New Zealand-owned three-year-old Crosshaven (Smart Missile) called on all his fortitude to outgun stablemate Aysar (Deep Field) in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), the opening event of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

In an amazing result, former AFL coach Denis Pagan has won the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) with New Zealand-bred Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) just four months after saddling up his first runner as a trainer.

Kiwi-bred mare Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park) has been given the green light to continue onto the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday.

Former Kiwi Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) will enter Saturday’s A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in good form for what has been the target race all preparation.

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is hoping he can secure his home track’s biggest prize on Saturday when he lines-up Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

John O’Shea will be making sure he is wearing his lucky purple tie when All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Savabeel) competes for a slice of the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) pie on Halloween.

A trio of Rich Hill Stud graduates will be vying for top honours in Group One features in Australia this coming week.

Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park) was the first horse to book her ticket to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after winning the ballot-exempt Listed The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May, but the Kiwi-bred mare is now in doubt of taking her place in the great race.

New Zealand-bred colt Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) will face his biggest test to date when he steps out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stepped out at Flemington at Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday and trainer Chris Waller is pleased with her build-up to the race that stops the nation.

Trent Busuttin trained Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) to win the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 2011 and he thinks it’s about time he gets his hands back on the coveted mug.

Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral) has made a stunning return to form, landing the Gr.3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday in gallant fashion but is not nominated for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) like several of her vanquished rivals.

Flemington trainers Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra were pleased to see talented mare Mrs Beckham (NZ) (Toronado) show her best when successful at Bendigo on Wednesday as she notched her third career victory.

Well-related filly Hindaam (NZ) (Savabeel) extended her record to two wins and a second from four starts when successful at Bendigo on Wednesday over 1300m for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes.

Wairere Falls (NZ) (Savabeel) is loving life in Sydney and added to his record in fine style on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday.

Group One performer Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) will have a last ditch effort at trying to secure a spot in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he lines-up at Flemington on Saturday.

Mick Price isn’t sure his Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) runner Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) has the form to win the race but he believes he deserves his opportunity to have a shot at it.

Trainer John O’Shea is confident All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will be competitive in Saturday’s A$7.5 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent is rubbing his hands together as rain descends on Sydney.

Lightly raced New Zealand-bred Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) has had his Group One chances enhanced with a favourable barrier draw for Saturday’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m).

While Flying Start Syndications Director Cameron Bennett is disappointed he won’t be able to be on course to watch Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel) in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, he is over the moon to have a strong contender in the race.

Last season’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Miami Bound has avoided a handicap penalty for Tuesday week’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after racing away with Saturday’s Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2600m).

Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) gave her connections the thrill of a lifetime when winning the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last year, but the New Zealand-bred mare now has the opportunity to usurp that moment at the Melbourne track on Tuesday-week.

Four-year-old Charm Spirit gelding Sansom (NZ) won fresh up at Moonee Valley on Friday night over 1200m in the hands of jockey Ben Allen for trainer Phillip Stokes.

Five-year-old mare West Wind (NZ) (Pins) made it three wins in a row when leading all the way in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night under jockey John Allen.

Mornington trainer Brett Scott is deriving the best from handy stayer Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) who won the Lockdown Legends Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) helped trainer Mike Moroney make it back-to-back Benalla Cups, returning to form to take out the 2020 edition of the $125,000 country cup on Friday.

Bryce Heys realises the enormity of the task Stylebender (NZ) (Tavistock) faces in the Bondi Stakes (1600m) but the trainer thinks his improving colt can give a good sight in the $1 million race at Randwick.

Fresh from capturing Sydney’s two biggest races of the spring, jockey Kerrin McEvoy is setting his sights on winning the only leg of the sport’s grand slam to elude him.

The Chris Waller-trained Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) is yet to chalk up a win in Australia since crossing the Tasman earlier this year but will look to set that right in Saturday’s Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald may have failed to regain his ride aboard star Kiwi mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) but he is looking forward to riding her compatriot in another Group One feature this weekend.

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards was devastated after drawing the outside barrier with Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) in the A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), while this year he was overjoyed when drawing gate two for Group One-winning mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel).

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will be making a hit-and-run raid to Melbourne for the Gr.1 $A2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7.

Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra has retained the mount on Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) in the Melbourne Cup with James McDonald to ride stablemate Finche (Frankel).

Reinvigorated galloper Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) has been given the tick of approval from jockey Craig Williams ahead of Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Six-time Group One-winning mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) has been penalised 0.5kg for her win in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday, taking her weight in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) to 55.5kg.

A gallant run for third in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) has connections of the New Zealand-bred and trained The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) excited about his prospects for the big event at Flemington next month, the Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Premier trainer Chris Waller and jockey Mark Zahra landed their first Caulfield Cup wins when outstanding mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) held off Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) and The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel).

The Kim Waugh-trained Trumbull (NZ) (Darci Brahma) landed his biggest win to date when taking out the A$500,000 Gr.3 Sydney Stakes (1200m).

Kiwi expats Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are eyeing a second Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) after Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel) won the Gr.3 Neds Classic (2000m) in impressive fashion at Caulfield on Saturday.

Verry Elleegant’s (NZ) (Zed) camp couldn’t be any happier with the multiple Group One winner heading into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) this weekend.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has snuck into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) for the second year in a row.

Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) shed his tag as one of the country’s best maidens with a brave victory in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens.

Chris Waller takes a powerful trio into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), a race which has amazingly eluded Australia’s premier trainer.

Kiwi jockey Michael Walker made the most of his limited opportunities last Saturday as he notched the 25^th Group One win of his career with a textbook ride on Odeum (Written Tycoon) to win the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

Star New Zealand stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has snuck into this year’s Caulfield Cup after Gr.3 Coongy Cup (2000m) winner Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) was not nominated for the race.

Australia’s darling of the turf, Winx (Street Cry), lost her I Am Invincible foal overnight.

Expat New Zealand jockey Jason Collett will be looking to figuratively follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Sir Edmund Hillary and summit Everest this weekend.

Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) is a name sports fans were cheering long before the unbeaten horse of the same name, who is one of the leading fancies for Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), hit the racetrack.

New Zealand-bred mare Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) proved a class above her opposition at Sale on Sunday when taking out her 1200m contest.