A double-handed attack on the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) highlights a busy day for the Wexford Stables team on their home track at Matamata on Saturday.

Glamour mare and multiple Group One winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) led the powerful Te Akau Racing operation’s dominance of domestic racing honours for the 2020-21 season.

It was a night for the mares when Probabeel took the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year honours for the 2020-21 season.

After two photo finishes in the first two races at Cromwell on Sunday, Megalomaniac (NZ) (Pure Champion) gave the judge a breather with a dominant three-and-a-quarter length win in the Wingatui Function Centre (1400m).

Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) could be a swansong to New Zealand racing, at least for a while, for class Taranaki gelding Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed).

Racha Cuneen has added another string to his racing bow with the Group One-winning jockey posting his maiden success as a trainer.

Trainer Paul Harris is eyeing major staying targets this season with his promising mare Wannabe ‘N’ Paris (NZ) (Reliable Man) and longer-term would dearly love to travel further afield to Australia.

Team Pitman have many fond memories of Trentham racecourse and they are hoping that will continue on Saturday when Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) tackles the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).

Normal service was resumed at Te Aroha on Saturday when Jamie Richards and the Te Akau racing team dominated the opening event on the card, the Te Aroha Stallion Service Scheme (1100m) for the two-year-olds.

Exciting three-year-old Galleon (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) made plenty of racing pundits sit up and take notice after registering an impressive debut victory at Wanganui on Saturday.

Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace), one of the most exciting gallopers in New Zealand racing, kept his winning streak intact at Te Aroha on Saturday with another powerful display to take out the open 1400m contest on the card.

Underrated New Plymouth mare Zola Express captured the biggest win of her burgeoning career when she claimed the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m).

Exciting three-year-old Pareanui Bay made it three wins from three starts when he took out the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) on Saturday at Te Aroha.

A cool ride from Leith Innes paved the way for talented galloper Demonetization to make it back-to-back victories to open his latest campaign as the pair took out the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m).

Former Hong Kong galloper Eptimum continued the resurrection of his racing career when victorious in the Clare Memorial Central Otago Cup (1220m) at Cromwell on Friday.

After a strong two days of trading horses virtually, final results have been accumulated for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 Ready to Run Sale.

Leith Innes is back into the swing of riding from a temporary new base and is looking forward to making up for lost time.

Meg Cunneen is hoping Sunday’s open sprint at Cromwell can be the launching pad for Group One spoils for her surprise last-start Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) runner-up Seriously (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan is excited about the prospects of juvenile Zaher (NZ) (Proisir) after his gutsy win on debut in the Levin TAB & Sports Bar (1000m) at Otaki on Thursday.

Cambridge trainers Fred and Lindsay Cornege celebrated a personal milestone in style on Thursday when their game mare Rose ‘N’ Power (NZ) (Power) landed the Listed Courtesy Ford Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

White Noise (NZ) (El Roca) was the least fancied runner of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s pair in the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Thursday, but somebody forgot to tell the grey gelding that.

Just Dance (NZ) has inherited plenty of her mum’s ability, according to Hamilton trainer David Greene, who will saddle the unbeaten Tavistock filly in Saturday’s Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Aroha.

Two of New Zealand’s emerging stars will step out on Saturday’s Te Aroha undercard as they progress toward feature summer targets.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock) broke maiden ranks in style on Wednesday, coming from off the speed to triumph over 1400m.

Squid Game (Shooting to Win) made the perfect start to his racing career when winning on debut at Sandown on Wednesday.

Promising three-year-old Rosberg (NZ) (Reliable Man) impressed at Tauranga on Wednesday when scoring his maiden victory in the Katy Laidlaw Property Management 1400.

Group One performer Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) is in fine fettle ahead of the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on Saturday according to trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

The curtain is likely to come down on Unusual Culture’s (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) brief New Zealand career when she takes on a competitive age group line-up in the three-year-old feature at Otaki on Thursday.

While Cromwell’s annual two-day meeting ‘Racing In The Vines’ won’t have the same carnival atmosphere as it usually does as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler is looking forward to heading north this week nonetheless.

