Peter Didham was left scratching his head following Danjuro’s (NZ) (Saxon Warrior) poor showing in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham earlier this month, and has decided to go back to the drawing board with the talented three-year-old.

Notable black-type performances in both New Zealand and Australia on ANZAC Day may have set the tone for a big trans-Tasman weekend for Andrew Forsman.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are heading into Saturday’s meeting at Te Rapa with the fixed-odds favourites for both of the thoroughbred mecca’s traditional flagship races.

Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson is hoping to see his distinctive red, blue and green colours feature prominently at Te Rapa on both of the next two Saturdays.

The racing industry is mourning the death of training great Dave O’Sullivan, 90, following his passing on Friday.

Progressive staying three-year-old Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) tuned up for next week’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) with a strong win in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville for trainer Patrick Payne and jockey Jake Noonan.

Just twenty-four hours after the passing of Wexford Stables figurehead Dave “DJ” O’Sullivan, the New Zealand training icon would have been looking down on Te Rapa with a beaming smile as promising filly I’munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit) led from go to whoa to capture the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) for the Matamata operation. 

Progressive filly Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) provided a fitting result in the opening event at Te Rapa on Saturday, a day where one of the greats of the New Zealand training ranks was remembered after the passing of Dave “DJ” O’Sullivan twenty-four hours earlier.

Two years after taking out the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) with Carolina Reaper (NZ) (Vespa), Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have repeated and surpassed that result with a one-three finish headed by the rising star Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock). 

If Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock) has run her final race, the talented mare signed off on a successful career in style with a powerful finish to capture the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Handy three-year-old Lantern Way (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) returned to his best at Wanganui on Saturday with the aid of a gear change paving the way for a visit to the winners’ enclosure following the running of the Commdives NZ 3YO (1340m). 

Islington Lass (NZ) will face the sternest test of her career at Otaki and Allan Sharrock is more than confident Proisir’s daughter can rise to the challenge.

Promising filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be looking for a fairytale ending to her three-year-old season when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Sam Mynott has been ticking up the air miles over the Tasman Sea this week and she is hoping it will all be worth it when she lines up her first horse in Australia on Saturday.

Ben and Ryan Foote will be represented by a pair of stakes contenders at Te Rapa and are expecting bold showings from the duo.