Talented galloper Ranting was back in the winner’s circle at The Valley on Friday night as he landed the MSC Signs Handicap (1200m) after a daring ground-saving ride by Blake Shinn.

Jockey Blake Shinn concluded a satisfying evening when he guided lightly raced filly Coeur Volante to an impressive victory in the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.

Star Kiwi mare Imperatriz has once again showed what a blistering turn of speed she has with a sizzling finish to comfortably claim the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Friday night.

A year on from a breakthrough spring campaign that announced her arrival on the Group One stage, Mustang Valley did it again in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday.

The opening race on a star-studded card at Randwick on Saturday was dominated by New Zealand-breds, with Loving Cilla and Philipsburg running first and second in the A$120,000 Midway Handicap (1800m).

Harry Coffey was the beneficiary of another Australian winner for Mark Walker, with Rubicon Crossing scoring the first on Grand Final Day at Mornington to complement Imperatriz’s stunning Group 1 Moir Stakes win on Friday night at The Valley.

Sunday’s Sandown Stakes looms as a fork in the road for talented four-year-old Golden Path.

Emma Lee and David Browne have continued their strong start to the season, with Rhinoceros showing his affinity for dry tracks in a tough win at Mornington on Saturday.

Antino (NZ) (Redwood) will have his second Melbourne run when he heads to Sandown on Sunday.

Struggling for form and confidence, Benaud’s (Reliable Man) career was at the crossroads just six months ago but some meticulous attention to detail and a little faith has the classy stayer back in the Group One arena.

When the Kiwi’s travel, it pays to keep a close watch.

Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney is hopeful he has plucked another quality filly out of his New Zealand base to plunder the riches on offer in Melbourne this spring.

New Zealand-bred star Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) came from nowhere to snatch an extraordinary last-gasp triumph in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Kia Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.

Mick Price is trying to keep things simple when it comes to managing talented but troublesome galloper Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj), who will shortly resume racing.

Te Akau Racing announced on Sunday that stable rider Opie Bosson will take the ride on Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes at The Valley on Friday night.

Sydney trainer John Sargent is renowned as a master trainer of staying types, and the Kiwi expat unveiled a live VRC Oaks chance when Harlow Mist (NZ) (Contributer) scored a strong victory in the Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Sunday.

Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) continued his progression in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon when he accounted for a competitive line-up of three-year-olds over 1420m at Flemington.

New Zealand bred Gold Bullion (NZ) (Savabeel) will give trainer Gai Waterhouse a opportunity to win her first Victoria Derby since 1995 after he secured his ticket with a win in the Penfolds Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Sunday.

With retirement plans on hold, Joao Moreira is looking to light up Golden Rose day.

Three-year-old filly Basilinna has stamped herself as a stayer of the future following a strong maiden victory over 1600m at Cranbourne on Thursday.

The lightly raced Shock ‘Em Ova (NZ) (Shocking) lifted his promising career up a notch with an impressive win from well off the pace in Saturday’s Punters.com.au Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

Godolphin’s New Zealand-bred up-and-comer Marquess (NZ) (Tavistock) made a bold statement at Rosehill on Saturday with a commanding victory in the A$160,000 Irresistible Pools & Spas Handicap (1900m).

Trainer Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will await the final fields of Flemington before deciding on where to start Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer).

Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson could find themselves in search for a new jockey for Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) come Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) time following the release of the weights for the time-honoured race on Tuesday.

New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Brightside (NZ) has conquered all before him this spring and jockey Craig Williams has a warning for his rivals, believing the son of Bullbars is only going to improve.

Paul Preusker is hoping to get the spring campaign of Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) back on track at Ladbrokes Park Sandown on Wednesday after a setback following an eye-catching victory at the track last month.

Trainer Peter Moody is considering a unique lead up to The Everest with his Trackside New Zealand slot holder I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel)

Smart three-year-old Pushy remains unbeaten after three starts following an easy victory at Newcastle on Friday for trainer Michael Freedman.

After a disappointing second-up effort, Michael Dee is expecting a better showing from Aegon (NZ) Sacred Falls) at Flemington.

