The first Saturday in July could well decide how busy spring is likely to be for Adelaide-based trainer Travis Doudle.

Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) swung her form around at Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday, leaving an interrupted preparation behind by winning the Ladbrokes Easy Form Handicap (2100m) for fillies and mares.

A tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) could be on the cards for Brandenburg in the spring.

Former Kiwi stayer Not Usual Glorious (Fiorente) kept his unblemished Australian record intact when winning his third race for new trainer Travis Doudle from as many starts when successful over 2032m at Morphettville on Saturday.

Trent Busuttin thinks Celestial Fury (NZ) (Savabeel) is a Derby horse in the making, but he is hoping to secure a juvenile stakes scalp with the colt at Flemington on Saturday.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is confident he can figure in the thick end of the prizemoney in a Queensland stakes race for the second weekend in succession.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions creating ongoing logistical headaches and isolating him from his family and friends in New Zealand, trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney has taken special satisfaction from the last couple of weeks.

Back-to-back Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) will be tried as a miler in the spring after convincing her connections of her middle-distance potential with a powerful finish to grab Saturday’s Gr.1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Five-year-old mare Rather Salubrious (NZ) (Highly Recommended) landed the spoils in the A$200,000 TAB Battle of the Bush Final (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, providing Dalby trainer David Reynolds with an emotional victory.

Ballet Master (NZ) (Stravinsky) bounced back into winning form on Saturday, posting an upset win in the Caulfield Handicap (1600m).

Rejuvenated mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) has become the third horse to claim the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap-Tattersall’s Tiara double on Saturday with a comfortable win in Saturday’s 1400m contest.

Zayydani’s (NZ) name will long be remembered at Lindsay Park after the Savabeel mare officially began the new phase of the stable’s history when she took the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2137m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Tony Pike-trained two-year-old gelding Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock) ticked the first box as he makes a long-range bid for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) with a dominant victory in the Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (1830m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Racing officials have transferred Saturday’s Civic Stakes meeting from Randwick to Rosehill in response to the NSW government’s latest COVID orders. 

There was a time when Robert Pearse saddled up metropolitan runners with regularity but these days the veteran trainer has scaled back his operation to just a handful of horses. 

I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) returns to his home track at Caulfield following a trip to Sale where he recorded a first-up win.

A third Group One scalp is in the offing for New Zealand-bred mare Tofane this weekend when she lines-up in the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The curtain will come down this weekend on what has been a long but fruitful season for Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress).

Tony Pike is hoping to break maiden ranks with promising stayer Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock) and gets a gilt-edged opportunity in Saturday’s Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (1830m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young believe Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is a big hope in the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, she just needs a start.

Go Racing syndicator Albert Bosma believes the best time to send New Zealand horses to Australia is when they’re on the way up rather than when there’s nothing left to prove at home.

Victorian racing is set to receive a A$16 million prize money boost with group and listed events set for significant windfalls.

Flying Agent (NZ) (Raise The Flag) already looked the horse to beat in next month’s Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) and now he’ll likely start a short-priced favourite after turning heads with a dominant flat win over 2200m at Bendigo on Sunday.

Three-year-old filly Expat (NZ) (Makfi) turned in a gutsy performance to prevail in the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) might have earned himself a belated trip to Queensland after relishing the heavy track conditions at Rosehill to outstay his rivals and give Joseph Pride his third success in the Listed McKell Cup (2000m). 

Trent Busuttin’s suspicion he may have a possible Derby horse on his hands was endorsed at Flemington on Saturday with the gallant debut win of Celestial Fury (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1420m).

Trainer Chris Waller produced another winter find as No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) continued his form surge at Rosehill Gardens.

The 2000m journey of the Listed McKell Cup will present different challenges for a pair of stablemates, but their trainer remains hopeful one of them can come away with a win. 

A small field and the chance to land a confidence-boosting win have convinced trainers Robert and Luke Price to give Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) hopeful Verbek (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) one more run before tipping him out for a winter break. 

For Albukhturi (NZ) (Iffraaj), the time has come to make a stand and turn potential into performance in the Listed WAROA-Belmont Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

Springtime in Melbourne has always been Denis Pagan’s time to shine.

The NZ suffix has featured prominently behind many of John O’Shea’s stakes performers this season, and this week he had the opportunity to visit the source.

Exciting sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto) has secured his spot in this year’s Everest.

New Zealand-bred gelding Almsgiver (NZ) (Contributer) broke maiden ranks at Swan Hill on Sunday when taking out his mile event.

Promising jumper Aigne (NZ) (Sufficient) travelled across the Tasman two years ago to contest the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool and owner Neil O’Dowd is keen for a repeat crossing, but this time for other targets.

Taranaki mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) will attempt to ascend the Queensland throne when she lines-up in the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm next week.

Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stretched her legs out at Rosehill on Tuesday morning in her first day back at Chris Waller’s stables.

Trainer Mike Moroney has given the green light for Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) to have a crack at securing her third elite-level victory at Eagle Farm next week.

Three decades of work is paying off for Cambridge breeder Greg McCarthy with the emergence of the exciting three-year-old Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Travis Doudle is developing quite a liking for New Zealand horses.

Dean Yendall’s magic touch has seen Adelaide Ace (NZ) (Savabeel) return to the winner’s stall on his first ride aboard the Lindsey Smith-trained galloper, who was too classy for his rivals in Sunday’s A$125,000 Swan Hill Cup (1600m).

Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) heroine Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) is on track to add to her Group One tally this winter after recovering well from Saturday’s stunning win at Eagle Farm.

Falls (NZ) (Niagara) made easy work of wet conditions at Sandown on Saturday to post a front running win.

Opacity (NZ) (Ocean Park) led home a New Zealand-bred trifecta at Randwick on Saturday in the Heineken Racing To Win Handicap (1600m).

Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) was at her best on Saturday when claiming the second elite-level win of her career with a brave performance to secure the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

Boom horse Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) is back in the winner’s stall after a dominant display in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

All the word is on Zaaki ahead of Saturday’s Gr.2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm, but Randwick trainer John Sargent is keen to upset the apple cart with Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy).

New Zealand-bred gelding Ibaraki (NZ) (Darci Brahma) made the perfect start to his racing career on Wednesday running away for an impressive victory in the Vinery Stud Plate (1100m) at Canterbury.

Star jumper Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) kicks off his campaign at Sandown with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable eyeing off the Grand National Steeplechase. 

Perennial bridesmaid Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park) looks to have her best chance of nabbing a staying feature when she contests the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.