The track was a very dubious Dead6 at Tauranga and every race had some runners beaten by enormous margins out the back not handling the footing. This G2 Open Handicap mile had one runner on a 59kg topweight and the other thirteen that ran on 52kg to 53kg so looked rather strange on paper to say the least. All Roads was one of many remarkably well weighted runners in the field and duly obliged by a short neck in 1:36.79. The 5yo gelding had finished a close second at G2 on New Years Day over a mile at Ellerslie carrying 54kg so when allotted 52kg (the minimum) here at Tauranga did look fair dinkum thrown in. He sat back as per normal but surged quickly near the home turn to the 300m and strode up with full momentum to reach second at the 200m. His burst was so swift he almost hit the front too soon at the 150m, as although going clear soon after the topweight Scapolo came with some sustained power down the outer to get very close at the line. All Roads recorded his sixth win in nineteen starts and has a versatile winning range of 1200m to 2100m. Once the footing is worse than slow however he is vulnerable on heavy ground and that is expected with the burst of speed he has the run home that is a terrific for 200m or so. The 5yo gelding looks a push button ride in that he can be saved up for as late as possible then gobble up rivals ahead very quickly. Scapolo was a huge effort giving the winner 7kg and being last on the home turn and deepest. He unleashed powerfully in the type of footing he adores and is a sprinter-miler that has won up to G2 in New Zealand but is yet to score at G1. The now 7yo gelding has had five runs at G1 in New Zealand for a third, a fourth and three big flops (tenth, twelfth and thirteenth). Beefeater, a consistent 4yo having his first race clockwise and first ever attempt at blacktype today finished third at G2 beaten two and a half lengths. His effort gives proper perspective into the true race depth and result as he was the winner of just four races coming into this. Earlier this year he finished sixth beaten almost five lengths under 56kg in a Benchmark 85 where the runner up that day beaten a short neck was All Roads at 60.5kg. Today, he was carrying the same weight as All Roads hence it looking like that runner was thrown in whatever way you slice and dice it. Our King Sway ran on well for fourth and liked the wet ground while Trojan Warrior fought on well for fifth carrying 53.5kg. Trojan Warrior carried half a kilo over as was weighted at 53kg and considering he ran a close second in a G1 Easter (1600m) at Ellerslie last year carrying 55kg he was another well in today. It should be noted the G1 Easter has been demoted to G2 status now for 2017 after years of dubious depth fields and over-inflated importance of some runners. Rangipo, the G1 NZ Derby winner last season, amazingly had just 52.5kg in this and ran a fair race for sixth but may not have been quite seasoned enough for the track conditions. Somethinginvain shared the pace and then the rider of this mare may have gone for home too soon after taking control at the 400m only to be swamped at the 150m. Romantic Maid was just fair and labored a bit in the ground but she is just a four-win 4yo, like the third finisher, so has it all ahead still. Farm Boy plugged on from the rear trio but this dual G1 placed gelding has not come up this year as he incredibly only had to carry 52.5kg today. The rest got beaten ten lengths or more and were floundering the run home. Marky Mark was last away then clipped heels after 100m to dip and stumble then lose his rider. The 4yo continued in the race riderless and went through the field then came around the outer but thankfully did not cause any carnage. This G2 race is now graded the same as the Easter Mile on April 22 at Ellerslie but has half the stake. All Roads has many more wins in store but will not be as well weighted again as today surely plus Scapolo is a G2 winner in New Zealand but a G3 horse in Australia at best to add some balance to the result. The tricky footing saw many runners perform below standard plus almost half the field was hopelessly out of form coming into today and some not seasoned enough to muddy the outcome waters even further.