Enigmatic galloper Suliman may have put a proposed jumping career on hold for the time being as he produced a superior staying effort in testing conditions to take out the Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup (2200m) at Rotorua on Saturday.

Talented filly Ima Roca Bee produced an undeniable finish in testing conditions to take out the final stakes race of the 2020/21 racing season, the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder (1200m) at Otaki.

Consistent mare So Wicked (NZ) (Street Cry) has brought up a significant milestone for trainer Chris Waller.

Trainer Allan Sharrock rounded off arguably his best season with a winning double at Otaki, where the successful return of popular equine personality Tavi Mac was one of the highlights of the day.

Breeders have until Saturday to nominate their yearling filly for the lucrative Pearl Series.

There is still one stakes race up for grabs this season and Karyn McQuade is hoping to get her hands on it.

As flagged at the NZTR Annual General Meeting last November, a 1 percent deduction will be applied to stakes to fund Thoroughbred welfare initiatives from 30 August 2021.

Talented three-year-old Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) recorded his third career victory when digging deep late to land the Courtesy Ford 3YO (1400m) at Awapuni on Thursday for trainers Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard.

El Nymph (NZ) (El Roca) is living proof of the old adage never look a gift horse in the mouth.

It’s been a gruelling few months for Hazel Schofer, but all her hard work and determination has paid off after securing the New Zealand Apprentice Jockey Premiership in the final weeks of the season.

Leith Innes may be a senior statesman of the northern jockeys’ room, but he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for what lies ahead on the feature race scene in the new season.

It’s already been one of Allan Sharrock’s most memorable seasons but the New Plymouth trainer is keen to add the icing on the cake at Otaki on Saturday.

Go You Good Thing (NZ) (Ghibellines) gave Daniel Cherry his first win as a trainer and the Matamata horseman is hoping the gelding can double his tally this weekend.

Craig and Shaun Phelan went home from Cambridge Jockey Club’s Wednesday meeting happy men after recording a double on the synthetic track, which was officially opened by former Racing Minister Winston Peters earlier in the day.

Promising juvenile Tsunami Sam (NZ) (Shamexpress) will continue his racing career in Australia after being sold to clients of Lindsay Park this week.

Although New Plymouth Raceway is on Tavis Court’s backdoor-step, the seasoned Hawera galloper will have his first start at the Taranaki track this weekend.

Cambridge Jockey Club’s synthetic track may have already had five race meetings, but their Wednesday meeting will mark the official opening of the polytrack.

Smart juvenile Bellacontte (NZ) (Burgundy) is on track for Saturday’s Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki after warming up with a comfortable maiden victory at Hawke’s Bay last week.

Class Waikato galloper Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) is being set some lofty Melbourne targets this spring.

Most people need an incentive to get out of bed on a cold winter’s morning, and for Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock it has been the return of his star galloper Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock).

Underrated winter galloper Tappy’s One (NZ) (Proisir) cemented his claim to being the most improved horse in commission in the South Island at present with a gritty win in Sunday’s Crombie & Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m).

Trainer Aaron Bidlake is quick to point out he didn’t take much of a shine to gritty four-year-old Rocktilyoudrop (NZ) (Rock ’N’ Pop) when he first showed up at his Opaki stable.

Danielle Johnson is only just starting to allow herself the luxury of enjoying the feeling of satisfaction that comes with taking out her first national jockeys’ premiership.

Local trainer Allan Sharrock gained a special result on his home track on Saturday to round out a record-breaking season for his New Plymouth-based stable.

Rookie apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll completed his first winning ride in fine style when he guided handy winter sprinter Crystallize (NZ) (Iffraaj) to a comfortable victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Debutante It Might Be You (NZ) (Savabeel) looked to have a bright future ahead of her as she easily won a maiden 1200m event at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A six-day back-up and a 13-hour return road trip paid dividends for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young when they won the Mildura Cup with Sierra Sue on Friday.

The Oamaru Jockey Club is delighted to announce that it will pay a $36,000 bonus to the connections of any horse who can win this year’s Crombie and Price Ltd Oamaru Cup and the Winning Edge Presentations 124^th Winter Cup.

A lucrative bonus has enticed the connections of Quiz Kid (NZ) (Iffraaj) to send the in-form galloper down south early ahead of the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 124^th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in a fortnight.

The stellar racing season experienced by the Te Akau Racing team is reflected in the first group of finalists for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards.

Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are in no hurry with promising Trust In A Gust two-year-old Treasure State but that’s not to say the youngster won’t be making haste at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The transfer of the Hydra-cell Pumps Wellington Hurdle (3100m) and Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) to Hastings on Thursday has worked in the favour of local trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced the appointment of Bruce Sharrock to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas experienced her best day in the saddle at Avondale on Wednesday, riding home a treble of winners.

Cambridge trainer Fred Cornege is refusing to get involved in the sentiment surrounding stable star Pop Star Princess’ likely final start for the stable in Saturday’s Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.

Trainer Wayne Hillis has been chasing the Pearl Series Bonus with his filly Half Of Nothing for the last three months, and they finally captured their prize at Avondale on Wednesday.

Triple Group One winner Tofane has plenty of options open to her this spring.

Tony Pike is looking forward to spring racing with his new acquisition Catalyst.

Group One targets await stablemates Probabeel and Sword Of State in Australia later this year and they took their first serious steps this afternoon toward spring goals with trial outings on the all-weather track at Cambridge.

The prospect of better ground in their own neighbourhood has seen leading jumps trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal direct three of their charges toward the rescheduled Wellington prestige jumps races on Thursday.

Patience is paying off for Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli with his much-improved gelding Charred, and it may lead to a tilt at the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November.

A memorial service for Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon, who passed away late last week at his Whitianga home, will be held at a yet to be scheduled date.

Talented jumper Tommyra (NZ) (Raise The Flag) will get the opportunity to try and secure his second feature jumps scalp at Hastings on Thursday when he tackles the Hydra-Cell Wellington Hurdle (3100m).

Catching National Apprentice Jockey Premiership leader Hazel Schofer may be a bridge too far for Kozzi Asano, but he is going to give it a good crack over the next two weeks.

Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler has a team of up to ten runners primed for the last South Island race meeting of the current season next weekend, as he and daughter Aimee try to capture the title of leading South Island-based trainer in 2020/21.

Trainer Nigel Tiley was looking forward to a leisurely Sunday morning bike ride in Queensland, away from the chilly New Zealand weather, after celebrating a special win at Ruakaka on Saturday.

There were smiles all around after the running of race one at Ruakaka on Saturday with local resident Michelle Bradley making a welcome winning return to the training ranks through the deeds of four-year-old mare, Regal Duchess.

Proven wet track performer Barbara (NZ) (He’s Remarkable) provided a welcome mid-winter highlight for her owner and former trainer Nigel Tiley when she strode clear in the concluding stages to capture the feature event at Ruakaka on Saturday, the ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m).

Ken Rae and his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro provided the first three runners home in Saturday’s two-year-old feature at Ruakaka.

Gale forces winds and torrential rain forced the abandonment of Saturday’s racemeeting at Trentham.

Sanctify’s (NZ) (Reliable Man) win at Timaru on Friday was an important one for her connections.

A year and more since COVID-19 changed the world that we knew, over the past week Mike and Paul Moroney have finally made it back to New Zealand to catch up on family, friends and business.

Former Sunline Trust Scholarship recipient Sam Begerson has been appointed assistant trainer to Jamie Richards at Te Akau Racing.

Racing Minister Grant Robertson has announced the first members of the TAB NZ Board.

Samantha Collett is back with her feet on New Zealand soil, keen to further the experiences she has had riding abroad.

Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon, whose list of achievements included a Melbourne Cup victory and multiple Singapore training premierships, has passed away.

Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs could have as many as seven runners at his home track meeting on Saturday, with a decision as to whether handy two-year-old Burgundy Dancer (NZ) (Burgundy) will contest the Whangarei ITM (1200m) to be left to the day.

It may have been nearly a year since Dolcetto’s (NZ) (Per Incanto) last victory, but trainer Sylvia Kay is hopeful he can make a return to the winner’s stall at Trentham on Saturday.

