Star New Zealand mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) will be kept to her pre-race routine in Melbourne before travelling to Sydney for the opening day of The Championships.

After an aborted spring campaign, trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are looking forward to seeing Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) back on the racetrack.

Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) became the first stakes winner for freshman Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth with a classy and tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyland Race Colours Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill – a performance that also earned him a shot at next month’s Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Wymark’s (NZ) (Savabeel) connections are likely to pay a late nomination fee for next week’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) after the rapidly improving three-year-old collected his fourth win in a row in Saturday’s Gr.2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Flemington’s ‘Straight Six’ has brought the very best out of Te Akau Racing’s Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt), who improved her record at the venue to four-from-four with a valuable black-type win in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.

A year after winning the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood returned to Rosehill on Saturday and achieved a repeat result with another special filly.

Emerging stayer Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) capped a dream day for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood when he won Saturday’s Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington and secured himself a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).

Promising up-and-comer Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) added a fifth win to his record with a stylish come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.

Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) credited Elsdon Park with their first winner produced off the Matamata-based farm since it was established in 2022.

Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) has contested the past two Melbourne Cups and will chase another start in the race at Flemington on Saturday.

There’s enough evidence in Pride Of Jenni’s (Pride of Dubai) pedigree to suggest the star mare can run out a strong 2000m in Saturday’s Australian Cup, according to her breeder.

Leading Victorian jockey Billy Egan will be hoping that Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) can bounce back to his best on Saturday when he lines up in the Gr.3 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington.

Ken Kelso is hoping lightning might strike twice when Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) makes her second start at Flemington in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m).

Crimson Light (NZ) (Redwood) has won the A$150,000 Country Oaks, dashing best off a slow tempo at Yarra Valley on Good Friday and giving Mick Kent his second consecutive victory in the race.

With A$500,000 on offer, you’d expect a keen finish, and that was certainly the case in the Good Friday Country Discovery at Yarra Valley with Savannah Cloud (NZ) (Savabeel) prevailing in thriller.

Ciaron Maher concedes he is stepping into unchartered waters with star mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) when she heads to the Australian Cup at Flemington.

The Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) rivalry has dominated discussions ahead of Saturday’s A$3 million Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m), but Kiwi trainer Ken Kelso thinks the race has another crucial element.

The Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on Saturday week has been identified as the kick-off point this campaign for Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) following a second jumpout on Monday morning.

Roger James and Robert Wellwood are sending their stayer Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) to Melbourne to get an idea of where the emerging stayer sits.

Trainer Patrick Payne is a realist when it comes to his horses and says it is time for Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) to take the step up to the big league. 

Michael Freedman admits he has been a bit surprised by Wymark’s (NZ) (Savabeel) rapid progression, which sees him a $2.50 favourite for Saturday’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), but believes the horse is hitting the race at the right time.

Sprint star Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) won’t be seen in the A$1m Gr.1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville next month but New Zealand Racing powerhouse Te Akau Racing have Adelaide in their sights.

Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes cannot ask much more of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).

After a pair of luckless placings from wide barriers, New Zealand-bred mare Elettrica (NZ) (Vespa) turned things around at Rosehill on Saturday and set herself up for a potential black-type winter campaign in Queensland.

Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 BMD Group Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley provided a special reward for a part-owner who has spent the last few years wondering what might have been.

New Zealand’s Group One three-year-old form was to the fore at Moonee Valley on Saturday, where Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) edged out Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) in a thrilling finish to the A$500,000 Gr.2 DCE Alister Clark Stakes (2040m).

Mighty mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) added a 10^th Group One victory to her collection with another supreme performance in Saturday’s A$1 million 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell will keep Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) to the flat for the immediate future after the New Zealand-bred gelding recorded a strong staying win at Sandown.

Plans are underway to take Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) to Adelaide for their upcoming Carnival, but for the time being the filly will be kept in Melbourne.

Globe’s (NZ) (Charm Spirit) racetrack return looks firmly on track after resuming with an impressive jumpout performance at Cranbourne on Monday morning.

There is an air of positivity around an often-understated Phillip Stokes as he sends Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) to Morphettville this weekend in search of an elusive second career victory.