Exciting galloper Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) got the testing hit-out trainer Tony Pike was looking for when trialling at Cambridge on Tuesday.

Grant Cooksley will get a true guide to the ability of promising three-year-old Yes We Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) when he contests the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Te Aroha on Saturday.

The Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) is quickly becoming Stephen Marsh’s favourite race on the calendar.

The NZB Ready to Run Sale last week delivered strong results despite the issues arising from Covid and particularly for the top end of the market with 37 two-year-olds selling for over the $200,000 threshold, in comparison to 25 in 2020 and 30 in 2019.

In-form jockey Dylan Turner is not one for sitting around. The Palmerston North rider has made a good start to the 2020-21 season, riding home six winners from 41 starts – the latest being the impressive Vigor Winner in an open 1400m handicap at Awapuni.

With Auckland border restrictions set to continue until December 15, racing in the region has responded accordingly.

The racing future of impressive debut winner Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) lies offshore, but not before she has a crack at New Zealand’s richest two-year-old prize.

A confident ride aboard the Janelle Millar-trained Pure Incanto (NZ) (Per Incanto) at New Plymouth on Friday saw former jumps jockey Lemmy Douglas register his first win on the flat after making a commitment this season to relaunch his career as a flat rider.

With his final southern hemisphere yearlings set to go through sale rings in early 2022, former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj is back in the Group One spotlight in Australia.

Promising three-year-old Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress) returned to racing with a bang at Awapuni on Saturday as he made it two wins from just the two starts when successful over 1300m in his first up run for the season.

Trainer Darren Weatherley was struggling manfully against the weight of some self-inflicted wounds on Sunday morning after celebrating a special day at Te Rapa just 24 hours earlier.

Another magical ride by Opie Bosson saw gritty mare Showoroses secure her third career stakes victory when she held out all challengers to win the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Local trainer David Greene experienced a wonderful moment at Te Rapa on Saturday when he provided the quinella in the Gr.3 Franklin Auctions Counties Cup (2100m).

Class galloper Levante once again showed just what a talent she is when she when she made it back-to-back victories in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) on Saturday.

Speedy filly Bright Blue Sky lived up to the hype when she made a winning debut in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa.

Following the government’s recent announcement about the move to its proposed Traffic Light framework (COVID-19 Protection Framework) NZTR has consulted with clubs regarding the need for vaccination certificates at their events.

Vicki Prendergast is banking on a change of fortune for Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) at Te Rapa to add further momentum to the talented mare’s campaign that will have its finale on New Year’s Day.

Classy New Zealand-bred four-year-old Western Empire is set to start an overwhelming favourite in Saturday’s Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth, with the son of Iffraaj set to jump from barrier 3 in the 16-strong field.

Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) is giving off Avantage (Fastnet Rock)-type vibes to champion jockey Opie Bosson, who will ride the filly at 54.5kg on Saturday, the first time he’s ridden that light since guiding Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) to victory in last year’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote is hoping he can get his hands on some silverware at Te Rapa on Saturday where he will have two stakes contenders.

Kiwi import Witsabouthim (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to make his debut for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable on Saturday.

Mapperley Stud stallion Puccini sired his first winner at Rotorua on Tuesday when Giacomo (NZ) won the Lance Lawson (1560m) for trainer Peter McKay.

Twelve months on from her breakthrough win in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe, Levante has returned at least as well for her title defence at Te Rapa on Saturday, according to Matamata trainer Ken Kelso.

It’s been a while between drinks for Cambridge trainer Leanne Bertling, but she was back in the winner’s circle at Rotorua on Tuesday courtesy of Invaluable (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Rydges Rotorua 1560.

Buyers have been circling around impressive debut winner Mascarinto (NZ) (Per Incanto), but so far the two-year-old’s connections have knocked back all potential suitors.

Roger James is hoping for a big day for his mares Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) and Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel) as they seek more black-type success at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A good-looking daughter of Tivaci remained unbeaten at the trials when she was successful over 850m at Foxton on Tuesday.

Peter Didham has a good mix of proven performers and promising younger horses in his in-form Awapuni stable and a pair of well-related three-year-olds will feature among his representatives on his home track this weekend.

