Already assured a valuable career at stud as a half-sister to dual Group One winner Legarto, talented mare Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy) has herself spent some time in the racetrack spotlight during the holiday period.

Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar) continued her winning ways at Taupo on Saturday, recording her fourth win from eight career starts in the Cosana NZ – Charge Of The Light Brigade (1200m).

A steady stream of winners in the past few months has the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott training partnership sitting in fourth on the National Trainer’s premiership table and they look to have a number of top chances to add to their season’s 22-win tally at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.

Stephen Autridge will head to Pukekohe Park on New Year’s Day with two of the fancied runners for the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m), but the wet weather has the Matamata trainer concerned.

Matamata trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley will head to Pukekohe on New Year’s Day with three live lightweight chances in Group races.

Cambridge horseman Ben Foote was left disappointed following Babylon Berlin’s head defeat to glamour mare Imperatriz in this year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and he is hoping she can go one better in the sprinting feature at Pukekohe on Monday.

Lance Noble had a bumper New Year’s Day race meeting 12 months ago and has the firepower for a repeat at Pukekohe on Monday, but weather and track conditions have dented the Cambridge Stud trainer’s confidence.

Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe.

The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.

The feature event on the programme at Taupo on Saturday came down to a battle between two of the best riders in the country with victory in the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) going the way of Michael McNab on Mehzebeen ahead of Town Cryer and Opie Bosson.

The Hurdle family combined with Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress) at Otaki to celebrate a significant victory and they’re now daring to dream of Group One success next month.

Age has certainly not wearied Ken Rae and Krystal Williams’ senior gallopers The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Zelenski (NZ) (Shocking), and the consistent pair pose a key threat in the Kurow Cup West Coast Steeplechaser (1400m) on Saturday.

Group One-winning trainer Paul Harris passed away suddenly on Boxing Day.

Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) has seen a fair bit of the country over the last few months but will stick closer to home this week when she tackles the Landmark Homes City Of New Plymouth Cup (1800m) at New Plymouth Raceway on Friday.

Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) is presented with an ideal opportunity to open her middle-distance account when she takes aim at the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

A pair of rising stars of the South Island’s thoroughbred ranks faced their toughest test so far in the Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m) on Thursday, and they rose to the occasion and fought out a thrilling finish.

Stephen Marsh is confident of Velocious giving another bold account of herself at Pukekohe Park on New Year’s Day, although his confidence is tempered by an unfavourable forecast.

The team at Cody Cole Racing got a much-needed boost over the busy summer racing period when they scored a winning treble at Arawa Park on Thursday.

Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard made a big splash on Boxing Day with a rapidly improving three-year-old at the top of his game, and they are hoping New Year’s Day might bring something similar.

The race has begun to qualify for the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui in March, and local trainers Brian and Shane Anderton are keen to once again be in the mix.

Robbie Patterson has already successfully raided the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) this season, and the New Plymouth trainer has another two northern staying features in his sights over the next few days.

Boys Get Paid have become synonymous with the Karaka Millions meeting, and the punting club will have a million reasons to cheer even louder at the feature raceday at Ellerslie on January 27.

Enigmatic three-year-old Pendragon demonstrated just how tough he is as he took out the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe with a strong front-running performance.

Visiting Australian rider Blake Shinn made good use of his trip across the Tasman to ride at Pukekohe on Boxing Day as he guided Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom to a nail-biting victory in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

Campionessa shed her Group One bridesmaid’s tag at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day when recording a well-deserved victory in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m).

Pint sized mare Kai showed her undoubted ability on wet and loose footing when she stormed down the outskirts of the Wingatui track to take out the feature race there on Boxing Day, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m).

A resolute finishing burst carried promising stayer Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) to his biggest career win when he took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday.

Promising galloper Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock) outlined her credentials for higher honours when she defeated a quality line up of intermediate-graded gallopers to take out the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

Wairarapa trainer Alby MacGregor has enjoyed spending time in Canterbury with his family over the Christmas period and he is hoping for a leaving gift at Phar Lap Raceway on Thursday prior to his trip back north.