Talented hurdler Jackfrost (NZ) (Gallant Guru) will make his long awaited return to the jumping scene when he runs in the Harold Pateman Hurdles (3000m) at Phar Lap Raceway on Friday.

New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance has thrust their support behind the new Cambridge Synthetic track, with a $10,000 bonus up for grabs at the next meeting on July 28 for several runners set to contest the three-year-old set weights and penalties race over 1550m.

Queen Constantine (Holy Roman Emperor) recorded her first New Zealand victory at Wanganui on Thursday when taking out the Rosser Underwriting & Fasttrack Insurance 2060m.

Leading apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer reached one of her major goals of the season at Wanganui on Thursday, bringing up 100 wins.

Sixteen-win mare Flying Sardine (NZ) (Flying Spur) has been retired.

David and Emma-Lee Browne’s travelling zoo is heading north for the weekend.

Rangiotu trainer Stephen Nickalls is looking forward to Trentham on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m).

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Golden Sixty (Medgalia d’Oro) has been crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year for the 2020/21 season.

Stakes-winning two-year-old Atullibigeal (Street Boss) has been sold and will continue his career in Hong Kong.

Taranaki horseman Robbie Patterson was pleased with the run of stable star Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) in Sunday’s Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast, despite the five-year-old mare not getting the rub of the green.

Masetto (NZ) (Cape Blanco) will be vying for back-to-back cup victories when he heads north to Ruakaka on Saturday.

Richard Of Yorke (Oasis Dream) secured his maiden hurdle victory at Te Aroha last month and now a feature target awaits the promising jumper at Trentham on Saturday.

Late-blooming Cetus (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) is giving former top jockey Tony Allan plenty to cheer about in his fledgling career as a trainer.

Peter and Dawn Williams have lost one of their best three-year-old fillies to an Australian stable, but they’ve still got some other good fillies to keep them going in the new season.

It’s been a little while between drinks, but Clayton Chipperfield was back in the winner’s stall as a rider at Te Aroha on Sunday aboard Locally Sauced (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Yelavich Transport LTD 2200.

The ever-popular northern jockey Sam Spratt kept her recent run of good form going when she produced a heady ride to score aboard the Tony Devcich-trained Pow Wow (NZ) (Power) in the last race on the card at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Former top jumps jockey Craig Thornton turned back the years as he produced an impeccably judged ride aboard hardy jumper Lacustre (NZ) (Postponed) to take out the feature race at Te Aroha on Sunday, the Frank & Annie Matijasevich Memorial Steeplechase (3500m).

Trainer Steven Cole was having some fairly dark thoughts as he prepared his stable runners Chillax and Inca Warrior for the last race at Awapuni on Saturday.

Champion New Zealand rider Opie Bosson is champing at the bit to get back in the saddle as he prepares himself for the new racing season that starts on August 1.

Unbeaten two-year-old filly Catsacharmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit) booked herself a place in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki in three weeks after she lifted herself off the canvas to claim victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A stirring victory by handy winter sprinter Aero De Paris (NZ) (Tavistock) at Te Rapa on Saturday provided some additional holiday cheer for co-trainer Andrew Scott.

Consistent performer Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) added to an impressive career record when he bolted away with an open 1400m contest at Awapuni on Saturday.

Cambridge trainer Margaret Falconer is hoping to upset the apple cart when she lines-up Wordsworth (NZ) (Makfi) in the SVS Starting Gates Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Three-year-old Invisible Spirit looks well placed heading into Saturday’s J&J Walter Ltd 3YO (1550m) at Awapuni on Saturday, with trainers Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard confident the gelding has taken good improvement from his fresh-up performance at the Palmerston North track last month. 

Star Central Districts jockey Johnathan Parkes is happy to be back.

Plenty of punters will be looking to race one at Te Rapa on Saturday for their banker of the day.

The paths of Mark Oulaghan’s two Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 124^th Winter Cup (1600m) hopefuls will become a lot clearer after racing at Awapuni on Saturday.

Members of the Auckland Racing Club (ARC) overwhelmingly threw their support behind a merger with the Counties Racing Club at a Special General Meeting at Ellerslie on Thursday night.

