Five years is a long time to hang onto Melbourne Cup regret, but New Zealand trainer Allan Sharrock thinks he might get the chance this spring to bury the past.

Queensland trainer Tony Gollan says Antino (NZ) (Redwood) is at the peak of his powers as he heads to a Stakes race at Moonee Valley.

Pre-race indicators all point to another high-class performance from Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in her delayed introduction to the Melbourne spring carnival.

Tulloch Lodge stablemates Raf Attack (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Ganbare (Maurice) have had a reversal of fortunes in the Spring Champion Stakes barrier draw and Adrian Bott expects it to better suit the racing styles of both colts.

Chris Waller knows what is takes to win the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) having trained Winx (Street Cry) to win Australia’s best race on four consecutive occasions. 

High-class New Zealand mare Prowess put a frustrating early spring behind her in style with a bold Melbourne debut in Saturday’s Gr.2 McCafe Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

Andrew Forsman is stepping his stable star Mustang Valley back down in distance for her first Australian assignment of the season.

Superstar sprinting mare Imperatriz maintained her unblemished record at Moonee Valley with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).

Legendary trainer David Hayes admits he can’t wait to see Mr Brightside in Hong Kong following the star’s narrow second in the Cox Plate.

Promising New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts collected the fourth win of his nine-start career with a last-gasp victory in Saturday’s National Jockeys Trust Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

A fourth win at Moonee Valley beckons for Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) when the mare faces six rivals in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).

The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes have will be out to add their names to the honour of Cox Plate winning trainers.

Smart three-year-old filly Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) made it back-to-back stakes victories when running out a resounding winner of the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners breathed a sigh of relief after talented four-year-old Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj) proved too strong in the Midway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, providing jockey Aaron Bullock with a race-to-race double.  

A supreme ride from jockey Blake Shinn aided smart three-year-old filly Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) to make it back-to-back stakes victories when running out a resounding winner of the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. 

Talented five-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) has added further black-type to her record when leading throughout to land the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. 

It was another bumper payday for the connections of former South Island galloper Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) who prevailed in a narrow-three-way finish in the A$1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Randwick on Saturday. 

Fresh from Think About It’s (So You Think) victory in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride has earned a tilt at another lucrative feature when King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale) prevailed in the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. 

While Saturday’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) continues to be an intriguing head-scratcher before the final field comes together on Tuesday morning, the day’s other Group One at The Valley, it seems, carries no such mystery.

Trainer Ben Hayes is looking for the last pieces of the puzzle for to fall into place for Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in his bid to win the Gr.1 Cox Plate on Saturday.

The trainer-jockey combination of John O’Shea and Tom Sherry has already celebrated a black-type double this spring and at Randwick on Saturday they will chase a $1 million payday. 

On the anniversary of the biggest win of his career so far, classy New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Maestro will race in black-type company on Caulfield Cup Day again in 2023 – this time in his first run back from an injury lay-off.

In an ominous sign for her rivals, Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has gone to a new level since her blistering Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) win at The Valley last month, according to assistant trainer Ben Gleeson.

Peter Moody has elected to spell his gun sprinter I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and is already planning an attack on the autumn sprint riches.

A last start winner of the Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m), Harlow Mist (NZ) (Contributer) will drop back in trip and grade to maintain fitness ahead of a potential Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) tilt.

Trainer Peter Moody is considering all his options with his luckless Everest runner-up I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel).

A multiple stakes winner over 1800m and 2000m as a three-year-old last season, Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man) showed real spark over a shorter trip with a highly impressive second-up performance in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 James Squire Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) suffered his first loss this campaign when he finished second to Fangirl in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) colt Raf Attack (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) burst into contention for staying three-year-old features with a determined front-running performance in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.3 Toyota Forklifts Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Randwick.

The roller-coaster career of highly talented galloper Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) got back on the right track with a tenacious performance to win Saturday’s Listed The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler (1400m) at Caulfield.

Pride will be an over-riding emotion for Mark Chittick when I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) goes to the post for Saturday’s A$20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will be out to continue his love affair with the Randwick mile when he bids to defend his unbeaten record over the course and distance in the A$5m Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Trainer Phillip Stokes is taking a different approach 12 months on in his bid to have Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) peaking for the Melbourne Cup.

A day after Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) broke through for his maiden city success, trainer Nick Ryan knew he had had to press on to the Caulfield Guineas with Wolfy.

Promising three-year-old gelding Dulcet (NZ) (Eminent) took an important step towards the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) when running out a ready winner at Sale on Wednesday for trainer Chris Waller. 

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller believes his Kiwi-bred Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) is a champion in the making and is confident he can take a step closer to that level when he contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

In just his first racing preparation, Nick Ryan says it’s a credit to his colt Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) that the three-year-old is even up to contesting the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

It’s hard to be confident lining up against Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni), but trainer Tony Gollan says his rising star gelding Antino (NZ) (Redwood) will acquit himself well in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.

Chris Waller is renowned for not pushing his young horse too early in their careers, so it is rare to find a two-year-old Group One winner among his ever-expanding haul.

Despite the last-minute defection of Skew Wiff, New Zealand maintained a strong influence on Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 Furphy Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington thanks to a determined victory by Kiwi-bred mare Life Lessons.

Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto), a one-time The Everest (1200m) second favourite, has been retired.

Rookie trainer Cody Mo celebrated in his first training success in Hong Kong after Zac Purton piloted Romantic Laos (NZ), a son of Pins, to victory in the Class 3 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1650m). 

It’s been a month to remember for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable and they continued their strong run of form with Tidal Force (NZ) (Darci Brahma) winning at his Australian debut on the Pakenham Synthetic on Wednesday.

Leading apprentice Zac Lloyd might be booked to ride Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, but the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained stayer isn’t guaranteed a start in the A$2 million contest.

Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) has dropped out of the Melbourne Cup nominations this week and the door was also shut on a run in the Golden Eagle (1500m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) as trainer Chris Waller refined his campaign to target firstly the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week before a Cox Plate tilt.

New Zealand stud master and owner Luigi Muollo didn’t hesitate to pay the $2000 first acceptance fee for the Melbourne Cup for Medatsu (NZ) (Staphanos), who has the distinction of being the only three-year-old among the 72 horses left in contention for the race.

A A$2 million prize on offer and potentially a slightly easier race than one worth less money in Melbourne could see Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) head to the Hill Stakes at Rosehill.

Lightning may have struck twice for some of the connections of multiple Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), who have now won four races in a row with another promising galloper sourced from New Zealand.

New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) continued to please his connections at Lindsay Park this week with victory in his 1000m trial at Benalla on Monday.

Michael Hickmott hopes it’s a case of third time lucky in the Murray Bridge Gold Cup for stable pin-up Lord Vladivostok (NZ) (Tavistock), who tuned up for Saturday’s Listed feature with a sharp piece of work between races at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.

Rising star Antino (NZ) (Redwood) put a nightmare Melbourne debut behind him with a comfortable return to winning form in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).