In an epic battle that revived memories of grand galloper Octagonal, Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) has edged out Godolphin pair Colette (Hallowed Crown) and Avilius (Pivotal) in a thrilling edition of the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park) secured a spot in the All-Star Mile with a tough win in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m).

Impressive last start winner Comme Bella Fille (NZ) (Complacent) will join the Sydney stable of John O’Shea following her purchase by Australian syndicators OTI on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

Racing in NSW has received a shot in the arm with the announcement of a $20 million prize money injection and the addition of a new race type to Sydney Saturday programs.

Leading Sydney jockey James McDonald is looking forward to continuing his association with multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Grahame Begg is excited by the prospects of promising three-year-old filly Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel), who caught the eye when runner-up in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) behind Parure (Fastnet Rock).

Talented stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) is building up for another tilt at the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m), a race he finished second in last year.

Charm Spirit mare Charmmebaby (NZ) will head to the big smoke during Easter weekend to take her place in the Country Championships Final at Randwick after winning at Scone on Sunday.

New Zealand Bloodstock sales graduate Chequerboard (Fastnet Rock) recorded her first stakes victory when taking out the Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Launceston on Sunday.

Symon Wilde has long had a theory about Australasian staying horses, and he can’t believe he might have the chance to prove it.

Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) appears the horse to beat in the next month’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) after an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville.

High-class three-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) proved the New Zealand form was right up to the mark when dominating his Australian rivals in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Outstanding Kiwi mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) has rocketed to equal favouritism for the $A5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) with a resounding victory in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Chris Waller went into the Gr.2 Millie Fox Stakes (1400m) wary about the prospects of his two runners on a rain-affected track and he was pleasantly surprised to come away with the quinella.

Patrick Payne will consider raising the stakes for Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) after he recorded his fourth successive win in the Mornington Cup Prelude.

A star-studded field awaits Kiwi raider Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, where she will clash with the likes of Behemoth (All Too Hard), Arcadia Queen (Pierro), Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) and last-start Group One winner Streets Of Avalon (Magnus).

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde is weighing up his options with New Zealand-bred mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock).

Brad Widdup says everything is on track for the return of progressive mare Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who tackles the Gr.3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

It takes a special horse to come off a Melbourne Cup preparation and return to win a weight-for-age sprint but Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) might just be good enough to do it.

With no three-year-old currently occupying a spot in the top 10 places on The All-Star Mile leaderboard, co-trainer Ben Hayes is hoping his galloper Crosshaven (Smart Missile) can provide the x-factor into the A$5 million race at Moonee Valley on March 13.

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards is getting used to having runners at multiple venues across Australasia and this weekend will be no different.

Former Kiwi galloper Defibrillate (NZ) has been keeping his New Zealand owners entertained over the last month, winning his last three starts in Melbourne, including a controversial last start dead-heat, and now Cup targets beckon the talented son of Shocking.

Paul Preusker’s stable star Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) is out of the autumn carnival, ruling him out of All-Star Mile contention after sustaining an injury to his hock on Monday.

Promising three-year-old The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock) has been sold to Hong Kong interests and has been transferred to the care of Sydney conditioner Mark Newnham.

Chris Waller will begin the roll out of his carnival big guns this weekend with Caulfield Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) leading the charge in Sydney.

Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is on target to fly the Kiwi flag in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) after proving a class above her rivals in Saturday’s Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

As a New Zealand-bred daughter of Savabeel out of a Pins mare, Tilianam (NZ) arrived at Tulloch Lodge with little expectation that she would make the grade at two.

Flemington trainer Mike Moroney was pleasantly surprised with the runaway win from Snapper (NZ) (Power) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Lightly-raced son of Tavistock Young Werther will resume in the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with trainer Danny O’Brien pleased with the gelding’s development since spring, where his three starts culminated in a third placing in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) showed his staying prowess when winning Friday’s Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart and in the process provided his late Novara Park sire with his first stakes winner.

A will to win is usually a boon for a racehorse but at times Tommy Gold’s (NZ) (Sacred Falls) competitive nature has been his undoing.

Tom Dabernig only has to look at the results of the Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) to know it is a worthy assignment for his three-year-old gelding Crosshaven (Smart Missile).

Quality galloper Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will kick off her summer campaign in Melbourne this Saturday when she contests the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.