Finding talented galloper Zac Black’s happy place has given Riverton trainer Aimee Tyler confidence the enigmatic five-year-old can secure back-to-back wins for the first time in his career.

Tony Pike will press on with increased confidence toward loftier goals with Tutukaka after the son of Tavistock returned to winning ways in fine style on Friday.

A solid hit out by classy three-year-old filly Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) during an exhibition gallop on her home track at Hastings on Saturday has trainer John Bary more than satisfied ahead of her racetrack return at Trentham next week.

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote finished off the 2022 calendar year in fine style as he picked up a winning double at Hastings on Saturday with a pair of promising three-year-olds.

Enigmatic galloper Hail Damage brought the pain to her six rivals when she out-toughed them all in a rugged staying display to run out the winner of the feature race at Hastings on Saturday.

Premiership pacemaker Mark Walker is poised to dominate next month’s DoubleTree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) as he bids to stretch Te Akau Racing’s winning streak in the two-year-old feature to seven straight years.

Humbucker delivered a compelling argument for a return trip to the North Island when he proved superior to his rivals at the Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday.

Trainer Danny Frye is setting his sights high with Our Echo as he makes his return from a wind operation.

Tony Pike is bullish about the chances of Tutukaka in Friday’s Taupo Cup (2000m) with the step up in trip on a good surface fuelling his confidence.

Group One performer Sinarahma has been retired following her seventh-placed run in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

Fresh from a lucrative triumph on Boxing Day, Karaka trainer Lance Noble is targeting three big-money races at Te Rapa on Sunday.

Trainer Graham Richardson was quietly savouring the sweet taste of success as he went about his business the day after securing Group One glory at Pukekohe with his special mate Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking).

Talented two-year-old Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) took another step on his journey to the Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) on January 21 with a stylish victory at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

A copybook ride to guide Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) to victory in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day has provided South African jockey Warren Kennedy the chance to place a big tick in the goals accomplished column he set for himself when arriving in New Zealand in late October.

After bemusing trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood with a debut performance that is best forgotten, three-year-old Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) showed what he is capable of with a convincing victory over 1600m in maiden company at Hawera on Saturday.

Trainer Ben Foote was left chuckling to himself after receiving a text post-race from the co-owners of impressive debutant Loosespender (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who overcame a torrid run in-transit to take out the opening event at Hawera on Saturday.

The addition of blinkers and step up to 2000m played in favour of the well fancied Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) as he distanced his rivals in the run home to take out the Landmark Homes City of New Plymouth Cup (2000m).

Progressive mare Synchronize made her long-awaited return to the racetrack a winning one when she produced a sizzling home straight sprint to take out the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Pukekohe.

Class three-year-old filly Legarto maintained her unbeaten record with a stunning performance to win the Gr.2 ATR Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe after most punters had written off her winning chances in the home straight.

Buoyant is set to be given an opportunity across the Tasman after Southland’s new sprint star secured his second consecutive stakes win in the Listed Property Brokers Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day.

Barely thirty minutes after unbeaten three-year-old filly Legarto put her hand up to start favourite in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) next month with victory in the Gr.2 ATR Eight Carat Classic (1600m), her main rival issued an emphatic statement that he won’t be going down without a titanic struggle.

Graham Richardson savoured one of the highlights of his career as Defibrillate brought a long-range plan to fruition in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day – a second consecutive triumph in the weight-for-age feature for Richardson and his training partner Rogan Norvall.

Craig Grylls is flying high again this season and looks to have the horsepower to continue that trend with strong books of rides at Hawera on Saturday and at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

Trainer Matthew Enright his hoping Christmas comes early when he heads to The Valley on Saturday with Wertheimer.

An outstanding trial gallop from star sprinter Levante has only served to multiply the butterflies in Matamata trainer Ken Kelso’s stomach leading into one of the biggest weeks of his career.

Southland trainer Sabin Kirkland is hoping the festivities continue when he heads to Wingatui on Boxing Day with his talented sprinter Buoyant.

Revered thoroughbred trainer Colin Jillings has died in Auckland, aged 91.

Leading filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) will kick start her summer preparation when she steps out in a hot trial at Matamata on Friday.

Victorian jockey Dean Yendall will renew his association with Kiwi galloper Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day.

Christmas festivities will take a back seat to racing commitments for champion jockey Opie Bosson this year.

If every race meeting in New Zealand was at Trentham Shaun McKay would probably be thrilled.

A familiar Australian face has re-joined the New Zealand riding ranks with the arrival this week of multiple Group One-winning jockey Jake Bayliss.

Matamata trainer Paul Richards has history on his side as he prepares talented juvenile Farravallo for connections which include respected bloodstock agent Chris Rutten.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will mark the start of the new year by making his first public appearance since finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).

A varied training regime is proving the perfect formula for in-form galloper Encierro (NZ) (El Roca) who continued his rich vein of form when successful in the Nationwide Livestock Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Prestige winner Hinepara delivered exactly the Te Rapa performance trainer Josh Shaw was hoping for and an effort that has fuelled further feature staying race ambitions.

The Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) is the likely target for The Racketeer after his gutsy victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Group One winner I’m Thunderstruck is being set once more towards the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at The Valley on March 18.

The funeral for Megan Taylor will be held in the Show Gate Lounge at Riccarton Park Racecourse (165 Racecourse Road) on Thursday, December 22, at 2.00pm.

A day that started in perfect fashion for trainer Peter McKay when Purrfect Puss (NZ) (Sacred Falls) saluted in the second race got even better for the Matamata mentor as Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) landed his biggest victory with an all-the-way win in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m).

