Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie is eyeing a tilt at the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) in January with Excalibur who will begin his Cups campaign in the MWIS Lawyers (1400m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Cambridge-based trainer Tony Pike is well-armed to go back-to-back in Saturday’s Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings, a race he won with Bostonian last year.

The race that stops two nations has attracted 183 nominations for this year’s running, including 11 New Zealand-trained horses.

A triple Group One winning miler as a 3YO, Charm Spirit is Invincible Spirit’s highest earning and highest rated son at stud in Australasia and he has made an outstanding start with his first Northern hemisphere 2YO crop this year which has already produced 13 individual 2YO winners.

Australian-bound gallopers Bonneval and Rubira pleased co-trainer Andrew Forsman after their exhibition gallop in the heavy track conditions at Matamata on Wednesday and will head across the Tasman on Sunday in preparation for their spring campaigns.

Matamata trainer Gary Hennessy sees a number of similarities in Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) hopeful Ocean Emperor and his five-time Group One winning galloper Ocean Park.

It is six years since Hennessy prepared Ocean Park to win the Hastings Group One, then known as the Makfi Challenge Stakes, which was a pre-cursor to the entire winning three Group One races in Melbourne during the spring of 2012, including the Cox Plate (2040m).

A seven-year-old entire by Zabeel, Ocean Emperor missed much of his three and four-year-old seasons with a hoof injury, but the dual Group Two winner is making up for lost time.

Ocean Emperor prepared for Saturday’s contest, for which he is rated a $12 chance, with two impressive trial victories at Te Teko and then Taupo, leaving a host of weight-for-age gallopers in his wake.

"He's right where we want him to be,” Hennessy said.

“He's like where we were with Ocean Park when he won his trial by three-lengths going in to this race. This horse did it a lot easier and against a lot stronger opposition."

To be ridden by Shaun McKay, Ocean Emperor has lead in both trials, but Hennessy said the horse would not necessarily play pacemaker.

“The beauty of him is he's got good gate speed and he's able to take a posy and settle.

“If he gets a little bit of cover he's got a huge turn of foot, he could really explode onto the scene like he did in the two Group Two races that he has won."

A 1400m Group One success would also go a long way to securing a future home at stud for the stallion, aiming to become the 47th individual Group One winner by his late sire Zabeel.

"That would be huge,” Hennessy said. “That was in the back of my mind from the day we bought him. He is the most gorgeous looking horse.

“We've had a few little set-backs with him but I think he's come of age and the trip to Singapore earlier this year has probably been the making of him."

Ocean Emperor could embark on further travel, with Hennessy keen to replicate Ocean Park’s successful Melbourne campaign.

“If he can run a really good race and run in the first three, I think we'll go straight to the Underwood like we did with Ocean Park.

“The step up to 1800m from 1400m will suit. He's always looked like he can get a trip.

"He's easy to train. He's very similar to Ocean Park, he's like a clone really. It's just unfortunate he missed his three-year-old career and didn't get that racing experience that Ocean Park did at the same age.

“But being a Zabeel, they just get better with age and he's a lovely entire to work with.”

While Hennessy is hoping to enhance a stallion’s pedigree this weekend, he was savouring the stakes success of Caulfield Guineas favourite Brutal in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday, having acquired his dam Alberton Princess and another close relative just over two years ago.

"I bought both Alberton Princess and Lady Alberton at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale,” Hennessy said.

“I paid $75,000 for Alberton Princess and she was in foal to Sacred Falls. The subsequent foal made $170,000 as a yearling earlier in the year, so she owes us nothing and Brutal looks very exciting.”

Hennessy, who along with wife Jenny, operates Weowna Park in Matamata, has Ocean Park yearling colts out of both mares.

“We’ve just had New Zealand Bloodstock come and look at our yearlings this week and  we've got 17 entered for the sales.  We've got some really nice types with nice pedigrees.”

Trainer Jamie Richards will line-up three horses at Ashburton on Thursday, kicking off Te Akau’s annual southern migration.

The Wayne Hillis-trained Liquid Inspiration took full advantage of the wet conditions at Matamata on Wednesday to win the ADM Feeds Ltd 1200 on the heavy11 track.

Last-start Grand National Hurdles (4200m) winner Jack Frost will have a final hit-out at Ashburton on Thursday before heading north to compete in the Great Northern Hurdle (4150m) at Te Aroha next month.

Former long-time New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association chief executive Michael Martin has been honoured at a dinner at Cambridge on Wednesday night where he was awarded a life membership to the association.

Tavistock three-year-old filly Thornery has been earmarked as one to watch by co-trainer Robert Wellwood after her 840m trial win at Te Teko earlier this month.

Zed four-year-old Verry Flash will head to the spelling paddock after a disappointing unplaced finish in the Interprovincial Challenge (1600m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.

An astute $600 gavelhouse.com purchase provided Nikki White and jockey Lee Callaway’s new training partnership with their coveted first winner.

