The former Nigel Tiley-trained stayer Kissinger (NZ) (Tavistock) continues to make positive strides under new trainer Lindsey Smith, winning the Cassign Harry Chauvel BM64 Handicap (2000m) at Warrnambool on Sunday.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of another busy morning at Waikato Stud, principal Mark Chittick was pleased to be able to sit down and catch his breath as he reflected on another stellar 48 hours for the iconic Matamata nursery.

Te Awamutu raider London Bound (NZ) (Proisir) looked a galloper headed for better things when she produced a powerful late surge to claim victory at Wanganui on Saturday.

Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed is having a spring to remember and as we venture into summer the juggernaut continued as his six-year-old son Count Zero (NZ) raced away with the A$300,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool for local trainer Symon Wilde.

The majority of Will Price’s riding career has been under strict COVID-19 restrictions, so the apprentice was understandably taken aback by a raucous noise as he took four-year-old mare Ocean’s Thirteen to the gates at The Valley on Saturday.

Ocean Park three-year-old Ocean Beyond won Saturday’s Listed McMahon’s Dairy McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, upholding his perfect two from two record for Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman.

Ballarat trainer Michelle Payne has set tenacious stayer Jukila for Australia’s longest race, the Jericho Cup (4600m).

Patrick Ryan Junior is approaching the Jericho Cup with a degree of confidence knowing Golden Flag (NZ) (Raise The Flag) has already proven he can handle the distance of Australia’s longest flat race.

Western Australian jockey William Pike was delighted to be rewarded with a Group One on his return to his home state when Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) ran out a ready winner of the Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

Former Nigel Tiley-trained galloper Riding The Wave (Malibu Moon) scored an impressive metropolitan victory at the stand-alone Ballarat Cup meeting on Saturday when taking out the Ritchies IGA BM70 Handicap (1100m) for new conditioner Lindsey Smith.

Five-year-old mare Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) produced a devastating turn of foot under popular jockey William Pike to race away with the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

Former Kiwi galloper Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) overcame a torrid run and a frantic finish to score a narrow victory in Saturday’s Listed A$500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) under jockey Michael Walker.  

The skill of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye McNeil was on display in a staying race once again when partnering the Blandford Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) to victory in the Global Turf BM78 Handicap (2600m) at the Ballarat stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Mornington trainer Brett Scott received the news he had been waiting for when he found out his in-form galloper Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) had gained a start in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).

It’s not quite the green jacket awarded to the champion at Augusta but trainer John Thompson has a pretty special garment of his own.

Trainer John Sargent is expecting a better performance from Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy) when he lines up in the The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani will line-up Furioso (NZ) (Atlante) in the Gr.2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday and he admits he is having a throw at the stumps with the lightly-raced three-year-old.

Although Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral) burst onto the scene winning four of her first six starts, trainer David Brideoake knew even then that she needed time and was a long way from being the finished product.

Group Two winner My Gold Bracelet (NZ) (Pins) has been turned out for the spring in preparation for some black-type targets in Victoria in the autumn.

Horsham trainer Paul Preusker has elected to spell his staying star Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) and as a result he will bypass the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m).

Glen Boss has picked up the ride on quality stayer Surprise Baby (NZ) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown and believes the son of Shocking can put his best foot forward.

Kiwi bred and owned mare Etah James (NZ) will head to the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe the daughter of Raise The Flag is still on the way up, despite finishing 17^th in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Former Kiwi-galloper Portland Jimmy (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) collected his second Australian victory in just four starts when he took out the Ararat Gold Cup (2000m) on Sunday for trainer Patrick Payne.

Four-year-old gelding Sansom has fashioned a good winning record for trainer Phillip Stokes and it continued at Flemington on Saturday when leading throughout to score in the Gr.3 Network 10 Chatham Stakes (1400m).

Trainer Mike Moroney knows Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) has her work cut out for her in Saturday’s Gr.1 Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday, but believes she will be more than competitive.

Mornington trainer Brett Scott was delighted to pick up a winner at Flemington on Oaks Day with handy middle distance galloper Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) in the Twitter Trophy (1800m).

Four-year-old mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) made it back-to-back wins for trainer Symon Wilde when successful at Flemington in the TCL TV Stakes (1700m) in the opening event on Oaks Day.

Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is well used to marking off new benchmarks in career highlights.

Former Kiwi Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral) took out Wednesday’s Kyneton Cup (2000m), with a hard-fought victory over Bartholomeu Dias (Mount Nelson) and connections now have eyes for an even more lucrative country cup.

The colours of the late Dato Tan Chin Nam were fittingly to the fore on Melbourne Cup Day when Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins) took out the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m).

New Zealand-trained stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) finished a gallant fourth in Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment (Teofilo).

Former New Zealand-trained galloper Sin To Win (NZ) (Sir Percy) was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 900 days, when successful in The Macca’s Run (2800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

TVNZ 1 will lure eyeballs across the country to watch the world’s most vibrant racing event, the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday afternoon.

For the past 12 months Horsham trainer Paul Preusker has meticulously focused on one race for his star stayer Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) and the fruits of that planning will be revealed on Tuesday when the lightly tried Kiwi-bred contests the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) for the second time.

There won’t be many people hoping for a dead-heat in this year’s Melbourne Cup, but Tony Rider will be one.

AFL Great-turned trainer Denis Pagan provided one of the feel-good stories of 2020 when preparing Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) to win the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on Saturday, but he was quick to deflect much of the credit to good friend and fellow Flemington trainer Troy Corstens.

One of the forgotten runners in Tuesday’s Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) has had his chances of springing an upset greatly enhanced after drawing barrier five for the famous Flemington two-miler.

At this time of the year the name Lupton takes on a special meaning at Flemington through the deeds of the legendary Waverley wonder Kiwi (NZ) (Blarney Kiss) and his win in the 1983 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Five-year-old mare Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) came with a well-timed ride under jockey Chris Parnham to win the Gr.3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.