Regally-bred stallion The King (NZ) (O’Reilly) will have his first runner at Ascot Park on Wednesday when The Queen (NZ) makes her debut in the Invercargill Licensing Trust Maiden (1200m) for trainer Robert Dennis.

Cambridge trainers Craig and Shaun Phelan have lofty ambitions for their stable’s new acquisition, Dawn Patrol (NZ) (Dawn Approach).

Matamata veteran Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) doesn’t seem to be showing much sign of his age as he prepares for another summer of racing.

Quality galloper Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) tuned up for a Group One assignment when a comfortable winner at the Taupo trials on Monday in an Open heat over 1225m.

Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day has been put back a day to Sunday March 13 in order to accommodate New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale series.

Te Rapa trainer David Greene is making the most of the increased back door racing opportunities afforded him by current travel restrictions.

A bold front running effort that saw her dominate her rivals in the closing stages of a three-year-old 1400m event at Tauranga on Saturday has set promising filly La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) on a path that will hopefully culminate in a tilt the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) next March.

Fresh off providing the first four runners home in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), trainer Jamie Richards has already begun to plan what the immediate future holds for each of his three-year-old fillies that contested the event.

A patient ride by Sam O’Malley proved the key to victory as Taranaki visitor Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) stormed clear to win the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga.

It was some Kevin Myers magic at play at Riccarton on Saturday when outsider Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy) ($22.60) stormed home down the outskirts of the Riccarton track to take out the 158^th running of the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m).

Trainer Jamie Richards added another milestone to his already storied training career when he provided the first four home in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Speedy filly Grace’s Secret (NZ) (Vadamos) made it two wins from two starts when she led throughout to take out the Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Since August, New Zealand Bloodstock has conducted its Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series races, with a spread of domestic trainers earning the beneficial prize package on offer.

Palmerston North trainer Lucy Tanner is having the time of her life watching her former stable star Belle Plaisir (NZ) (Proisir) race in Australia.

Like any trainer who has a runner engaged in a major race, Nikki Blatch has a few frayed nerves on the eve of what could be a career defining moment. Nikki and husband Barrie will line-up the well-favoured Mr Intelligence in Saturday’s Gr.3

Allan Sharrock is full of admiration for his pint-sized equine prize fighter Tavi Mac, who continues to punch well above his weight as he heads toward the biggest challenge of his career in a fortnight’s time.

Local trainer Richard Collett was delighted to be back trackside for the first time in several months at Pukekohe Park on Thursday.

One of the more intriguing runners in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton is the Bill Thurlow-trained And We Danced (NZ) (Wrote).

Champion trainer Jamie Richards has weight of numbers on his side with a team of five fillies contesting Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

A Group One target is in the offing for Vigor Winner (Declaration of War) if he performs up to expectations in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley had a spring in his step as he ventured to the races for the first time in several months on Thursday and was delighted to come home with a couple of classy winners.

Fresh from landing the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last Saturday with glamour colt Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel), the Te Akau team were again to the fore on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup Meeting.

Five-year-old mare Karalino (NZ) (Zacinto) landed the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) for trainers Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer in a dramatic finish to the fillies and mares feature at Riccarton on Wednesday.

Group One galloper Royal Performer (Medicean) resumes on Thursday for Jenny and Bob Vance in an Open Handicap over 1400m at Pukekohe Park.

Mustang Valley (NZ) is at the top of her game for her Group One test at Riccarton on Saturday with connections hoping for a final piece of the puzzle to make the Classic a snug fit for the daughter of Vanbrugh.

Three-year-old fillies were to the fore at the Te Aroha racemeeting on Tuesday, with first starters Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) and Avalene (NZ) (Vadamos) making winning first impressions, while Marcella (NZ) (Sweynesse) was successful over 1200m at second time of asking. 

For experienced trainer Nigel Tiley, Thursday’s Pukekohe raceday for Auckland-trained horses is a godsend. Tiley will start five horses on the 11-race card, which Auckland trainers have embraced to a huge extent.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is happy to go two-by-two in three upcoming New Zealand Cup week features at Riccarton but he’d still like be coming out number one.

