A comfortable victory at the Taupo trials earlier in the week indicated progressive galloper Splurge was up to the mark for his return to the track after a short break and he didn't disappoint when he gave his rivals a thorough beating in the open sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A shake up to his normal routine appears to have lit a fire under former top juvenile Selfie who registered his second win in succession with a top performance at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Well known Hastings trainer Patrick Campbell enjoyed a day to remember on his home turf when he produced a winning double there on Saturday.

Stablemates Amarula and De Niro provided the perfect going-away present when they combined to produce a winning double for Matamata trainer Peter McKay and his wife Kim on the weekend.

Question marks over Sweet Leader's well-being following surgery and a rain-affected track were answered in emphatic fashion by the colt at Te Rapa.

Quality mare Mime staked her claim at Te Rapa for a trip to Queensland next month in her quest for a first victory at the highest level.

Peter McKay has a lofty goal in mind for Amarula's next visit to Hawke's Bay where the four-year-old successfully signed off his season on Saturday.

Roger James is confident that Killarney can make his mark in top company over the next couple of seasons.

Jimmy Choux found fame and fortune at Hastings during his racing days with several notable victories and in recent weeks his old home course has proved to be a successful stage for two of his talented sons.

Tony Pike already knows which path he'll be taking with his smart, but inexperienced filly Ujjayyi next season.

Cambridge trainer Trevor Cruz is hardly daring to think that fitness, weather and the right races could all align for his three runners on Saturday.

Talented three-year-old Sweet Leader faces a moment of truth at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose, one of Australasia’s fastest and toughest milers, has been secured by Windsor Park Stud to stand at their Cambridge-based nursery this spring.

Cambridge trainer Ross McCarroll has black-type aims for his four-year-old mare Calligraphy after she toyed with her rivals in a Benchmark 75 at Tauranga on Thursday.

Stephen Marsh can’t split Sofia Rosa and Thee Auld Floozie in their chase for the stable’s 10th black-type success of the season on Saturday.

Leading two-year-old Melody Belle will be chasing a transtasman Group One double in Brisbane later this year.

Ballybay is a dab hand over the shorter distances and he looks well-placed to complete a hat-trick of victories when he runs at Friday's Marlborough meeting.

A leg injury suffered in a fall at trackwork on Wednesday morning has prematurely ended the season for comeback jockey Jason Waddell.

Jiayuguan's upset victory at Avondale on Anzac Day didn't come as any surprise to her trainer.

The best is yet to be seen of the unbeaten four-year-old Grand Rio, according to his co-trainer Andrew Forsman.

Cambridge jockey Zy Nor Azman will be side-lined for the foreseeable future following a fall at Avondale yesterday.

If looks are any indication, then Prince Hareem is going to make his mark in serious company.

Levin owner-trainer Sylvia Kay is within touching distance of her best season.

Te Akau's Torcedor has lowered the colours in Ireland of Order Of St George in the Gr.3 Vintage Stakes.

New Zealand steeplechaser Lucky Tonight found his winning groove at Pakenham on Sunday, proving too good for his rivals in the E-Cycle Solutions Steeplechase (3200m) to show he is on track for the Warrnambool carnival.

Group One winner Heroic Valour enjoyed a quiet trial at Hawkesbury on Monday ahead of his Queensland campaign.

David Bennett, the MP for Hamilton East, has been appointed the new Minister of Racing, taking over the role from Nathan Guy - but unlike Guy, he is not a member of Cabinet.

Well-related mare Tessastock will attempt to add to her a stakes success to her CV at Awapuni on Tuesday.

The Karaka Million race meeting will be brought forward a day in 2018 to allow an opening night session of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales series.

Under-rated mare Somethingvain signed off her latest campaign with a gritty victory at Ellerslie on the weekend.

On a day of many highlights, the performance of lightly raced filly Deals in Heels stood out as one from the top drawer at Ellerslie on Saturday.

An emphatic victory at Trentham has stamped exciting filly Jessiegee as one to watch in the staying ranks next season.

