Emphatic last-start winner Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj) will lead the Wexford Stables charge at Te Rapa on Saturday where she will step into stakes company, contesting the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m).

There has been a massive injection of stakes money to the racing calendar this year and Matamata trainer Wayne Hillis is keen to get his hands on some of it.

Johnathan Parkes has had many memorable wins throughout his riding career, but his victory aboard Chase (NZ) (Zed) at Otaki on Thursday would feature right up there sentimentally.

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood were far from surprised that Zabmanzor bridged the significant gap from maiden company to black type success with such aplomb at Otaki.

Kingsclere Stables will have a slew of stakes representatives this week, with the first set to step out at Otaki on Thursday.

It’s nearing that time where the movie Love Actually finds its way onto television screens around the world, but it’s a mare by the same name that is getting Thomas Russell and his partner Pip D’Arcy-Brain excited this festive season.

Cromwell holds fond memories for Lionel Dobbs and the Orari trainer is hoping that continues at their two-day meeting this weekend.

A successful first campaign will draw to a close on Thursday for future Group One hope Up The Anti (Divine Prophet) when the promising three-year-old is stepped up in grade on his home track at Otaki.

Sindacato (NZ) (Per Incanto) has some unfinished business in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) and he will be looking to rectify that at Pukekohe next month.

Explosive finishes are becoming a habit for Geriatrix (Almanzor), and co-trainer Andrew Scott is hopeful the eye-catching colt can produce another in Thursday’s Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki.

Precocious two-year-old Velocious is proving a gem of a filly on two fronts for Inglewood Stud.

There will be no resting on laurels for New Zealand Bloodstock after last week’s record-shattering Ready to Run Sale. Instead, the release of the catalogues for Karaka 2024 has launched the countdown to the pinnacle event on the sales calendar.

Shane Crawford has shown plenty of patience with promising four-year-old Wallen, and that approach seems to be paying off, with the son of Tarzino having placed in his first three starts.

Frank Ritchie had anything but a relaxed watch as Gwen’s Daughter descended down the Pukekohe straight on Saturday, but he was delighted when she prevailed in the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier (1500m).

Modest purchase Bella Carolina (NZ) (O’Reilly) has proved herself to be an exceptional investment for Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison.

Southern raider Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to kick-off his northern campaign when he heads to Otaki on Thursday to contest the Vale Bav (Mick) Preston (1200m).

Classy grey mare Aromatic will attempt to follow in the footsteps of a former stablemate when she returns to Pukekohe on Saturday to defend her title in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

It is often a case of catch me if you can with Johny Johny, and trainers Tim and Margaret Carter are hoping their pacemaking sprinter can outrun his rivals again in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).

Almost all of the spring’s brightest two-year-old talent gathered at Pukekohe on Saturday for New Zealand’s first black-type juvenile race of the season, but it was the unbeaten filly Velocious who soared above her contemporaries and dominated the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).

In a contest largely focussed on glamour mare Babylon Berlin, talented entire Sacred Satono made the most of his six-kilogram weight advantage to storm home in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) on Saturday at Pukekohe.

One Bold Cat took his promising career to a new level in Saturday’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe, delivering a third feature prize of the month for Robbie Patterson.

With a rail-skimming ride aboard Campionessa in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), comeback jockey Matt Cameron completed a feature double at Pukekohe on Saturday that marked his best day back in the saddle.

Rejuvenated galloper Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued a sparkling run of form when he strode clear for a decisive victory in Saturday’s John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup (2040m) at Wanganui.

Unbeaten three-year-old December (NZ) (Shamexpress) stamped himself as a galloper to watch over the next few months after taking the next step in his development at Wanganui on Saturday.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike spent Sunday morning contemplating some mixed results from the racing action at Pukekohe twenty-four hours earlier where his stable picked up an impressive victory with Rudyard in the last race on the day after some frustrating placings earlier.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has announced that the Club and partner, tripleSdata, are going to provide accurate SMART race timing and tracking data at all Pukekohe Park and Ellerslie race meetings to assist stakeholders to better assess their horse’s performance, commencing with Saturday’s Counties Cup Day meeting.

The agreement will see TAB NZ take ownership of SENZ Digital & Audio, which includes the SENZ brand, website, and app, along with the 28 radio stations (across 29 frequencies), digital and audio content creation teams, and audio rights to several sports including cricket, netball, rugby league and Premier League football. The transaction is expected to complete in February next year.

Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) brings together four of the six winners of two-year-old races in the North Island so far this season, and Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is hoping to see his runaway debut winner Poetic Champion rise to the occasion in the star-studded Pukekohe clash.

Black-type performer Flower Of Wanaka will depart from Chrissy Bambry’s stable early in the new year, but the Foxton trainer is aiming high during her final few weeks with the Burgundy mare.

The Wanganui Jockey Club will make history over the coming week, with New Zealand’s oldest racing Club set to celebrate its 175^th anniversary.

Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) will be out to keep her stakes-winning momentum going when she heads to Pukekohe on Saturday for the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

The youngster was an effortless winner at his only appearance and another bold showing in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) will further boost his $1 million TAB Karaka Million (120m) prospects.

Time has been called on the racing career of former top juvenile On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).

Ben Foote enjoyed an outstanding first session at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale and he’s got the firepower to continue the party at Pukekohe.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has successfully completed the second phase of the Club’s ‘return to racing’ plan for the Ellerslie track on Monday, 20 November.
 

Promising filly Bedtime Story is turning into a dream for her connections.

Barry Howden has had a number of stakes winners in his barn over his 35-year training career and he is excited to have another in his care in Rhaegar (Pluck).