The Mark Walker stable is banking on a freshen up between races as being pivotal for Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer).

Multiple Group One winner Atishu has been confirmed as one of the headline acts for May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.

After the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday the track will undergo a renovation and will not race again until the new racing season in August.

Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand at The Valley on Saturday, with their seven-strong charge being led by their sprinting sensation Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), who will attempt to defend her crown in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Talented three-year-old Wymark will be put on a Classic path after a strong win against older horses in the  Quayclean Benchmark 78 Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday. 

Ultra-consistent mare Red Card (Ribcester) landed her biggest prize to date when running out a comfortable winner of the Gr.3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainer James Cummings.

Smart three-year-old colt Wolfy scored the narrowest of victories when coming deepest of all to land the Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday under a driving ride by Jamie Mott.

Elite front-running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) triumphed in a captivating edition of the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainer Ciaron Maher and regular rider Declan Bates.

Promising gelding Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) is likely to have one more run at Rosehill before attempting to deliver trainer Kris Lees a sixth win in the Provincial-Midway Championship Final.

South Australian racing has received a timely boost ahead of the state’s major carnival for the year, with Adelaie’s four upcoming Group One races elevated to purses of A$1 million.

Robbie Patterson will be soaking up the atmosphere at Caulfield on Saturday but acknowledges his stable’s best chances of success this weekend lies on the home front.

Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), the stunning winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes on New Year’s Day, has been confirmed as the slot runner for New Zealand’s Trackside Media and host club Perth Racing in The Quokka in Perth on April 20.

The Ciaron Maher stable has taken a different autumn approach with Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) to the one it adopted in the spring which landed the mare back-to-back Group One wins.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has suffered his first minor hiccup ahead of his defence of Saturday’s All-Star Mile at Caulfield, drawing the second-widest barrier for the A$4 million feature.

Peter Williams has been in the racing game for long enough that he doesn’t get overawed by the big occasions these days.

Classy New Zealand-bred mare Lekvarte collected her second stakes win of the season with a brilliant late burst in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Mostyncopper Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick.

Beaten Newmarket Handicap favourite Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is firmly on track to defend her Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) title at The Valley later this month after pleasing connections with her condition on Sunday morning.

Five-time Group One placegetter Young Werther earned himself another shot at the elite level with a dominant front-running performance in Saturday’s A$200,000 TAB Australian Cup Prelude (1800m) at Flemington.

Luckless in feature races in her two previous starts, Eternal Flame turned things around and collected a deserved first black-type victory in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Promising New Zealand-bred Von Hauke took his career to new heights with his first black-type victory in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Furphy Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington.

Melbourne’s pending heatwave hasn’t dented Te Akau’s confidence levels in their outstanding mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) ahead of her tilt at Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap.

A rising star of the three-year-old ranks and a colt that has already stamped himself among the best of his generation will clash for the first time in a tantalising rendition of the Randwick Guineas

.

Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) won’t contest Saturday’s Gr.3 Shaftsbury Avenue at Flemington, with connections opting instead to head to the Gr.3 Horsepower Newcastle Stakes on Friday.

When trainer Chad Ormsby sold Master Fay (Deep Field) to Hong Kong, he was expecting the horse to potentially develop into a champion sprinter.

Peter Moody knows he needs to have stable star I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) rock-hard fit and ready to go ahead of a likely first-up defence of the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) in Sydney.

The All-Star Mile push by connections of Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) has paid off, with the six-year-old securing a slot in this year’s race.

Multiple Group One winning mare Atishu has claimed a berth in the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) with a strong victory in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Sprint star I Wish I Win’s autumn campaign is starting to get serious with the reining T.J. Smith Stakes champion set for a jumpout at Pakenham on Tuesday.

Te Akau Racing has confirmed Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) will contest next Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Emerging filly Mislead (Shamexpress) could be set for higher tasks with a trip to Adelaide to chase black type on the radar for the Sportsbet Future Stars Series winner.

Smart four-year four-year-old mare Sans Doute recorded her third victory in succession when successful in the Resimax Group Plate (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.

New Zealand horses making hit-and-run visits to Australia are not uncommon, but there are not many horses that do it in reverse.