OTI Racing and the Mick Price stable are mourning the loss of Group One star I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking).

Triple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) is ready to put his best foot forward when he contests Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson.

Connections of cult horse I’m Thunderstruck and racing fans alike are mourning the shock death of the baldy-faced son of Shocking.

Michael Moroney has a pair of in-form New Zealand-bred prospects chasing feature events at Randwick on Saturday and is desperately hoping a third can also be presented with his opportunity.

The Andrew Forsman-trained Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) will most likely be ridden by Robbie Dolan in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

JD Hayes has no doubt Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is a better horse than he was a year ago when he won the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) but that doesn’t mean he’s winning the race again at Randwick on Saturday.

The Taplins have a piece of paper at home that could prove invaluable after day one of The Championships.

The time-honoured Warrnambool May Carnival is only five weeks away and those with jumpers are gearing up for the big three-day event.

After a year where nothing went right for The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor), trainer Cliff Brown is looking for his smart sprinter to bounce back in 2023.

Mick Price’s instincts with I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) have proven correct with the galloper sent off to the spelling paddock instead of The Championships in Sydney.

Matthew Enright now calls Bendigo home, but the proud Kiwi is hoping his high-profile New Zealand acquisition can shine at his hometown fixture on Saturday.

Fresh off celebrating one of his biggest successes in his burgeoning training career, Robert Wellwood will head to Randwick on Saturday in a bid to snare more elite-level glory.

Nearly 12 months to the day, last season’s Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) winner Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) was back in the winner’s circle when scoring an easy win in the A$150,000 Choices Flooring Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.

He had to contend with barrier 18 when saluting in last year’s Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick but defending champion Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has fared much better drawing gate two of 24 in this year’s edition of the A$4 million feature.

The time-honoured Warrnambool May Carnival is only five weeks away and those with jumpers are gearing up for the big three-day event.

Untapped former New Zealand galloper Goldman (NZ) (Verdi) has earned himself a start in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with a dominant all-the-way win at Flemington.

New Zealand-trained three-year-old Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) demolished her rivals when winning the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Nearly 12 months to the day, last season’s Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) winner Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) was back in the winner’s circle when scoring an easy win in the A$150,000 Choices Flooring Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.

Star New Zealand sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) took out Friday night’s Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley in emphatic fashion, providing trainer Mark Walker with his first Group One victory in Melbourne.

Former Southlanders Ian and Kerry Taplin plundered the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday with improving staying three-year-old Tapildoodledo (NZ) (Proisir).

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is expecting to see a big improvement from Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) at Flemington.

It has been more than two decades since a New Zealand-based trainer has upstaged the locals in the Vinery Stud Stakes and the man who last achieved the feat is back to break the drought.

Time has been the best friend to Simeon (Pierro) who has broken through for his maiden win at Sandown.

When Tony and Calvin McEvoy purchased So Unusual (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) from New Zealand late last year, the trainers told their ownership group that he was a nice horse and could be a Ballarat Cup horse.

Liam Howley was a nervous man this week as he waited to hear whether Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor) had made the field for the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Top-class mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) has taken no harm from her courageous effort in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) with the focus now on a date against her own sex.

Smart four-year-old mare Gin Martini claimed a deserved Group Three victory when successful in the Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

New Zealand-bred star Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has plundered further riches for his owners when taking the lion’s share of the A$5 million prize following a comfortable victory in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Chico Sonado (NZ) (Zed) has a long way to go to reach the lofty heights of his three-quarter sister Verry Elleegant (NZ), but his connections believe he has inherited some of the family talent.

Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) will be seeking redemption when he heads to Sandown next month to contest the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).

Brett Scott joked with owners ahead of Chico Sonado’s (NZ) (Zed) debut at Ladbrokes Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday that he wished the three-quarter brother of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) would be half as good as his Caulfield and Melbourne Cup-winning sibling.

Australian syndicator Darby Racing are daring to dream of Group glory with their recent New Zealand import Goldman (NZ) (Verdi).

Andrew Forsman is confident Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) is up to the task that awaits him in Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) if the five-year-old gets his fair share of luck at Moonee Valley.

Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley are gearing up for what could be a big day for their stable at Rosehill on Saturday.

Injury has halted the autumn campaign of dual stakes winning three-year-old Mr Maestro.

Five-year-old mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) has made her mark in domestic weight-for-age company this preparation and her impressive progress will be rewarded with a trip to Australia.

Racing is a cut-throat game and Daniel Moor admits he has done things he would normally not do to get a ride, especially around Spring Carnival time.

Liam Howley is hoping that his patience with classy three-year-old Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor) will be rewarded as he approaches the business end of his autumn campaign.

Group Three performer Hurry Cane (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) will get his chance to test his talents in Australia after joining Symon Wilde’s Warrnambool barn.

Michael Moroney believes he has Nerve Not Verve spot on for Saturday’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).

Hong Kong Champion jockey Zac Purton is playing a pivotal role in the fortunes of Kiwi runners in this year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.

They may be 18,000km apart, but Legarto’s win in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) brought Warwick and Alice Jeffries a lot closer on Saturday.

The Australian Cup remains firmly on the agenda for Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) who will make his second autumn appearance on Saturday.

Adrian Bott has cautioned punters to forgive Cross Talk’s (NZ) (Keano) first-up defeat as an odds-on favourite, convinced the gelding can rebound in the Gr.3 Newcastle Stakes.

Ken Kelso will attempt to break a long-standing hoodoo when he saddles Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Australian punters will get their first look at Kiwi sprinter Imperatriz when she lines-up in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.

New Zealand-bred filly Marble Arch continued her unbeaten run in Australia when victorious in the A$300,000 Future Stars Final (1400m) at Pakenham on Thursday.

Usually more at home on a wetter track, the firmer going at Newcastle proved to be no obstacle to Cross Talk (NZ) (Keano) winning the Gr.3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on Friday.

There are bigger and better things in store for up-and-coming stayer So Unusual, who scored a remarkable come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$150,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Tenders Open (2500m) at Flemington.

Exceptional filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) overcame a nightmare run down the Flemington straight to deliver a first New Zealand triumph in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Mike Moroney hopes to have two runners in the Australian Guineas but fears Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) may miss out on the Group One race at Flemington.

Leading trainer Chris Waller will have at least two runners in his bid for a second Randwick Guineas and while he has followed a traditional route with Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), stablemate Manzoice (Almanzor) has had a more unconventional preparation.

Promising mare Sanstoc (NZ) (Tavistock) has earned her way back into stakes company after franking her first-up win with another powerful performance at Warwick Farm.