The track was a bog at Pukekohe and the times all day were mostly poor but this Listed mile was at least run at a reasonable rate. The winner Chance To Dance was an 8yo well-travelled gelding that started racing in Ireland then went to Australian before coming to New Zealand and immediately found the lesser depth too his liking. He sat midfield the inner then worked off near the home turn and drove through between runners to be an ominous fourth with 200m to go. Once he pierced between two rivals with 100m to go he lodged a challenge at the 50m then led soon after to score by a long head in 1:39.92. It was his eighth win in twenty-nine starts and second over the mile with his best form coming as a stayer. Chance To Dance was the class horse in the field and showed it. Brilliant Shine has come solid of late and ran a good second after sitting one place ahead of the winner in the running and on the outer. This former reject from Hong Kong has found it much easier in New Zealand and now is Listed placed having won prior by daylight and being placed a few other times too. Waipipi Lad sat second and chasing the clear leader and fought well to the finish. The 8yo was having his second ever Listed attempt having missed as a 3yo and today was rising multiple grades too, so his effort does highlight the field had no real depth. Megablast ran on well late for fourth having raced in Sydney the weekend before and being found out so a quick trip home back to a more realistic opposition was adopted. Mangaroa Flo Jo a wet tracker also rising multiples grades ran on well late for fifth and while she has been a G3 winner against her own sex in a very weak field that day she has never looked likely so far at Open Class against all comers. Admiral, which led and won this last year by daylight, set the pace again albeit not by as far in the running but when headed inside the 200m weakened out. Philipa Charlotte was rising multiple classes but was honest enough the run home after getting back. Charles Road was only fair and will need to show something soon as he is now two runs back and does not yet quite look like he has come up at this stage. Improved footing when he strikes it will settle the argument one way or the other. Stoker’s Rock was not too bad but the rest got beaten too far to forgive. Suspect depth and the footing was poor so the result is only meaningful for wet trackers and as a stepping stone. Chance To Dance will tackle the G1 2040m at Hastings in just under a fortnight and try to spoil his stablemate Gingernut’s clear cut favouritism at this stage in what is looking an ordinary field at this stage. Brilliant Shine holds a G2 1600m nomination for Riccarton on November 15 and if he holds his form then can be competitive. Megablast is still in the G1 2040m at Hastings too and will be a trifecta and first four chance based on his effort today. Charles Road is the head scratcher as he is yet to show anything this time in but he is also in the G1 2040m at Hastings where the trip will suit. He needs better footing for sure and so far at Hastings that has not happened through firstly bad weather and then bad judgment by way of excessive watering.