Robina Joy (NZ) (Iffraaj) will complete a unique family double if she can successfully rise to the sternest test of her career at Riccarton on Wednesday.

Class mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) didn’t surprise anyone by winning a 1000m trial at Matamata last week, but the manner in which she won it suggests she’ll be an even tougher horse to beat this season.

Four-year-old mare Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) is set to peak in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton, with the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained mare entering the feature following successive victories this campaign.

Adhering to the maxim of never looking a gift horse in the mouth is serving Robert Dennis and partners well.

With the stunning victory of Noverre in Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) you could be forgiven missing the gallant performance of runner-up Meritable (Snitzel).

Trainer Catherine Cameron knows that she has limited time left with impressive Te Rapa winner Solid Impact (NZ) (Real Impact) but is keen to make the most of it with the progressive four-year-old.

Andrew Carston was feeling sick to his stomach on Wednesday morning when he discovered his leading Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) candidate Art De Triomphe (NZ) (Vadamos) lame after a quiet trial at Ashburton the previous day.

Eight weeks ago, leading New Zealand rider Opie Bosson was ready to walk away from racing and retire to the farming life on his Pukekawa property.

The partnership of jockey Opie Bosson and Te Akau Racing provided another memorable moment in the history of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) when they combined to land the blue ribband event with stunning Savabeel colt Noverre (NZ).

Topweight Mr Intelligence (NZ) (Niagara) gave his rivals weight and a beating as he provided the perfect dress rehearsal for next weeks’ Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) when he took out the traditional lead-up event, the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) on Saturday.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh maintained the winning roll he has been on of late when he produced the quinella in the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m).

Speedy mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) got her spring campaign off to the best possible start when she proved too slick for her rivals in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is confident strapping chestnut Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner) can be in the thick end of the prizemoney in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

Fifty years after adding his name to the honour roll of Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys, Bruce Marsh has paid the ultimate compliment to the latest New Zealander to join the elite list.

Former top juvenile filly Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) is set to make her raceday return at Te Rapa on Saturday after a 20-month hiatus.

A factor out of Lance Robinson’s control is his major concern ahead of the stable’s two-pronged attack on Saturday’s feature sprint on his home track at Riccarton.

Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson unveiled an exciting prospect when two-year-old filly Wolverine made a winning debut over 1100m at Otaki on Thursday.

Everything about Southern Ocean (NZ) (Ocean Park) tells Riccarton trainer Terri Rae that he’ll relish 3200m but she says she’ll only really know when he gets to that distance on Saturday week.

Family rivalry will be in play on Saturday when Wakari (NZ) (Vespa) makes his bid for Group One glory in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

It might have taken a while but Matamata trainer Jamie Richards believes Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel) has his mind right on the job ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Hamilton trainer David Greene is hoping it’s a case of like mother, like daughter with promising three-year-old Just Dance, and early indications are promising.

Zed may well have had two runners in this year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) had it not been for the current complications of trans-Tasman travel.

When a spindly legged filly walked into South Auckland trainer Nick Bishara’s stable a few years ago, a future Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner was the furthest thing from his mind.

The well-travelled Cheval Prometteur (Declaration of War) has showed resilience in the face of adversity and his fighting qualities were again showcased at Te Rapa on Melbourne Cup Day.

Pint-sized mare Robusto (NZ) (Zed) will carry the hopes of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable in Tuesday’s Gr.3 Dunstan Horsefeeds Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

The seven-year-old daughter of Zed is in her final season of racing having been served recently by Cambridge Stud sire Hello Youmzain and is looking to add a third black type victory to her career record before heading to the matron’s paddock.

Rangiora trainer John Blackadder will make the long trip south to Wingatui racecourse on Monday afternoon confident in the knowledge he has talented galloper Maximus Prime (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) ready to perform to his best 24-hours later in the main race on the Otgao Racing Club’s ten-race Melbourne Cup day card, the Grand Casino 1400m.

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will be chasing a third black-type success for the season when Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) takes aim at the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Tuesday.