Five-year-old gelding Satness (NZ) (Sweynesse) scored a strong win in the Midway Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainers Robert and Luke Price, providing returning jockey Brock Ryan with a first metropolitan success since a five-month layoff with a shoulder injury.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) notched his fourth Group One victory in comfortable fashion when landing the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan admits he still doesn’t know just how good his winning machine Antino (NZ) (Redwood) really is.

Richard Jolly is confident his brilliant galloper See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) can mix it with some of the best mares in the land when she returns to her ‘home away from home’ in Saturday’s Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Promising three-year-old Riproar (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has provided trainer Andrew Forsman with his first winner out of his Macedon Lodge quarters when successful at Bendigo on Thursday.

Talented three-year-old filly Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress) broke maiden ranks in empathic fashion when scoring an all-the-way victory in the Ladbrokes Communities Plate (1300m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Danny O’Brien.

Te Akau Racing’s new Victorian stable got off to the perfect start when star Kiwi mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) made a stunning reappearance at The Valley on Saturday, cruising to victory in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m).

Multiple stakes-winning mare Red Card (Ribchester) made the perfect return to racing when successful in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Star Kiwi sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is likely to follow the Melbourne spring Group 1 sprint races path rather than head to Sydney, according to Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne assistant trainer Ben Gleeson.

Talented four-year-old gelding Bunker Hut (NZ) (Savabeel) provided his new connections with a dream start when he powered to a first-up victory at Rosehill on Saturday.

Handy staying mare Donatrice (NZ) (Contributer) has claimed an all-important metropolitan victory, when scoring in the Ladbrokes Challenger Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Multiple Group One performer Young Werther (NZ) has relished racing in lesser-grade, with the Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock lumping 61.5kgs to score in the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Chris Waller will have up to seventeen runners at Rosehill, five of them Group One winners, but it is one horse that has him especially excited.

Even with the retirement this week of outstanding sprinter Eduardo (Host), Joe Pride is assembling a strong team for the spring and untapped colt Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) might just put his hand up to join it.

Big spring plans are in-store for Kiwi-bred Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) if she performs up to expectations in the early part of her preparation, which will kick-off at Rosehill on Saturday.

Te Akau Racing will begin a new chapter this weekend when Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) becomes their first representative from their Cranbourne barn at The Valley.

Dual Group One winner Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) is set to make his seasonal return in The Run To The Rose with trainer Chris Waller increasingly lukewarm on pitting him against the older horses in the Theo Marks Stakes.

Jordan Childs is looking forward to renewing his association with Goldman (NZ) (Verdi) ahead of his pipe opener at The Valley in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes this weekend.

Group One commitments in New Zealand will mean Opie Bosson will hand over the reins to Michael Dee on star mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in Saturday’s McEwen Stakes, but her regular rider says she is in fine fettle ahead of her first-up assignment.

A week at the beach beckons for The Everest second favourite I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who has recovered well from his first-up third placing in Saturday’s Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Winning a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) is the pinnacle for many in racing, and connections of 132 horses are hoping their dream turns into reality at Flemington on November 7.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has delivered plenty of highlights throughout his blockbuster career, but his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield suggested that the superstar six-year-old is still raising the bar.

The tangerine army has touched down in Melbourne and it’s fair to say that Te Akau Racing Principal David Ellis is impressed by the facilities that his horses will have available to them at their new Cranbourne base.

Hall Of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse says she couldn’t be more excited by what highly rated stayer Goldman (NZ) (Verdi) has been showing her as he prepares to return for the spring.

John Sargent is looking forward to Kiwi import Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) making his spring return at Randwick this weekend.

Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young unearthed a Derby prospect at Bendigo on Thursday when Kosgei (The Autumn Sun) scored on debut over 1400m.

The winkers go back on Little Brose (Per Incanto) as he returns to Caulfield for a tilt at the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes (1200m).

The blue-blooded Benaud (NZ) (Reliable Man) picked up the first stakes win of his career in Friday’s A$240,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup (2100m), adding even more black type to an extraordinary pedigree page.

Up-and-comer Rheinberg (NZ) (Swiss Ace) dug deep on tiring legs to keep his winning streak alive in Saturday’s Changing Places Real Estate Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.