In the 12:30 pm opener, there was an erroneous assessment of the performance Code of Honor by her backers. She won by five lengths on last in time of 1:39.3 for 1600 metres on a damp track with no wind resistance and this led to favouritism for Michael Marlowe’s filly.

Realistically she had no chance of beating the progressive US -bred gelding Summer Sun who conceded significant weight to two fairly useful colts when winning previously on this extended 1800-metre course. The Wayne DaCosta and Philip Parchment trainer/jockey alliance proved invincible once again.

Dee Danger, who led at the top of home straight was just able to hold off a late burst of speed from 2013 Guineas winner Talented Tony K to win the second while improving Crimson impressed in the post-parade and ran accordingly to shed his maiden tag in the third.

The fourth was a match of pigskin skills. The protagonists were leading apprentice Christopher Mamdeen (46 wins) on Blind Date and chief rival Reyan Lewis (37 wins) riding Mamasharondarling.

Blind Date turned for home with a significant advantage but in spite of Mamdeen’s best effort Mamasharondarling reduced the lead incrementally throughout the stretch drive and denied the long-time leader in the final stride.

There is a school of thought in a certain quarter that Lewis is the better of the two apprentices and the prediction from these pundits is that all things being equal, Lewis is going to finish ahead in the jockey’s standing come December 30.

Houdini’s Magic fifth race triumphant romp was quite predictable since his performances in Graded company suggested even at seven years, he is still well capable of conceding maximum weight each time he qualifies for a return to Open Allowance level.

Determine King’s 400-metre sprint in 24.1 seconds was good enough for victory by one-and-a-half lengths in the sixth.

Half an hour later champion Anthony Thomas rode the perfect tactical race on King Tavari to overtake the front-runners in the final 100 metres out to score by three parts-of-a-length for trainer Norman Smith in the 1200-metre Knutsford Park Cup feature.

Three well fancied late-non-starters in race eight resulted in refunds of around $800,000 by the promoting company. Long odds-on favourite Big Black Nation was never off the bridle and won by over nine lengths.

The ninth failed as a contest as five-year-old Sandori, who promised much in his early 2017 career but was sidelined through injury, turned his 11th racecourse appearance into a 13-length defeat for the nearest of his 10 rivals.

Queenoftheharbour was presented in unbeatable condition to sprint to the front at the top of the home straight to reward backers with odds of 4-1 while turning in a stress-free five-and-a-half length win devoid of any anxious moments to close the 10-race mid-week promotion.

THE AWARDS

The day’s Jockeyship Award goes to champion Anthony Thomas for his excellent tactical approach and impeccable judgment in handling King Tavari to win immediately on promotion to the non-winners of two level. This does not happen with frequency so Norman Smith takes home the Training Feat Award and logically King Tavari the Best Winning Gallop accolade for the reasons above.