Te Akau gears up for big weekend

With runners in action at four different venues, the influence of New Zealand’s leading stable is set to be felt far and wide this weekend.

Marsh’s Guineas hopes well but ground an issue

Stablemates Burn To Shine and Codigo will continue their friendly rivalry on their return to Hastings on Saturday.

Improving weather key for Legarto

As Ken and Bev Kelso prepare to saddle the hot favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings, the Matamata trainers are hoping the warm and windy weather predicted for Hawke’s Bay on Thursday and Friday will lift the track conditions up out of the heavy range.

Domestic flights return

In a coup for the racing industry, equine domestic flights between Auckland and Christchurch are set to return from next month.

Crocetti hitting the right notes for Walker

Danny Walker believes he has found his horse of a lifetime.

Wetter the better for Mustang Valley

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman sees a simple equation for his classy mare Mustang Valley ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), the wetter the better.

Te Rapa best option for smart filly Impendabelle

Hastings’ loss will be Te Rapa’s gain with the well-performed filly Impendabelle to now stay closer to home for her next step toward a Group One target.

Late call leaves McKay’s travelling party intact

Peter McKay came close on Wednesday morning to trimming his Hawke’s Bay-bound team down before leaving all six of his runners in the mix for the trip south.

Focus on in-form home track lover Side Eye

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood will be represented by three runners at his home meeting on the all-weather track on Wednesday with the in-form Side Eye promising to be his best chance.

Treweek pair primed for Cambridge test

Former pinhooking prospects Seamsew and Lhasa will go head-to-head at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday in the Magnum Industries 1300.