This Listed 1400m 3yo filly event determined the path of many regards the G1 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 12 with the first three home at least locked in for the trip to Riccarton. Astara won the event narrowly but well after sitting in the trail behind the leaders and driving through at the 200m to take the lead at the 100m. She stayed on best to prevail by a neck in 1:24.95 on a day of sluggish times with the footing a tad off and the rail out so far never helps either. Astara was winning her third race in seven outings and all have come here at Ellerslie where she is in fact unbeaten. She is now a dual Listed winner and has tactical speed so can counter track bias whatever way it occurs after showing today taking a sit then surging is very possible too. Glass Slipper as usual ran home strongly but is still a maiden so will have to try and win her first race at G1, which makes things even more tougher. She has the size and closing power but on a very hard track there could be an issue plus being always the bridesmaid and never the bride becomes a habit like the difference between winning and losing. The filly today tellingly had her third different rider on in as many starts this season. Mystery Show was a colossal third and should have won the race easily but was settled down last and miles away on settling until near the home turn and in fact had passed just one rival at the 400m. She had trouble finding a clear path up the middle then finally got to clear air at the 100m when seventh before unleashing hard. Her margins of defeat were a neck and a length but she was ten lengths from the winner turning for home and four lengths behind the eventual runner up at least to so the effort was enormous. Cortado fought on very well for fourth after sitting midfield while the maiden Doubtless Bay ran a game fifth and would be odds on back to her grade next time out. Spindle was good for sixth as she looked the winner until the final 150m after sitting outside the leader and then taking the front at the 400m. It’s Time For Magic was away ordinarily and then sped around to take the front after 300m before being run over into seventh and was beaten just two and a half lengths. Hello M’Lady, another maiden but twice Stakes placed, fought on soundly to be beaten less than three lengths and was not disgraced at all. Chicane was okay while Joy Anna and Veearma a tad disappointing but Gold Rush was downright poor and Leica Lady outclassed. This was a decent strength filly event and the form should stack up for the rest of the season throughout New Zealand.