Progressive stayer Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) handled the step-up to 2500m with ease when winning the Travis Harrison Cup at The Valley on Saturday for trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.

Emerging star I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) has earned a short pre-spring break after again proving his credentials for the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill in October.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Lloyd Kennewell on Saturday when the Caulfield trainer tries to nab stakes success at his old stomping ground of Morphettville with his promising filly Esta La Roca.

John O’Shea has ruled a line through Le Gai Soleil’s (NZ) (Tavistock) last-start failure on a water-logged track and is expecting her to confirm a spot on his spring carnival team when she lines up at the final meeting of the season at Randwick. 

The owners of I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) have rejected several lucrative offers for the exciting three-year-old off the back of his sensational win at Flemington two weeks ago.

Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) made a pleasing start to her spring preparation when finishing fourth in her 900m trial at Randwick on Tuesday.

OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson is setting his sights on some rich Sydney spoils with promising three-year-old I’m Thunderstruck.

Class Waikato galloper Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) is being set some lofty Melbourne targets this spring.

Jockey Ben Allen and Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit) continued their remarkable association when they combined for a seventh career win in Saturday’s final Group race in Melbourne for the season.

Cru Classe (NZ) (Reliable Man) prevailed in the Ciaron Maher Racing Premiership Handicap (2412m) on Saturday in a tooth and nail fight up the Caulfield straight. 

Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj) has been rewarded for his consistency with an overdue victory in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, continuing Chris Waller’s domination of the feature race. 

Group Three winner Sansom will be looking to kick-off his preparation in style when he contests the Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tony Pike is looking forward to spring racing with his new acquisition Catalyst.

Group One targets await stablemates Probabeel and Sword Of State in Australia later this year and they took their first serious steps this afternoon toward spring goals with trial outings on the all-weather track at Cambridge.

The raceday return of Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) is imminent after his pleasing 800m jump-out at Flemington last Friday.

A gritty win by New Zealand-bred two-year-old War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) at Royal Randwick on Saturday provided ex-pat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker with a victory that propelled him into second place on the Sydney Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership (56 wins) behind runaway leader and fellow Kiwi Chris Waller (159).

Michael Moroney’s New Zealand stayer The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral) relished Saturday’s bleak weather when outstaying his rivals in the A$150,000 Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m).

I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) signaled his likely return to Stakes company next season with a dominant four-length victory in the A$135,000 K.A. Morrison Handicap (1400m) for three-year-olds at Flemington on Saturday.

Warwick Farm-based trainer Bjorn Baker has continued his rich vein of form unveiling a promising two-year-old with War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) proving to be too strong over the 1400m at Randwick.

Racing NSW has announced that a new race, A$2 million The Invitation (1400m), will be run in October 2021, headlining several enhancements to the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon, whose list of achievements included a Melbourne Cup victory and multiple Singapore training premierships, has passed away.

Being patient wasn’t in the Denis Pagan playbook as an AFL coach, nor is it something he enjoys as a trainer, however, that approach is paying off particularly for two of his New Zealand-bred charges.

Trainer Ray Vincent is optimistic he can claim his first stakes victory at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Exciting three-year-old Expat (NZ) (Makfi) is chasing three wins in-a-row in the Tax Today Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Prominent Western Australian-owner Bob Peters has sent quality gallopers Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Superstorm (Sebring) to Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien ahead of the spring carnival.

Taranaki horseman Robbie Patterson was pleased with the run of stable star Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) in Sunday’s Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast, despite the five-year-old mare not getting the rub of the green.

Melbourne Cup hopeful Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) has recovered from minor knee surgery and is back in work as trainer Symon Wilde sets his sights high for the spring.

Talented three-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) rounded out his campaign with a game third placing in Sunday’s Gr.3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast.

The Joe Pride-trained Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) made it back to back stakes victories after taking out the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on Sunday under a perfect Ryan Maloney ride.

New Zealand-bred horses went 1-2 in the Behind The Barriers “Boxing Challenge” 7/8 (2000m) at Caulfield with Red Santa (NZ) (Redwood) prevailing over Flossing (NZ) (Tavistock).

After three wins on trot since arriving in Australia, Not Usual Glorious will not only carry the heaviest weight of his racing career this weekend, but the weight of expectation from the ‘Free Money Saturdays’ syndicate.

The John O’Shea-trained Southern Lad (Ocean Park) won the time-honoured Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday under a perfectly-timed Christian Reith ride.

The 2008 Cox Plate champion Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel) has died aged 18.

Having enjoyed a short break, Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) is all set to resume training with the Golden Eagle at Rosehill to be his main spring target. 

Irishman William McCarthy has delivered a front-running masterclass at his first day riding in Australia to cause an upset in the $100,000 Hammonds Paints Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) aboard the Henry Dwyer-trained The Dominator (NZ) (Thewayyouare) at Warrnambool on Sunday.

The transition has been smooth with the new training team of Ben and JD Hayes taking control at Lindsay Park.

A perfect ground saving ride by Harry Coffey has landed Seiners Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) victory in the Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) at Flemington. 

Adelaide trainer Stuart Gower hopes Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral) can be a player during the spring and would like to see the gelding back at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week. 

Dual AFL premiership-winning coach-turned-trainer Denis Pagan is drawing on the precedents set by Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) last year when it comes to the career of rising three-year-old Turn It Up Tommy (NZ) (Tivaci).

Trainers Matthew Ellerton and Mark Zahra are expecting another bold showing from their consistent galloper Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto) when he contests the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

An awkward draw at a recent Flemington meeting has caused a rethink to the program of recent longshot winner Romancer (NZ) (Redwood).