Group performer Beaudz Well (NZ) (Zed) will make his first appearance for new trainer Debbie Harris when he heads to New Plymouth on Friday to contest the Whitakers Civil Construction 1400.

Christmas at the Races will head to Wanganui on Saturday and Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan is hoping some of the festive spirit comes his way when his in-form gelding Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto) lines-up in the John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup 2040.

Lance Noble’s Karaka stable has made a fast start to the season and the momentum promises to roll on to Pukekohe on Saturday with an in-form team of five to do battle.

Luck has never seemed be on the side of talented mare Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy), but co-trainer Graham Richardson is hoping her time in the spotlight nears after a standout performance at the Taupo trials on Wednesday.

Flemington has been a happy hunting ground for the Vela family and they are hoping that continues on Saturday when their Group One performer Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) carries their famous silks in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

An impressive training effort by Stephen Marsh saw the Cambridge trainer commence Melbourne Cup Day at Pukekohe in style, preparing a freshened Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) to victory in the Ellerslie Events 1400.

Cambridge Stud and their private trainer Lance Noble celebrated a memorable afternoon at Pukekohe on Tuesday with a clean sweep of the feature events and a winning undercard double.

Wingatui holds fond memories for trainer Paul Harris and that continued on Tuesday with Goodanya’s (NZ) (Zacinto) come from behind victory in the Grand Casino (1400m).

Plans are in place to give talented mare Pure Incanto (NZ) (Per Incanto) every chance to boost her future value before time is called on her racing career.

Successful breeder and owner Daniel Nakhle has high hopes of a double celebration in the coming days.

Fred and Lindsay Cornege couldn’t have scripted a better afternoon at Pukekohe on Tuesday, the Cambridge-based trainers recording two impressive come-from-behind victories with Kenobi and Highly Vindicated.  

Lance Noble is hoping for a more routine race-day at Pukekohe Park on Tuesday, as he presents several top chances including Aquacade in the feature Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m).

Roger James and Robert Wellwood unearthed a pair of exciting three-year-old talents in maiden races at Tauranga on Saturday.

Promising filly Tonia’s Dragon (NZ) (Time Test) produced a deserved maiden victory in the testing conditions at Te Aroha on Friday, scoring in the Donaghys Pro-Dairy 1180.

A stylish come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $50,000 Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl (1400m) at Trentham has put talented mare Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) firmly on track for a black-type mission in the north later this month.

Seasoned sprinter Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock) has been a long-time performer for trainer Lauren Brennan, and the eight-year-old continued to show his class when scoring in the Flying Mullet Sports Bar 1400 at Tauranga on Saturday.

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to raising the bar even higher with his exciting five-year-old One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One), who took his career to a new level in Saturday’s $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham.

Last start Group Three winner Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) is ready to make another bold statement when she tackles the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday.

Ascot Park-based trainer Sally McKay is looking forward to the traditional Melbourne Cup raceday at Wingatui on Tuesday with a small but select team of runners engaged.

Entain, the operator of New Zealand’s TAB, has joined forces with Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) in an exciting partnership that is set to amplify the racing experience for fans at Ellerslie and Pukekohe Park.
 

Roger James and Robert Wellwood have some promising three-year-olds entered for Tauranga on Saturday, but the Cambridge trainers are keeping a close eye on the weather in the lead-up to the meeting.

The familiar colours of Lib Petagna will be carried by Kalapour at Flemington on Saturday in a last-gasp bid for a spot in Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan is hoping a change of tactics will see Semper Magico return to the winner’s circle at Trentham on Saturday when the in-form galloper contests the Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m).

An ambitious long-range plan will be put to the test at Flemington on Saturday.

Racing Tauranga will mark their 150th anniversary at their meeting on Saturday, and they intend to celebrate in style.

The connections of Classic contender Luberon can breathe easy again after the gifted filly produced a flawless trial performance on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Thursday.

Trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams are hoping Illicit Dreams can get her Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) preparation back on track at Ashburton on Sunday in the Juice Signs (1400m).

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation (ITBF) have announced a new collaboration with an eye toward improving the Thoroughbred industry. 

Puntura will head to Trentham on Saturday to help ready him for a trip south to Riccarton later this month to tackle the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).

Peter Didham will be on a two-fold mission to Christchurch this month with his promising three-year-old Danjuro (NZ) (Saxon Warrior).

The long-awaited return of racing to Te Aroha following track renovations will take place on Friday, having been postponed from its initial Wednesday time slot due to adverse weather.

Recent events at Hallmark Stud have ensured the inclusion of a highly valuable daughter of Proisir in the farm’s draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in January.

Awapuni trainer Peter Didham is looking forward to heading to Wanganui and Trentham this week where he will be represented by a handful of runners.

New Zealand-bred mare Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock) is on song for Saturday’s A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill according to trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

A barnstorming finish carried progressive galloper Matscot to his biggest career victory when he took out the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

War Decree ensured Inglewood Stud received plenty of bang for their buck as backers at Riccarton of one of the key lead-ups to the Classics on the track next month.

The Oaks Stud has a great association with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Cambridge farm are hoping to extend their legacy in the Riccarton Classic next month with Burn To Shine.

Promising mare Reputation is making quite the impression on trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.

Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) was the bridesmaid behind Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and Levante (NZ) (Proisir) in the feature sprints last season and trainers Ben and Ryan Foote are hoping it is now her time to earn her elite-level crown.

Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) showed she has lost none of her x factor when making her New Zealand return at the Te Rapa trials on Tuesday.

Te Akau Racing co-trainer Sam Bergerson is looking forward to heading to Tauranga on Saturday where he will line-up nine runners on the nine-race card.