Top jockey Sam Spratt has a simple wish for the next 12 months as she comes back from injury – to be riding at Christmas.

Classic hope Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) will have two upcoming chances to convince connections he has the right credentials for a crack at the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.

The win of progressive stayer Spirit Of Baz (NZ) (Charm Spirit) at Ellerslie on Sunday brought back some fond memories for those associated with the four-year-old mare, who is the daughter of 2005 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Bazelle

Promising mare Saint Alice (So You Think) demonstrated she will be a force to be reckoned with in her upcoming assignments when she dashed away in the closing stages to record a comprehensive victory at Ellerslie on Sunday

Leading rider Opie Bosson is putting in the hard yards as he gets set to ride Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) candidate The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Wednesday.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh registered a notable milestone when he saddled the quinella in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with Lincoln King and Starrybeel.

Feature race wins by La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Lincoln King (NZ) (Shocking) in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday, continued a wonderful run for progeny of the resident stallions of Matamata-based Rich Hill Stud.

It was mission accomplished for underrated galloper Monza Circuito when she led all the way to take out the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.

A plan that was hatched shortly after progressive galloper Marchand (NZ) (Burgundy) ran second at his two-year-old debut last season looks to be well on track as the three-year-old son of Burgundy sets his sights on a tilt at the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March.

A patient approach taken with promising galloper Mach Schnell (NZ) (Zacinto) paid a winning dividend at Ellerslie on Sunday.

Talented galloper Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) was back in the winner’s circle at Ellerslie on Sunday, taking out the HR Fiskens & Sons Ltd 1400 at his first start since being gelded.

A late nomination to contest the Group One feature at Trentham on Saturday paid dividends for the connections of quality performer The Chosen One as the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner scored a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile

Talented filly La Crique lapped up the roomy surrounds at Trentham on Saturday as she spaced her rivals for a brilliant win in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes.

Royal Performer will have one final hit-out at Ellerslie on Sunday before he prepares to defend his crown in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 12.

Bluey’s Chance (NZ) (Remind) nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in last year’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) and trainer Kenny Moore is hoping he can do the same this year.

Michael and Matthew Pitman hold a strong hand in the main event on their home track program at Riccarton on Saturday with proven stakes performer Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) and the genuine My World (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) to represent the stable.

Amalfi Prince (Sebring) has put himself into Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contention after he broke through for his maiden win at Hastings on Thursday.

New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce a new incentive for New Zealand-based trainers wishing to purchase at its National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka held from 7 to 12 March.

Gun jockey Matthew Cameron is hoping all the pieces of the puzzle that is Saturday’s Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham might have fallen into place for him.

Gifted filly La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) will be the mistress of her own destiny and her performance at Trentham on Saturday will determine her major three-year-old target.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are well on their way toward their most successful season since forming a training partnership at the beginning of the 2018-19 term.

Australian punters are set to become better acquainted with trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne as they get set to move across the Tasman from their Cambridge base.

Meg Cunneen has developed a taste for black-type racing less than a month since the first stakes win of her fledgling training career.

The Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced further stakes increases.

Sam Weatherley enjoyed his biggest pay day as a jockey at Ellerslie on Saturday and is now looking forward to another potentially rewarding meeting at the other end of the island this weekend.

A stirring gallop at New Plymouth has given Allan Sharrock all the reassurance he needs about Waisake’s (NZ) (Zed) readiness for back-to-back victories in one of New Zealand’s premier staying tests.

While the large crowd expected for Wellington Cup Day will no longer be present at Trentham on Saturday, the Wellington Racing Club is thankful the meeting is able to go ahead.

Speedy mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) may be given a chance to extend her distance range in next month’s Gr.1 BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Racehorse syndicator Go Racing has achieved plenty of success in Australia recently and Racing Manager Albert Bosma is planning to further increase their presence across the Tasman in the future.

Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney has welcomed the arrival of promising Kiwi filly Let’s Say Grace (NZ) (Charm Spirit) to his Flemington base.

After a luckless run for second in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s day, promising mare Rapid Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) returned to the scene of the crime on Saturday to exact a measure of revenge in the Collinson Forex Karaka Cup (2200m).

A purchase made while on a stint working overseas over twenty-five years ago paid off in spades for Windsor Park Stud’s Rodney Schick, when stylish colt Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) took out the $1 million Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday night.

