A Group One assignment in Queensland is in the offing for talented two-year-old Not An Option if he performs well at Randwick on Saturday.

Leading jockey Lisa Allpress was a step closer to doing what she loves best when riding at the Levin jump-outs on Wednesday.

Leading apprentice jockey Kozzi Asano has experienced a break-out season and he can’t wait for it to resume in July.

With an eye on next year’s autumn carnival, trainer John Thompson has brought promising three-year-old Battenburg (NZ) (Reliable Man) from Sydney to Melbourne for a feature race and trip away to help season the colt.

There was fist-pumping and whooping, high-fives and firm clasps for all hands within reach of the Rise High camp; deflation and ‘brave face’ acceptance from the Beauty Generation team.

Immediately following the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), the spotlight turns imperial. With the enthronement of the new emperor this week, what better timing than this coming Sunday for one of Japanese racing’s most prestigious races – the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones was saddened by the passing of former Balcairn trainer Maurice Bailey at Burwood Hospital, Christchurch, recently.

It’s the annual Tokoroa GRC hosted TAB meeting at the Cambridge Raceway on Sunday afternoon with the $7,000 South Waikato Cup (race 10) over 457m being the feature event.