Grant Cooksley has made no secret of the high regard in which he holds Seventh Up, but this weekend he will ride stablemate Close Up when the pair meet in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Enzo’s Lad shocked punters when winning this year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at odds of 73-1 and he’s going to be given another chance at the Trentham feature in January.

A quiet trial at Avondale on Tuesday has Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh contemplating a Melbourne trip for the 2016 Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Ugo Foscolo.

Jason Waddell’s high opinion of Julius will be put to the test in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Mike Rennie is returning to the farm that launched his thoroughbred career. He has been appointed to the role of Business Development Manager at Waikato Stud.

Group One placegetter Danzdanzdance is on target to begin her countdown to the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 6.

Brian and Shane Anderton are likely to make a final decision this weekend on a Great Northern Hurdle (4150m) start at Te Rapa next month with Jackfrost.

Much-travelled Australian jockey Jake Bayliss is set to return to New Zealand in time for the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival which commences on September 1.

An encouraging trials performance at Te Teko on Monday has put Cambridge filly Santa Catarina on a path set by Group One winner Sofia Rosa.

Emily Farr has a black-type win on the flat to her record and she is confident she can add an important jumps race to her CV on Wednesday.

Jamie Phillips is happy to have all the attention shy away from his charge Zedeedudadeeko going into the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.

Opaki trainer Grant Nicholson plans to take a quiet approach to this season’s campaign with his talented galloper Nymph Monte.

Mark Oulaghan copped the upper cut he wasn’t expecting at Riccarton last Saturday.

Sir Nate put himself in contention for an early season feature three-year-old event when winning at last week’s Foxton trials.

While enjoying the thrill of a third Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) win at Riccarton, Lisa Latta is pleased with her ammunition for the early season features.

Scott Base, a son of Dalghar, is currently lying 18th in order of entry for the Tarzino Trophy and new stablemate Wyndspelle is equal 16th with Son Of Maher.

Gary Vile is taking it a day at a time with Jacksstar, but he’s hoping to get the top stayer back to raceday action.

Young Japanese apprentice jockey Taiki Yanagida may have some good-natured ribbing coming his way on Monday morning after he guided the Lee Somervell trained Stradivarius to victory at Te Rapa on the weekend.

Trainer Kevin Hughes has big plans for handy flat performer Speedy Jax after he broke his maiden status over the bigger fences in Saturday’s maiden steeplechase at Riccarton.

Rugged front-runner Call Me Royal provided his trainer Tarissa Mitchell with the perfect farewell to her northern training operation when he led all the way to win the opening event at Te Rapa on Saturday.

After 14 years competing in the white-hot environment of Hong Kong racing you could excuse trainer Paul O’Sullivan for becoming a little weary of the constant struggle to perform.

Platinum Command landed a timely win to boost her broodmare value when charging home to take the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Talented sprinter Julius returned to action in Saturday’s Allied Security 1200 at Te Rapa and turned in a dominant performance in an ominous sign of things to come.

The old-timer Amanood Lad took a step toward achieving the dream result when scoring a fortuitous win in the NZI Koral Steeplechase (4250m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Tiny Terror was a debut winner at Te Rapa on Saturday, but it was anything but plain sailing for the son of Shamexpress

Northern raider Laekeeper moved into Hospitality NZ Canterbury 129th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) favouritism following his victory in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The 2018 Grand National meeting started off in exciting fashion for 19-year-old Rohan Mudhoo.

Brian and Shane Anderton are chasing the main prize at Riccarton on Saturday and testing the water for two of the other major events over the three-day Grand National Carnival.

Jo Gordon is used to the jibes about her no-rush approach to training but the Southland conditioner could yet have the last laugh when she saddles up a nine-year-old and a 10-year-old in Saturday's Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton.

Masa Tanaka is fulfilling a dream on his return to race riding in Korea.

Start Wondering remains on target for the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa later this month despite dropping away in his trial at Foxton on Tuesday.

Group Three-placegetter Aim Smart is ticking over awaiting better tracks and a possible start on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.

The patience and perseverance of Matamata apprentice Tui Miles was rewarded at Hawera on Thursday when she was successful on outsider Toodaloo.

Lisa Allpress believes Dez could be the horse to put her back on the Winter Cup honours board.

Gary Vile had other plans for Hard Merchandize last Wednesday, but that all suddenly changed with an irresistible offer from Hong Kong interests.

Singapore star War Affair has joined Stephen Marsh’s barn after a six-month spell at Trelawney Stud and the Cambridge trainer is eyeing feature spring racing with the eight-year-old.

Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan is not sure where the future lies for lightly-tried four-year-old English Gambler.

Multiple Group winner Torcedor has added to his black-type tally with a solid runner-up performance to Stradivarius in the Gr.1 Goodwood Cup (3200m) on Tuesday

Cambridge galloper Go Nicholas is back in work after an unsuccessful Queensland campaign.

A fine training effort by Joe Waldron has put Ujumpijump into consideration for the $101,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki Challenge (1400m) at New Plymouth later this month.