Nuggety two-year-old Not Usual Trip made the best possible start to his future racing career when he claimed victory on debut at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Celebrations after Tommy Tucker's victory in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton on Saturday were a little muted by an unfortunate post-race incident.

Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs are looking forward to the winter and with good reasons after the performances at Ellerslie of two of their Brisbane-bound representatives.

An emotional Shelley Hale again savoured success in three racing roles at Ellerslie when Seventh Up powered to victory in the Gr.2 Easter Stakes.

Nikita will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Bluegables Farm principals Monty and Judy Henderson.

New Zealand's prospects of defending its Group One two-year-old title at the Queensland winter carnival have been given a major boost.

An abandoned domestic meeting prompted New Zealand Group One winner Heroic Valour's early arrival in Australia.

Eight-year-old gelding Tommy Tucker is the South Island's highest-rated galloper and will be out to snare his first Group victory in Saturday's Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.

Prospects of Frankel siring his first Classic winner have moved a significant step closer with his son Eminent making a winning return in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

While the Gr.1 Queensland Derby could loom as a target for male gallopers contesting Saturday's Gr.2 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie, there won't be a Gr.1 Queensland Oaks protagonist among them.

Howie Mathews is in Christchurch waiting on an answer or two from his capable stayer Sampson.

Inside knowledge is telling Geoff Haigh that his promising galloper High Quality will cope with a testing Trentham track on Saturday.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is confident that the New Zealand Racing Board's (NZRB) increased funding announcement will be very welcome news for the industry.

Wexford Stables trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott have the feature bases covered for Ellerslie on Saturday.

The New Zealand Racing Board's latest funding announcement is a no strings attached boost to stake money.

Donna Logan will know more about her team for the Brisbane winter carnival following the premier meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Savvy Dreams and Lamborghini have coped with the arduous trip to Adelaide like seasoned travellers, according to co-trainer Grant Cullen.

Fortune Knight is likely to make his next appearance at Avondale on Anzac Day.

Showemup can secure the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year series with victory in Saturday's Listed NZB Warstep Stakes.

International Group One-winning miler VADAMOS heads Rich Hill Stud's 2017 stallion roster with the son of the celebrated Monsun to stand at a service fee of $15,000 + GST.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Tony Allen is planning a comeback in New Zealand next month.

Warren Bolton is giving serious thought to an Australian venture later in the year.

Sibling rivalry will come to a head at Group Two level on Saturday when Battle Time and Farm Boy square off at Ellerslie.

Hugo The Boss is expected to make serious progress through the grades next season.

Last-start winner Uber Cougar has the Queensland winter carnival on her programme.

Richard Collett has been forced to rethink Top Prospect's programme.

The well-related Manhattan Street is progressing well along the path to a return to black type competition.

Quality filly Honey Rider is in the right order to chase down her second Group Three victory for the season.

The Whakatane meeting scheduled for Te Teko this Friday has been cancelled due to torrential and persistent rain in the region.

El Pistola will have to overcome an interrupted preparation if she is to claim top honours in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on April 29.

Offshore interests have successfully come calling for the Group Two winner Swissta.

The father and son training partnership of Michael and Matthew Pitman stamped their mark on the opening day of the Riverton Easter Carnival on Saturday when they produced four winners from their eight runners at the meeting.

Cambridge trainer Shelley Hale is hoping she can produce a two-pronged attack on Saturday's Manco Easter Stakes at Ellerslie after Seventh Up's comfortable victory at Tauranga on the weekend.

The frustrating run of bad luck that plagued Awapuni galloper Wills Road during his last campaign looks to be a thing of the past as the talented six-year-old notched the third win from his last four starts in emphatic fashion at Hastings on Saturday.

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman achieved their goal with Bonniegirl at Hastings when the specialist fresh performer earned her first black type victory.

Time and rising southern staying star Patrick Erin have been best mates and Shane Anderton doesn't see that changing.

Smart young stayer Five To Midnight closed a rewarding campaign in the best possible style at Hastings on Saturday with success in the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup.

Flamingo's chances of a crack at a black type race before her campaign closes were boosted on Saturday with a dynamic performance to maintain her unbeaten record.

The Mufhasa colours were again to the fore at Hastings where a relative of the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year continued the perfect start he has made to his career.

A decent break over the summer looks to have paid dividends for Saturday's impressive Tauranga winner, Wooden Edge.

Invercargill mare Miss Three Stars will have track conditions to suit when she attempts to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Listed Riverton Cup on Saturday.

Outstanding debutante Flamingo might be in line for an early opportunity to add black type to her record.

With the dust settled on the three-year-old season of trans-Tasman Group One winner Gingernuts, Te Akau is about to launch his full-brother Griffin on the New Zealand racing scene.

Stephen Marsh couldn't be happier with his talented four-year-old Chocante.

The connections of Volpe Veloce are spoiled for future choices for their top filly.

Snowdrop will end her five-year-old season at Saturday's Hawke's Bay meeting.

"Maestro Murray." That was racecaller Darren Flindell's memorable line as Bonneval crossed the line well clear of her rivals in last Saturday's Australian Oaks at Randwick, bringing up Kiwi trainer Murray Baker's 20th Group One win in Australia.

Another graduate of New Zealand's top three-year-old class of 2017 will be out to make his mark in Sydney this weekend.

Sofia Rosa will attempt to add to her black type record in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday fortnight.

Group One performer Joyfilly has been sold to clients of a leading Sydney stable.

The Te Akau stable of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards produced well-related colt Aquilo to break maiden ranks on a Heavy1 1 track at Rotorua on Wednesday in the Sweynesse 2YO (1230m).

Spring Group One hopes are held for Ardrossan, an impressive debut winner at Pukekohe Park earlier this month.

The Lisa Latta-trained representatives Five To Midnight and Lincoln Hills will sign off their seasons at Hastings on Saturday.

A black type credit at Hastings this weekend will cap a rewarding campaign for the progressive staying mare Pure Lorde.

Shane Crawford isn't expecting Swiss Military to be around his stable for too much longer.

Tony Pike has scrapped plans for a return trip to Brisbane for Sacred Elixir.

Saracino's preference for left-handed tracks has prompted a move to Mike Moroney's Melbourne stable.

Tavidream will have his classic hopes tested at his next appearance.

Regal Winks' trainers have put the filly's first defeat down to unsuitable track conditions.

Jumps maestro John Wheeler will be shooting for his 10^th win in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank on Easter Monday.

Brisbane has become the offshore destination of choice for the star Wanganui sprinter Start Wondering.

The connections of Savvy Dreams have been encouraged to try their luck in Australia off the back of Bonneval's weekend success.

Successful owner-breeder Bob Emery was pondering a serious question on Monday. Should he retire his Group One-winning mare Charmont now, or race her for another season?

Time has been a best friend to the well-related Fastnet Rock filly Orphea.

Our Bandit is providing Peter McKenzie with a much-needed change of fortune.

Group plans are already in place for the seasoned traveller Maybe Miami.

Shelley Houston is looking to building on the success she enjoyed on her first visit to Australia with Lucky Tonight.

The Cambridge stable of trainer Stephen Marsh looks to have unearthed another exciting prospect in the form of two-year-old Ardrossan who made a winning debut at Pukekohe.

Exciting galloper Hiflyer has all but confirmed his bid for the Manco Easter Stakes at Ellerslie later this month after producing another effortless performance to score at Trentham.

Promising mare Our Abbadean showed she was on target to tackle Group Two company at Te Rapa later this month when she gave her rivals weight and a beating over 2200 metres at the venue on the weekend.

The all-conquering Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman stable enjoyed a red-letter day on Saturday with a winning trans-Tasman Group One double to add to a brace of wins earlier in the day at Te Rapa.

Popular Cambridge horsewoman Ngaire Fraser made a surprise confession after watching her promising galloper Lewis Caroll score in fine style at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A supreme staying performance from New Zealand filly Bonneval (Makfi) in the Australian Oaks at Randwick has given her trainers a unique Classic double in Sydney.

Mangaroa Flo Jo's lengthy trip to Wellington has been rewarded with racing's ultimate prize for a mare - a black type victory.

The decorated partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman savoured a double dose of Group One glory in double quick time on Saturday.

Well-travelled jockey Kevin Kalychurun celebrated a career best result at Riccarton where he earned his first win at black type level.

Robert Hannam's successful riding career has been founded on a mix of self-belief and determination.

It would seem just a matter of time and finding a suitable track for the exciting three-year-old Love Affair to make her mark at stakes level.

Group One winning Curraghmore graduate Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel) has topped the Inglis Chairman's Sale after Paul Willetts went to $1.2m to secure the mare presented by Newgate Farm.

An Australian Oaks win to favourite Bonneval would cap a memorable campaign for the New Zealand filly and add to an already successful carnival in Sydney for her trainers.

La Bella Diosa's challenging trans-Tasman expedition poses another question at the final hurdle, with her staying capabilities under scrutiny in the Group One Australian Oaks.

Wanganui trainer Nigel Auret says events leading up to Perfectlyenchanted's tilt at Saturday's Gr.3 L.J. Hooker Sales Team Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (2000m) at Trentham could have gone a lot smoother.

Moira Murdoch and her daughter Kieran are counting themselves fortunate to have a couple of promising youngsters by the red hot stallion Iffraaj in their team.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again is a practice that the connections of Devise are taking to the extreme.

Stylish Attack is in the right order to make the most of an unexpected Group One chance on Saturday.

A rare chance to pull off back-to-back Australian Classic wins has Cambridge trainer Murray Baker buzzing.

Key agreements connecting New Zealand and Australian racing have been signed by the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) and Australia’s Tabcorp.

The win of Jon Snow in last Saturday's Gr.1 ATC Derby in Sydney has raised the international profile of Cambridge-based trainer Andrew Forsman.

Stephen Marsh will be hoping a new look Sofia Rosa can deliver a sharper performance at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Group performer What Choux Want will do her future racing in Australia.

The Manawatu meeting scheduled for Awapuni on Friday is the latest fixture to fall foul of the weather.

Chocante's quality should make him a force to be reckoned with at Te Rapa.

Son Of Zac's last two winning runs have fuelled overseas inquiries for the three-year-old.

The Waipa meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been abandoned due to torrential and persistent rain.

A Classic double in Sydney is in the sights of New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

El Pescado is making encouraging progress toward his autumn goal.

Hiflyer will make at least one more appearance before he is packed off for his winter holiday.

If you’ve been in the thoroughbred industry long enough you’ll experience your fair share of ups and downs.

Connections of the proven distance performance Mister Impatience aren't letting any two mile chances pass by.

Kawi's future quest for further elite level honours will be over the shorter trips.

Lightly-raced galloper Mr Luigi is making good progress toward a new campaign.

Addictive Habit is making good progress toward a return to racing with an Australian campaign his top priority.

What does racing have to do to get on mainstream TV media NZ?

Progressive Cambridge galloper Sultan Of Swing showed he was ready to tackle his biggest challenge to date when he continued on his winning way at Ellerslie on Saturday

Quality sprinter Fully Funded provided a minor upset on Saturday when he claimed the feature sprint at Ellerslie.

The newly minted training combination of Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker couldn't have asked for a better start to their partnership when promising mare Pure Lorde provided them with a winning start at Awapuni on the weekend.

Awapuni trainer Kevin Gray and his apprentice Holly Andrew enjoyed a cracking day out at their home base on Saturday when they combined to produce a premier day double.

New Zealand colt Jon Snow has shown his staying power to win the $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Otaki galloper Sampson is finding strength in set weights and penalties racing in his older age.

Melody Belle made the absolute most of her Group One opportunity at Awapuni when the outstanding filly powered to victory to complete a memorable two-year-old double.

David Archer is no stranger to top level success and he could be in line for a return to the glory days with his latest black type winner.

Stablemates Tavidream and Qiji Phoenix have boosted their Australian travelling funds with impressive displays at Ellerslie.