Pocket rocket Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma) added another present under the Christmas tree for her connections when she proved too strong in the closing stages when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.

Lightly raced three-year-old Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step up to stakes company in her stride as she dashed home to take out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) gave favourite punters few concerns when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm.

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock is hoping to end Darci La Bella’s preparation on a high when he treks south to Trentham on Saturday.

Ben Foote has Group One targets for two members of his stable who will be in action at Te Rapa, although one of them won’t be in the hunt on Saturday for any prizemoney.

Robbie Patterson is expecting dramatic improvement from his stable star Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) at Trentham on Saturday.

Sunday’s Dynes Transport Tapanui Cup (1335m) might be an unconventional lead-up to a Group One target but that’s of little concern to Gore trainer Ellis Winsloe.

The New Zealand racing community is in mourning after the passing of apprentice jockey Megan Taylor following a race fall at Ashburton on Thursday.

Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) returns to the races at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Stable apprentice Diego Montes de Oca is hoping his favourite horse Rock Sensation (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) can show his rivals a clean pair of heels in Thursday’s Agraforum Growing Innovation 1300 at Ashburton.

Lisa Latta has the distance bases covered in this Saturday’s feature events at Trentham where she has multiple representation in the stable’s quest for black-type success.

Group One winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) has been retired.

Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) has a way to go to match the deeds of the best two-year-old through Stephen Marsh’s stable, but the unbeaten youngster has the potential to make a race of it.

Group One targets await Levante (NZ) (Proisir) in the New Year, with a trip across the Tasman in the offing should she perform to her usual high standards.

Group One winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) has returned to Simon and Katrina Alexander’s barn ahead of further Group One targets later in summer.

Hardy veteran Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock) struck a blow for the older generation when he plowed through the wet underfoot conditions at Te Rapa to blitz his rivals in the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m).

Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) will be looking to kick-off the new year in the best possible style when he heads to Te Rapa on January 1 to target the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m).

A tilt at the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) could be on the cards for Le Sablier (NZ) (Tavistock) after her runner-up effort behind Sinarahma in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

In-form filly Imarichgirl (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) took no harm from a wasted trip to the Central Districts and will line up in this Saturday’s relocated Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

In the space of a week Casey Lock went from winning ribbons with Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock) at a Cambridge show to winning the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa.

Te Akau Racing’s three winners from the weekend could all be competing in feature events at the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing meetings over the Christmas-New Year period.

Flying mare Faithful Feat (NZ) (Per Incanto) showed all her fighting qualities when she overcame a wide barrier, a hefty 58.5kg impost and a heavy downpour that created vision problems for all horses and riders to claim her first black type victory when taking out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Warm favourite Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) provided a further example of her undoubted class when she cruised to victory in one of the feature events at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).

Racing at Awapuni on Saturday was abandoned after the first race due to the unsafe nature of the track.

Peter Lock went close to winning the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) with a former stable star and has his sights set on next month’s Trentham prize with a current member of his team.

Sinarahma’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) final campaign couldn’t be going much better, according to New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock.

Local trainer John O’Shea is looking forward to heading to Randwick on Saturday where he will line-up progressive galloper Waihaha Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).

Nothing would better heal the wounds of last year’s narrow defeat for the connections of proven southern galloper Firoden (NZ) (Denman) than going one place better in Saturday’s Tim Yeo Contracting Southland Crystals (2200m) at Invercargill.

Top filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) has returned to Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s Cambridge stable to begin her build-up toward another major age group target.

A Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) path is in the offing for promising filly Sealed With A Kiss after she won on debut over 1200m at Hastings on Wednesday.

Group One winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is on track to head to the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day following her 850m trial at Te Awamutu on Tuesday.

Justamaiz will have to overcome an interrupted lead-up and an unfavourable weather outlook to bag himself another Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) on his home turf on Saturday.

Waipukurau trainer Kirsty Lawrence is heading to Awapuni on Saturday with a pep in her step as three of her runners get ready for a tilt at some big assignments in the coming weeks.

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock and brothers Noel and Ron Stanley have enjoyed a three-decade long association and success continues to roll for the trio.

Lisa Latta should get a good guide to how the rehabilitation of top stayer Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) is going when he joins stablemate Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) on Saturday.

Relief was an over-riding emotion in the Dragon Leap (Pierro) camp following the six-year-old’s stunning performance at Pukekohe Park to end a lengthy winless streak.

Manawatu trainer Stephen Nickalls was overwhelmed with excitement after Chase (NZ) (Zed) ran home for third in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Impressive Trentham winner Tivaci Princess is on target for a quick return to action in her home track feature this weekend.

Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney is looking forward to heading home to New Zealand after a highly success Spring Carnival.

Despite a few moments of concern when placed in tight quarters at the top of the Trentham home straight, rugged filly Impendabelle (Impending) maintained her unbeaten record with a dogged performance to win the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).

It has been a long time in the making but grand galloper Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) finally claimed his first elite level title when he took out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Progressive three-year-old Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) produced a winning effort that more than honoured the memory of the champion galloper that Saturday’s feature race at Pukekohe was named after when taking out the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).

Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard will decide on race morning if they take their full complement of runners to Trentham on Saturday.

New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson left his home track a happy man on Thursday after recording a winning treble.

Pam Robson is hoping for a lesser surprise but no lesser result when Light Up tackles Friday’s Riccarton Park Function Centre 2100.

Promising three-year-old I’mintowin (NZ) (Contributer) has required careful handling and rewarded that approach last time out with a strong performance to break his maiden.