First time racegoers to Ellerslie on Saturday evening could have been forgiven if they thought they had mistakenly turned up to a football match, such was the noise and atmosphere generated by a large group of racing enthusiasts in attendance under the unique moniker of Boys Get Paid.

The third time was the charm for Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) at Ellerslie’s Karaka Million twilight meeting on Saturday, landing a career-best victory in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m).

Talented three-year-old colt Sword Of State (Snitzel) shrugged off an indifferent Australian spring campaign to display his true class when he dominated his rivals in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.

The connections of highly talented three-year-old Mackenzie Lad (NZ) (Vespa) went from a stakes-winning high to one of the worst feelings in racing within the space of a few seconds on Saturday afternoon.

Speedy mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) was at her brilliant front-running best when she led all the way to take out the Gr.3 Brighthill Farm Eminent First Yearlings Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.

On a night he has made somewhat his own in recent years, trainer Jamie Richards scooped a second $1million prize at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pin Me Up (NZ) (Pins) scored an upset victory in the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m).

The more things change, the more they stay the same was the feeling after the running of the Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

A past visit to the Karaka Million evening at Ellerslie won Henry Dwyer over and convinced the Victorian trainer he had to become more involved in the $1 million two-year-old feature.

If David Ellis needed any vindication for the quality of yearlings he has bought at Karaka over the past decade, he only needs to look through the past winners’ list of the Karaka Million (1200m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).

Katrina and Simon Alexander will be on a scouting mission at Trentham on Saturday with progressive stayer Stopalltheclocks, while stablemate Te Toki’s immediate future will also be locked in after he steps out at Ellerslie.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in March is set to go ahead, even if the country enters the red alert level of the COVID-19 traffic light system.

The not for sale sign has been put on exciting three-year-old Ruby’s Lad as he prepares for the Southern Guineas Series.

Stephen Autridge has twice celebrated victories in New Zealand’s richest juvenile event and will on Saturday be bidding to halt the run of his former employer in the Ellerslie feature.

Stephen Marsh may not have a runner in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, but he has doubled down on the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).

New Zealand-bred entire Mo’unga proved himself at weight-for-age level in the spring and trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to testing him against Australia’s best once again this autumn.

The Stephen Marsh-trained Masetto prepared for a tilt at the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) by winning a high-quality 1200m trial at Te Rapa on Wednesday.

Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) will have to overcome a wide draw to keep her unbeaten record intact in Saturday’s $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Popular Christchurch jockey Kylie Williams has her sights set on her next milestone after a triumphant double at Wingatui last Saturday brought up her 800th New Zealand win.

Jodelin Gal (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is a feisty mare and trainer Carl Henderson has been forgiving of her attitude given the abundance of talent the five-year-old possesses.

A horse brought back to New Zealand with jumps racing in mind will be seeking two big prizes without obstacles in the way in the next two weeks.

Hastings trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen are hoping to make their mark on Karaka Million day at Ellerslie on Saturday with their promising three-year-olds Wewillrock (NZ) (El Roca) and The Stoney One (Pierro).

Trainer Brad Widdup has some big plans instore for Kiwi-bred mare Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls).

With all lead-up races run and won, and with the finishing touches being applied to preparations, the order of entry for the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) now provides a clear idea of which horses will enter the Ellerslie starting gates this Saturday for New Zealand’s richest sporting event. 

Mike Tod has been announced as TAB NZ’s new chief executive.

Tod has held senior roles with TVNZ, Fonterra, Air New Zealand and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He is a former member of MasterCard’s Asia Pacific Advisory Board, is a Director of Queenstown Airport, and is an advisor to Live Ocean Racing.

Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were delighted to tick the Group One box with classy mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) when successful in the Telegraph (1200m) on Saturday and the focus will now shift to doubling that elite level tally.

It’s a bittersweet week for trainer Jamie Richards as he gets ready for his final tilt at the Karaka Million at the helm of Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable.

Hinepara’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) immediate future lies close to home before Levin trainer Josh Shaw hits the road in search of higher honours for his in-form mare.

Despite a dogged effort when second behind the unbeaten Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham, the immediate future for promising three-year-old Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) is in the spelling paddock for the next month.

Promising filly Hanalei (NZ) (Darci Brahma) provided co-owner and breeder Paul Richards with one of the biggest thrills of a more than forty-year career in the thoroughbred racing game when she took out the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday under the training of son Jamie.

Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham was a sink-or-swim moment for unbeaten three-year-old Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress), and he rose to the challenge in superb style.

Promising filly Hanalei showed she had taken plenty from her runner-up performance on debut at Te Aroha at the start of the month, when she dominated her two-year-old rivals in the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham.

High-class mare Levante broke through for a deserved Group One victory in a heart-stopping finish to Saturday’s JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham.

Exciting galloper Bankers Choice showed he is well on his way to becoming a star of New Zealand racing with a last to first performance to take out the Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Robbie Patterson will head to Trentham buoyed by a winning midweek double and even a hefty impost for his star performer Coventina Bay on Saturday hasn’t dimmed his confidence in the mare’s prospects.

Hazel Schofer can’t wait for her dream ride at Trentham on Saturday, partnering her favourite horse Tavi Mac in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).

Two-year-old gelding Zaher may only be having his second start at Trentham on Saturday but he is already becoming a seasoned traveller.

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have timed their run to the DoubleTree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie next week to perfection with promising juvenile Time Ruler.

Local filly Glory Bound (NZ) (Tavistock) scored an impressive maiden victory at Matamata on Wednesday when taking out the Waikato Branch NZ Farriers Association (1400m) by 4-1/2 lengths.

It’s been a whirlwind last couple of months for John Blackadder.

Last year the Rangiora trainer elected to take a chance on a formerly retired Hong Kong galloper and on Saturday he will have his biggest thrill in racing when he lines that horse up in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham.

Terri Rae has opted for plan B for emerging stayer Southern Ocean’s (NZ) (Ocean Park) final lead-up to this month’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham.

Stephen Marsh is confident the addition of headgear on All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls) at Tauranga on Friday can set the mare on a path to significantly add to her future broodmare value.

Matamata trainer Graham Richardson left his local meeting a happy man on Wednesday after witnessing two of his runners quinella a star-studded trial.

Australian punters can once again look forward to welcoming the Emma-Lee and David Browne Zoo to their shores in the coming months.

The Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) remains on Pareanui Bay’s (NZ) (Lonhro) radar, although Cambridge trainer Tony Pike does admit to reservations about the Classic being his most suitable autumn target.

Fresh from a great start to 2022, Shaun and Emma Clotworthy could have up to three runners seeking big prizes on Karaka Million night at Ellerslie.

Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard will have a trio of black-type contenders in action at Trentham this Saturday with the stable praying for a change in fortune for at least two of them.

Awapuni trainer Peter Didham could line-up three stakes contenders at Trentham on Saturday, the first day of the Wellington Cup Carnival.

Waikato hoop Michael McNab has picked up the coveted ride on Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday.

La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) has looked like a speed machine for most of her career but trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander think she could stay an Oaks trip.

Promising three-year-old White Noise (NZ) (El Roca) had a class edge on his rivals when landing Sunday’s Listed Te Akau Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie, confirming his status as a genuine Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender at the same venue in March.

Under a perfectly judged ride by apprentice Masa Hashizume, progressive mare Tevere (NZ) (Contributor) added an open class victory to her burgeoning record at Ellerslie on Sunday.

A determined winning effort at Ellerslie on Sunday by promising juvenile Fellini (NZ) (Belardo) has seen the two-year-old son of Belardo shorten into $6 equal second favourite in the Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at the same venue on January 22.

A rollercoaster week that saw her ride a pair of winning doubles while coping with the loss of a beloved family member has made for a mixed start to the new year for top jockey Lisa Allpress.

Promising stayer Our Hail Mary demonstrated she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) in March when she produced a resolute effort to take out the Listed Japac Homes Marton Cup (2200m) at Awapuni.

Enigmatic performer Camino Rocoso shrugged off a narrow defeat in the Greymouth Cup (2000m) on Monday to turn the tables on his conqueror that day in Bully Boy, as he took out the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday.

Local trainer Roydon Bergerson got his day off to the best possible start at Awapuni when talented three-year-old Nest Egg made it back-to-back victories as he got in the deciding stride in a blanket finish to the Richard Simpson Contracting 3YO (1400m).

While many New Zealanders are enjoying the entertainment of festive season racing, South Canterbury farming couple Stephanie Rathgen and Grant Midgley have priorities that prevent them from being on-course to cheer home the current star of their racing string, All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing).

The Tony Pike-trained Scribe (Press Statement) will do his future racing in Hong Kong with the unbeaten son of Press Statement sold to clients of David Hayes.

