Connections are likely to push on with Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) this campaign following his shock defeat as $1.40 favourite at Sandown on Saturday.

The Phillip Stokes-trained Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) had a quiet jumpout at Pakenham over 1000m this week as the son of Sweet Orange builds towards autumn targets.

Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock) starred during last season’s Melbourne Festival of Racing but will be inactive during the upcoming seven-week period of feature racing.

Stakes winner in waiting Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) is closer to making her seasonal reappearance after featuring in a jumpout on Tuesday.

Handy stayer Highland Jakk snared a metropolitan victory at The Valley on New Year’s Eve, when coming with a perfectly timed run under Craig Williams to narrowly get the better of the fast-finishing Fighting Arrow in the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Handicap (2040m).

Smart four-year-old Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) proved too strong at Flemington in the Henry Byron Moore Handicap (1400m) on New Year’s Day under an inspired front-running ride by Jamie Kah.

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees believes he’s yet to find the ceiling with former Kiwi sprinter Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto) who will be aiming to stretch his winning sequence to four in The Buffering at Doomben on Saturday.

Talented three-year-old Dunkel has plenty of improvement still to come but was able to score a relatively comfortable victory in the Frank O’Brien Handicap (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday despite giving favourite punters a few nervous moments.

New Zealand-bred sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse has made waves in Australia since transferring to trainer Michael Moroney’s Flemington barn earlier this year, and he is now itching to test her talents further afield.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained St Lawrence extended his unbeaten record to four when winning the Joe Brown Handicap (1800m) at Sandown Hillside on Boxing Day.