A trip north to Trentham next month is on the cards for Noble Knight (NZ) (Ghibellines) following his victory in the Grand Casino 2200 at Wingatui on Boxing Day.

Continuing from where they left off, Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson produced debutantes Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Quintefeuille (Xtravagant) to quinella the Maiden 2YO 1100m at New Plymouth on Wednesday.

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been playing the catch-up game with Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) for next month’s $1 million Elsdon Park Aoteoroa Classic (1600m), and they seem to be winning.

Kingsclere Stables are hoping to sing a winning tune at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day, with their talented three-year-old trio headed by Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

Over the next three months, Hall of Fame horseman Graeme Rogerson could be racing for more than $4 million in prizemoney with two members of his Tuhikaramea stable.

After mastering the step up from Rating 65 to open class in the $50,000 Print House Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, in-form five-year-old Lingjun Xiongfeng (The Factor) has a Group Two feature on New Year’s Day in his sights.

Punters were on good terms with themselves as they saw promising mare Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir) make it consecutive victories to open her summer campaign with a determined effort to take out the Noel Eales Memorial Cup (1600m) at Trentham.

The training combination of John and Karen Parsons and Varma Ramhit look to hold the key to success in the main race at Wingatui on Boxing Day, the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m).

In-form gelding One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) will get his first tilt at elite-level on Boxing Day when he heads north to Pukekohe to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (1600m).

Ascot Park trainer Sally McKay couldn’t be happier with her quality sprinter Henry Hubber (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) ahead of the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day.

With more than a dozen runners on Saturday and a similar number again on Boxing Day, the Te Akau Racing team is barely going to have a chance to catch their breath over the Christmas long weekend.

A year is a long time in racing and in 2023 the connections of Pennyweka experienced it all.

Robbie Patterson will head to Trentham with a strong contingent on Saturday, which will be led by last start Group winner Puntura.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has elected to pit his handy filly Impendabelle against the boys at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

In her first Saturday assignment, exciting filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) took it all in her stride at Trentham on Saturday going back-to-back in the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 1200.

When Stars Align (NZ) (Zoustar) and Unbridled Joy (Snitzel) kicked off their careers with a quinella in the Japac Homes (1100m) at Trentham on Saturday, adding their names to a bumper list of two-year-old talent in the Te Akau Racing stable this season.

Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) showed he will be a force to be reckoned with over the coming months as he scored in dominant fashion in Saturday’s Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.

After leading all the way to claim his first black-type win in last year’s Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to defend that crown with an even more spectacular front-running performance at Trentham on Saturday.

Recording consecutive victories, Lingjun Xiongfeng (The Factor) rose markedly in grade to win the Print House Open Handicap (1600m) on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Some of New Zealand’s biggest races will be seen live and free on the screens of Racing.com in January thanks to a partnership between Entain New Zealand – the operators of New Zealand’s TAB – and the leading racing broadcaster.

The Waikato Stud-bred and raced four-year-old is a full-sister to Go Racing’s multiple Group One-winner Atishu, and they would dearly love to get a Group One result with their mare before her raceday retirement.

A huge festive period of racing awaits Wexford Stables, and Christmas has come early for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with the exciting return of Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) headlining their team on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Free-going stayer Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) has been a loyal servant of Peter and Shaun McKay’s stable and he will spearhead the father and son’s team at Trentham on Saturday.

Regally-bred filly My Annie Belle (NZ) (Snitzel) is set to make her much anticipated debut at Matamata on Friday in the Cunningham Decorating Services (1200m).

Riverton trainer Stephen Blair-Edie is hoping Christmas comes early when he takes his quintet of runners to Gore on Sunday.

The Kiwi horsewoman recently called time on the eventing career of her star thoroughbred Just Kidding, who took Pottinger to the lofty heights of competing at some of the most iconic competitions in the world, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.

Cementing a hat-trick, Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended) won the Cochranes of Canterbury (2200m) on Wednesday at Ashburton.

