Islington Lass (NZ) will face the sternest test of her career at Otaki and Allan Sharrock is more than confident Proisir’s daughter can rise to the challenge.

Promising filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be looking for a fairytale ending to her three-year-old season when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Sam Mynott has been ticking up the air miles over the Tasman Sea this week and she is hoping it will all be worth it when she lines up her first horse in Australia on Saturday.

Ben and Ryan Foote will be represented by a pair of stakes contenders at Te Rapa and are expecting bold showings from the duo.

Key strategic changes across the two equine codes headline the 2024-25 New Zealand racing calendar released today.

Consistent three-year-old Beau Brummell (NZ) (Embellish) commenced a successful journey south for jockey Warren Kennedy, who picked up a trio of winners at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday.

Impendabelle (Impending) proved herself at the highest-level last campaign, and the talented filly is poised to strike in a fresh state in Saturday’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with a couple of in-form runners for breeder-owner Greg McCarthy, and she is expecting them both to go well.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott training partnership have been in white hot form this season with 48 wins to their credit, including seven at Group or Listed level, headed by the victory of Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Riverton horsewoman Kelly Shearing will head north to Wingatui on Sunday with a trio of runners, headlined by last start winner In Vogue (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Otago Daily Times 65 2200m.

Following the partial abandonments of race meetings at Ellerslie on 10 and 20 April, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) have announced the planned winter renovation of their newly installed StrathAyr track will commence immediately, with their May 25 meeting to be transferred to Pukekohe Park.

Progressive filly Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) took a significant last-start step toward the goal of a third Group One winner for The Sunlight Trust with her breakthrough success at stakes level.

Trainers Sophie Hargreaves and Naomi Murfitt will be on a fact-finding mission when they head to Phar Lap Raceway with Brancaster Bomber (NZ) (Showcasing) on Wednesday.

November Rain was a standout filly for Matthew Goodson and Dianna Perron, but she has proven to be a test of patience as a broodmare for the husband-and-wife duo, which was rewarded on Saturday through the deeds of her daughter No Rain Ever (No Nay Never).

Espadas could be destined for a future across the Tasman following his maiden victory at Ellerslie on Saturday.