The G1 grade still on the Levin Classic must be in peril after a small 3yo field of suspect depth contested this mile event. It was a rock star race once when in the spring and held at picturesque Levin race track but has lost steam and significance since going to Otaki and now is at Trentham in the summer. The changes and scheduling are not working and the winner today in a slowly run race was a maiden that came from last on settling. Gaultier prior had raced four times for one third and was beaten four and a quarter lengths that day although the winner Saavoya has won at stakes level twice herself since. The other three runs for saw him sixth once and seventh twice beaten between four lengths and seven lengths. Since his last start he had been gelded so was racing less than three weeks after the no turning back chop, which is testament to the character of the 3yo and may in fact be a turning point. He could not keep up early in the 1:36.67 run mile but when drawn out the widest at the 300m came with some big strides to lead at the 25m then thought he had done his work and switched off. The time on the day was just a couple of lengths inferior to the Listed Open Handicap that was a decent line up, so maybe the mile events all day were tepid as the other one held was also a 1:36 and change affair. A maiden winning a G1 is not unusual these days but one with just a single distant placing and having been gelded a couple weeks prior has to be a first of some sorts. His trainer Danica Guy won a G1 on New Years Day so has now bagged a second this year and her team is flying although her two sprinters today disappointed in the G1 Telegraph. The sire of Gaultier is Rios that has not exactly set any tongues wagging or houses on fire but a G1 result close to some major sales can only be a promoters and sellers dream. Rios won six races and in this very same race finished seventh of fourteen when held at Otaki in the spring. Sardaaj was stiff to be beaten as the filly after leading early surprisingly handed up then came straight off the inner only to lose her position. She moved wide across the top and unleashed down the outer well with the final stages rather strong and almost picked up the winner. Huka Eagle had every conceivable chance when third and took up the trailing spot that the rider of Sardaaj gave up after 400m. He may like a few in the race be sprinters only and not really milers but time will tell. Prince Mambo was fourth after taking the lead and then not having to go that fast nor was he pressured. He was third at G1 in the spring behind the impressive Turn Me Loose, with Rockfast a distant second, so that form suddenly has a question mark on it aside from the winner. Kolonel Kev ran on okay but a poor start never helped his cause while the rest were outclassed although the filly Outspoken ran on late. Victory Champion was sixth beaten just under three and a half lengths in this and he finished a very distant eighth in the G1 2000 Guineas behind Turn Me Loose for further perspective and comparison. The winner Gaultier is set to run middle distance left-handed next and then the G1 NZ Derby so he could save this race and G1 rating for another year or so but also if well beaten after this invoke the downgrade for next season. As his fashionable name suggests he will be a trendsetter one way or the other for the rest of this season.