A pleasant surprise from the handicapper has ended Enghien’s Australian assault before it began.

Rory McIlwrick, the leading junior driver for the season with 39 wins, ended his time as a junior when he drove Danielle Amore to lead over the last 2000m at Oamaru on Sunday.

Alexy, the most raced pacer in New Zealand in 2016-17, ended the season on a winning note at Oamaru on Sunday.

How do we love Tee Cee Bee? Let me count the ways.

There’s a long way to go to meet the price tag, but Brendon Hill couldn’t be happier with the direction in which Cullenburn is headed, after his second consecutive win at Addington on Friday night.

One of New Zealand’s most popular ever pacers Courage Under Fire has passed away with a record that may never be matched.

Four Starzzz Shiraz has joined the Christchurch stable of Brad Mowbray after being claimed at Rangiora on Sunday.

He’s done nothing different and seen nothing new in her work, but the way Sans Le Sou has approached her racing over the past 10 days has Ricky Alfeld wondering if she’s a little like fine wine, and getting better with age.

Steve Telfer has purposely taken his time with rising three-year-old, Dance Time, and that strategy worked the oracle second-up at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

It’s taken a bit of time to get to this point, but Andrew Stuart is pretty excited about what the future might hold for Sportscaster.

Irish-born Kiwi, Gerry Cronin, is over the moon. His brown McArdle mare, Lola Jones, has been named Dunstan Feeds Cambridge Raceway’s Horse of the Year.

Hall-of-Fame galloping trainer Graeme Rogerson notched up his second harness racing win of the season at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday, and in doing so he said he still loves training standardbreds and will always have a few in his Hamilton barn.

Finally the ugly ducklings of the harness racing world at starting to see some love.

Reducing the maximum field size from 14 to 12 will be among items discussed at a meeting of the clubs attached to the Southern Harness Racing body, on Thursday next week.

New Zealand’s greatest harness race is edging its way back toward $1million but that isn’t the main priority for Addington bosses.

Maidonthebeach has just one eye but that wasn't the only significant aspect of her win at Ascot Park last month.

There have been limited options for quality trotting stallions in the flesh in recent times, so the announcement today that Nevele R Stud has secured the southern hemisphere breeding rights to shuttle sire Creatine (1.51.2, $2.1 million) will be welcomed.

The group one winner Arden’s Choice has been retired from racing and she will mated with champion sire Bettor’s Delight.

Blair Orange has a goal for next season --- he wants to buy Dexter Dunn more food.

Richard Brosnan’s love of horses and his relentless appetite for hard work paid dividends at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Dunedin (New Zealand) owner Steve Thompson  and Victoria trainer Dean Braun continued a successful association when Shartin won the group two $A75,000 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park on Saturday.

It was quite fitting Gavin Lang and Dexter Dunn reached career milestones on the same weekend.

This is going to be an epic Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park next Saturday night.

Champion trainer Mark Purdon has trained faster and more talented horses than Smolda --- but none braver.

Injury has brought a sudden end to Spanish Armada’s champion season.

The man who has trained 14 Group One winners, could find himself nominated for the New Zealand Trotting Hall Of Fame, following this Friday’s meeting at Alexandra Park.

The North Island Standardbred Breeders Association will launch a Winter Bonus Series for pacing and trotting fillies and mares, thanks to the co-operation of both the Auckland Trotting Club and Waikato – Bay Of Plenty Harness.

Ideally, a few more would be the perfect result, but even if Paul Court only trains one more winner this season he’ll be a happy man.

Northview Hustler is an unassuming little fella, who in work, seldom gives his trainer Ray Green the impression he could beat a maiden field let alone a quality Winter Cup line-up comprising of last year’s Auckland Cup runner-up.

Who do you beat when you’re already the best?

Westwood trainer Graeme Anderson reached a personal best training tally of 33, for this season in a solo capacity, with the wins of Azalea and Sweet As at Forbury Park on Thursday night.