The future of blue-blooded mare Excelida was already guaranteed as a valuable addition to Cambridge Stud’s broodmare band, but she added a further boost to her credentials with a richly deserved first stakes win in Saturday’s Gr.2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

New Zealand-bred stayer No Compromise lived up to his name in a grandstand finish to Saturday’s Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, prevailing by a nose to claim his first triumph at the elite level.

It’s all systems go for Cambridge Stud bred stayer Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) with a possible start in the Caulfield Cup before she fronts up again for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

A powerful Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) audition by Mr Maestro capped a special day at the office at Flemington on Saturday for Andrew Forsman.

Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will be looking to claim her first elite-level scalp this weekend when she contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Following second declarations for the Melbourne Cup, there are 58 horses remaining in contention for the Group One race at Flemington.

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick has a fair bit to contemplate as spring racing heats up across the Tasman.

A treatment mistake has ruled Benaud (Reliable Man) out of the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Kiwi raider She’s Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) is thriving in Melbourne and as a result trainer Andrew Forsman has elected to line her up at Flemington this weekend.

Trainer Danny O’Brien is set to have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday courtesy of New Zealand-breds Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock).