Roger James and Robert Wellwood have some promising three-year-olds entered for Tauranga on Saturday, but the Cambridge trainers are keeping a close eye on the weather in the lead-up to the meeting.
New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is looking forward to raising the bar even higher with his exciting five-year-old One Bold Cat, who took his career to a new level in Saturday’s $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham.
Leading New Zealand rider Opie Bosson was enjoying a leisurely start to the day in Melbourne on Sunday after not quite getting the results he was looking for on the first day of the massive Melbourne Cup Carnival 24 hours earlier.
There will be a strong Kiwi flavour in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day this Saturday.
Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan is hoping a change of tactics will see Semper Magico return to the winner’s circle at Trentham on Saturday when the in-form galloper contests the Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m).
The connections of Classic contender Luberon can breathe easy again after the gifted filly produced a flawless trial performance on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Thursday.
An ambitious long-range plan will be put to the test at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams are hoping Illicit Dreams can get her Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) preparation back on track at Ashburton on Sunday in the Juice Signs (1400m).
The long-awaited return of racing to Te Aroha following track renovations will take place on Friday, having been postponed from its initial Wednesday time slot due to adverse weather.
Recent events at Hallmark Stud have ensured the inclusion of a highly valuable daughter of Proisir in the farm’s draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in January.