Andrew Carston now sits on 30 wins for the season after recording a winning double at Ashburton on Thursday.

Cambridge trainer John Bell will have a strong hand when he ventures to Te Rapa on Saturday, including a pair of last start winners on the Hamilton track that are looking to replicate that feat. 

The merger between the Auckland and Counties Racing Clubs is now just one step away.

Midnight Runner (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) is on trial for next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton but ironically a win at Ashburton on Thursday could rule him out of contention.

Three-year-old filly Angelina Lauro (Reset) was a strong winner of the Piako Tractors 3YO (1400m) at Rotorua for Te Awamutu trainer Clint Isdale on Wednesday.

South Auckland horseman Brad Carsons was delighted to secure his first training win at Arawa Park on Wednesday, courtesy of Cannsea Clearly (NZ) (Ferlax) in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m).

Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), the surprise package of this season, made a pleasing start to his preparation at Foxton on Tuesday when comfortably winning his 1000m trial.

Whanganui jockey Sarah Macnab knows just how lucky her partner Sam O’Malley is after a horrendous fall at Hastings on Saturday.

Apprentice jockey Maria Sanson has made the move north from Awapuni where she has signed on to complete her apprenticeship under Matamata trainer Danica Guy.

Group Two performed three-year-old Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax) is set to continue his racing in Asia after recently being sold to Hong Kong interests.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced there will be a 20 percent boost to stakes between August 28, 2021, and April 2, 2022.

Acutus (Sepoy) is loving the warmer climes of Ruakaka over winter.

Progressive four-year-old Makzabeel (NZ) (Makfi) is putting together a nice record and was a dominant winner of the Northbeam Timber Beams and Posts Rating 74 (2100m) at Ruakaka on Saturday, making it back-to-back victories at the northern venue.

Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) was meant to be enjoying a well-deserved spell in the Queensland sun at the moment, however, the weather in the Sunshine State had other plans over the weekend.

A year ago, New Zealand punters had only just been introduced to Dean Parker, but in a little more than 12 months, the 18-year-old Northlander has burst into the New Zealand riding ranks, to the point where he’s now second on the jumps jockey premiership.

An afternoon watching Australian racing during the first COVID-19 lockdown last year paid a winning dividend for trainer Stephen McKee when three-year-old filly Joey’s Gift (Pluck) won impressively over 1200m at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The emotion in Ken Rae’s voice says it all when discussing the stylish jumping win at Hastings on Saturday by durable galloper Kaharau (Ad Valorem).

Opaki trainer Gerald Innes picked up a welcome winning double at Hastings and has high hopes he can keep that success going through the deeds of promising four-year-old Cross Roads (NZ) (Sweet Orange).

The Toby Autridge-trained Tommyra returned to his best form over fences when he sprang a minor upset in taking out the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) at Hastings.

Trainer Anthony Burton made a successful return to the Ruakaka racing ranks when he produced exciting two-year-old colt Tsunami Sam to win on debut at his local meeting on Saturday.

A sparkling win at the Te Rapa trials back in late May indicated that promising three-year-old All About You would be hard to beat when he made his raceday debut and that proved correct as he bolted away with the first race on the card at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Timaru trainer Leonard Stewart took a bit of convincing by his granddaughter, Lacy Stewart, to take Miss Harley Quinn (NZ) (Natural Destiny) south to Wingatui on Friday, but her insistence paid off.

Leith Innes is looking forward to heading north to Ruakaka on Saturday where he will have a handful of quality rides, including a couple of debutants.

Terry Moseley isn’t looking forward to the travel he’s facing in the coming days but he says it will all be worth it if he can guide Gigolo George (NZ) (Swiss Ace) to success for an old friend at Ruakaka on Saturday.

An elusive win in either Hastings jumping feature on Saturday would give leading jumps jockey Shaun Fannin a great deal of satisfaction and finally provide something for his family to cheer about.

Matamata horseman Daniel Miller has taken little time to establish his place in the country’s training ranks and now he’s looking forward to the next stage of his burgeoning career.

Alan Coles has rarely been far from a horse, either in work time or leisure time.

Expat New Zealand jockey Michael Walker is set to undergo more surgery following a fall at Pakenham in May.