocking in both runs this campaign and he has now run nine times at Group or Listed level for no top three finish. This was definitely not a G2 level field and a very borderline G3 to be realistic. Once again this was a largely out of form field with several shy winners and almost all of these are not and never will be WFA against allcomers level gallopers. The time of 1:22.62 sounds decent but this reconfigured top bend track is throwing up some difficult to accept times with a 1200m and 1550m earlier this month very hard to accept and now the 1400m looks iffy too. Three races prior to this an out of form 6yo mare Bellissimo that had not won a race for eight months scored in a Ratings 65 1400m in 1:23.77, which is just over a second or six lengths inferior to the G2 event. The G2 and G3 races today at Awapuni were both at least one grade inferior or more and not of the status currently afforded so they should be if not already on a warning and in downgrade trouble, if a dose of realism prevails. The gold standard for Group and Listed racing has always been the simple mantra of less is more regards the value, worth and credibility of such results.