Michael Pitman rarely misses a Kumara Gold Nuggets, and the Riccarton trainer is gearing up for another busy afternoon at the iconic race meeting on Saturday.

Jamie Richards’ attack on the Karaka Million 2YO (Listed, 1200m) currently rests with a quartet of youngsters, but the chances of a fifth member of the stable chasing the $1 million pot of gold is looking highly likely.

Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry is keen to see four-year-old gelding Sergio (NZ) (Swiss Ace) continue his upward trajectory as he aims to land his third win in succession when stepping up in distance in the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 (2100m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

Champion jockey Opie Bosson will partner Regazzo (NZ) (Tavistock) for the first time at Ellerslie on Sunday and his report card on the promising colt will determine whether connections can look forward to a classic campaign.

Fraser Auret is loving his West Coast adventure.

The Marton trainer has 16 horses campaigning on the coast circuit, which began with racing at Greymouth on Monday, continued with the Reefton meeting on Wednesday and culminates with Saturday’s Kumara fixture.

After a two-year hiatus, the Racing Annual is back. Marking 50 years since the first Racing Annual was published, the 2021 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual highlights another memorable turf season.

Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress) is well exposed in the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) market and a decision whether he will give trainer Allan Sharrock the chance of a second success in the staying classic will be made after his next run.

The potency of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s contingent for this year’s Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie will become clearer after racing at the same track on Sunday.

Karaka Million favourite Wolverine (NZ) has a new rider with Leith Innes to replace the injured Danielle Johnson on the daughter of Tivaci in the million-dollar feature at Ellerslie on January 22.

An ambitious plan hatched by trainer Stephen Marsh and Bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson kicked its first goal at Tauranga on Sunday when former Australian mare Iconic Star (Brazen Beau) strode clear to win the New World Te Puke 1200.

A year ago, Roger James identified a Tavistock juvenile in his barn as the horse that might give him a sixth New Zealand Derby success.

A decision to send maiden galloper Tigertiger (NZ) (Zed) to the Mornington stable of Robert Blacker is paying dividends for his Foxton-based owner and breeder Ian Shaw after the son of Zed picked up his fifth win.

Champion jockey Danielle Johnson is looking forward to checking out of hospital this week and faces a lengthy period on the sidelines after a fall on New Year’s Day ay Ellerslie following the breakdown of pin-up galloper Gold Watch.

Two-year-old gelding Kabugee (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) showed a glimpse of his talent when winning on debut at Te Aroha on Monday over 1000m and in the process provided his Rich Hill Stud sire Satono Aladdin with his first New Zealand bred winner.

A barnstorming finish from near last on the home turn by promising galloper Phyllite (NZ) (Gallant Guru) brought up a special milestone for training partners, Brian and Shane Anderton at Riverton on Saturday.

A tilt at the Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie is now a distinct possibility for impressive debut winner Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident), who cruised to victory at Tauherenikau on Sunday in the Valley Plumbing (1000m).

When a legend of the New Zealand riding ranks tells you he has seen a ride from a four-kilogram claiming apprentice that would not be bettered by the best in the business, then it pays to take notice.

Jamie Richards dominated the two-year-old events at Te Aroha on Monday as Maven Belle joined stablemate Kabugee as an impressive juvenile winner on debut when she burst clear in the run home in a 1000m contest.

The ominous sound of the protest siren sounding shortly after the runners crossed the line in the Gr.2 First Global Logistics Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie threw shudders through the supporters of first past the post Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit).

Lightweight runner Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) produced a performance that had to be seen to be believed when he weaved through traffic to take out the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Te Akau Racing, trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Opie Bosson have gone back-to-back in the world’s first Group One race of the year, stealing the show with a scintillating performance by Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

A never say die effort from Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park) and rider Opie Bosson saw them take out a fabulous victory in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie.

A recent injury prevented popular owner-breeder Joan Egan from attending the New Year’s Day races at Ellerslie on Saturday, but her pride and joy Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) gave her a timely boost with a masterful performance in the Gr.3 Skycity City of Auckland Cup (2400m).

With back-to-back stakes wins including a last-gasp thriller in Saturday’s Gr.2 SKYCITY Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie, Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) is stepping up to fill a void for owners David Archer and Diane Wright.

In a thrilling finish to the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, it was the Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) who got in the deciding stride to claim victory by a nose over Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc de Cambes).