The Collett surname is already well known in Australian racing thanks to the deeds of brother and sister jockey duo Jason and Alysha, but now dad Richard is muscling in on the action.

Race experience proved advantageous as Little Brose (Per Incanto) continued Lindsay Park’s impressive record in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) for two-year-olds to open Zipping Classic Day at Caulfield.

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford returning to winning ways in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Karaka graduate Crosshaven broke a 14-start drought when running out a ready winner of Saturday’s Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m), holding off game runner-up Norwegian Bliss by a comfortable three-quarters of a length.

Seven-year-old Road To Rock gelding Bonny Ezra provided his Kiwi connections with a good pay day when charging home to land the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller under a masterful Robbie Dolan ride.

There were scenes of joy at Warrnambool as the John Sargent-trained galloper Bastida (NZ) (Pierro) claimed the A$288,000 Jericho Cup (4652m) on Sunday in front of enthusiastic connections who travelled from New Zealand.

Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent says his secret to training stayers is fairly simple: get the right horse, and a lot of long, slow work.

Trainer John Sargent had a good reason not to be trackside on Saturday to saddle smart staying mare Gin Martini.

Group Three winner Bellatrix Black will continue her racing career in Australia after her recent acquisition by leading syndicator Australian Bloodstock.

Fresh from a successful hit-and-run raid in Hong Kong, champion jockey James Mcdonald was straight back in the winner’s stall at Warwick Farm aboard emerging talent Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park).

NSW raider Norwegian Bliss (NZ) (El Roca) will attempt to keep her perfect record intact when she makes her Melbourne debut at Caulfield.

Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers is no stranger to success at Warrnambool and he will be looking to extend that record on Sunday with Botti in the A$288,000 Jericho Cup (4600m).

Former Kiwi galloper Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) ran out a ready winner of the A$500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday for trainer Michael Moroney.

It had been more than three years between wins for Riodini (NZ) but the wait was worth it as the six-year-old son of Proisir made his Australian breakthrough in the A$1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

After numerous viewings of Banker’s Choice’s win in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday, Mike Moroney believes the son of Mongolian Khan could be best suited over ground.

‘No hoof, no horse’ is a well-worn saying in racing but one that John Thompson, thankfully, has not had to worry about as much this campaign with his hope in Saturday’s A$1 million The Gong, Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins)

Trainer Mike Moroney has a healthy opinion of Tasman Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) who kept his record intact with a stylish win at Sandown.

Melbourne spring carnival star jockey Mick Dee will ride Group One winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in next month’s Gr.1 Rydges Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Lightly-tried seven-year-old Kissinger (NZ) (Tavistock) rewarded his connections’ patience with a dogged victory at the Cranbourne stand-alone meeting on Saturday when landing the Reed Cranes & Transport Marathon Handicap (2540m).

Five-year-old gelding Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) made it successive victories when he came from midfield to score in the NZB Jack Newton Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m), heading home a New Zealand bred trifecta in the final event on the Newcastle stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe Preferment filly Prefer To Smile has a bright future instore after her two length maiden victory over 2000m at Canberra on Sunday.

Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) now has some stiff competition for Jamie Mott’s favourite horse of the spring, but he gets the chance to cement his position at Cranbourne this Saturday.

Trainer John O’Shea is sweating on talented galloper Waihaha Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) gaining a start in the A$1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.

Former Kiwi mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) relished the good tempo in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) to take out the feature mares’ race on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

The Michael Moroney-trained Roch ‘N’ Horse has reiterated her class with a second Group One victory at Flemington when defeating Nature Strip in the A$3 million Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).

Five-year-old gelding Snapper (NZ) (Power) capped a bumper day for Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney when winning the $A150,000 World Horse Racing Grand Handicap (1100m), the final race of the Flemington carnival.

Kiwi mare Short Shorts (NZ) (Iffraaj) recorded her first metropolitan Saturday victory when landing the Ranvet Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Little Avondale Stud toasted another Group One victory on Saturday from their crack sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) at Flemington and for one member of the Williams family it provided a timely tonic.

Star New Zealand bred mare Verry Elleegant is likely to be bred to Irish-based stallion Sea The Stars.

Tavistock four-year-old French Emperor provided his Singapore owners Aramco Racing with a thrill when landing the Twitter Trophy (1600m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

The John Sadler-trained Flash Feeling ran out a ready winner of the Australian Childhood Foundation Trophy (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday under a positive ride from apprentice Matthew Cartwright.

New Zealand-bred I’m Thunderstruck will be looking to take his revenge on Anamoe when the pair clash once again in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Brightside will step back to a mile at Flemington on Saturday where trainers Ben and JD Hayes believe he is a strong chance of adding to his Group One tally.

Four-year-old mare Toregene (NZ) might not be straight-forward, but the daughter of Mongolian Khan has undoubted ability.

Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit) made it career victory number ten as he narrowly landed the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury on Thursday under a well-timed Tom Sherry ride.

Andrew Forsman’s young troops have served him so well in Melbourne and he sends Mr Maestro into battle for the final time this spring at Flemington on Saturday.

Ken and Bev Kelso have enjoyed a trouble-free preparation with their high-class performer Levante (NZ) (Proisir) ahead of her second crack at a premier Melbourne sprint.

Tom Sherry has an outstanding record aboard Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and he is hoping to enhance it even further when he reunites with the John O’Shea-trained gelding in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury.

Lightly-tried four-year-old Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) is a horse on an upward trajectory.

Aoife Brennan has had a whirlwind trip campaigning Andrew Forsman’s team in Melbourne this spring, and her mother, Lauren Brennan, is hoping her Cambridge team is enough to entice her back home next week.

Krakarib became his sire Ribchester’s second Group winner when he took out the Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Alysha Collett has dedicated the win by Nautical Miss (NZ) (Ocean Park) to the mare’s late trainer Gwenda Markwell.