Riviera Rock has been runner-up in the last two editions of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and trainer Graham Eade would like to breakthrough for that elusive victory at Wingatui in February.

Betty Spaghetti’s (Stratum Star) impressive run of form during her spring preparation has connections focussing on northern targets for the four-year-old.

It’s been a tough couple of years for Group One-winning stayer Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park) and breeder-owner-trainer Bill Pomare, but the tide is turning and the son of Ocean Park is set to resume racing at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Regally-bred mare Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) will get her chance to continue her family’s stakes legacy when she heads to Trentham on Saturday to tackle the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m).

In-form Christchurch mare Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) will head across the Cook Strait this week to try and snare some northern spoils.

Patience paid big dividends for Robyn and Russell Rogers at Te Rapa on Saturday when their mare Zecora broke through for her maiden stakes victory in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).

Former Trackside presenter Jason Tan was delighted and humbled to be part of a fitting finale to the decorated career of Damien Oliver.

Emma Wyatt has made her presence known in the South Island training ranks this season, and the multi-talented horsewoman hopes to add another victory to her growing tally at Ashburton on Wednesday.

Riviera Rock has been runner-up in the last two editions of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and trainer Graham Eade would like to breakthrough for that elusive victory at Wingatui in February.

Under-rated filly Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) stepped up to stakes class and prevailed in a nail-biting finish to the Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Underrated three-year-old Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) upset the Te Akau Racing party when he downed favourites Tokyo Tycoon and the previously unbeaten Quintessa over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Former northerner Diamond Girl (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) announced her arrival on the South Island scene with a remarkable front-running performance in Saturday’s $50,000 Shoe Clinic Handicap (1400m) at Ascot Park.

Commentator George Simon summed up what many were thinking at the finish of the first race at Te Rapa when he uttered the well-known catch cry ‘there’s only one Opie Bosson’.

The Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) holds fond memories for Te Akau Racing in recent years, having won two of the last four editions of the race, and they will be looking to add to that tally on Saturday.

Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand in each of the three stakes races at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The well-performed Waisake will take a big step towards his sixth Wellington Cup Carnival with a run in Saturday’s Majestic Horse Floats (2200m) at Trentham.

Peter and Dawn Williams have had an outstanding strike rate over the last few weeks, and the Byerley Park trainers will try to continue their high-flying form with a single shot at Group Two success at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Promising Southern mare Madam Dubai has given the extended Anderton family something to celebrate over recent months, and she will aim for a hat-trick of victories at Ascot Park on Saturday.

Patience was rewarded at Tauranga on Friday for the connections of talented four-year-old Hasstobeawinner, who cleared maiden ranks with a performance that was well worth the wait.

Promising mare Zecora (NZ) (Power) made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure at Te Rapa when she stormed home out wide to secure a thrilling victory in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).

Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) provided jockey Opie Bosson with a memorable result on Saturday when winning at Te Rapa.

Six-year-old gelding Piaggio (NZ) (Vespa) landed a breakthrough metropolitan victory for trainer Greg Eurell when successful at Caulfield on Saturday in the Millennium Services Group Handicap (1600m).

A commanding victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa completed a rare fillies and mares’ feature double for Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer).

Consistent stayer Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park) provided Roger James and Robert Wellwood with a positive end to a tough week when scoring a fighting victory in the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) will have several disadvantages to contend with in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, but trainer Vicki Prendergast hopes the score can be evened out with Opie Bosson on board.

Go Racing’s talented European import Skyman has crossed the ditch to chase Group One glory.

Leonard Stewart is one of the rare few welcoming the wet start to the summer, with the Timaru trainer trying to find some forgiving tracks for his seven-win mare Vague.

Highly regarded two-year-old Montana Bay (NZ) (Thunder Down Under) will deliver a memorable victory at Te Rapa on Saturday if he can go one better on his previous visit to the Hamilton course.

Scoring your first win in front of a bustling home crowd is what dreams are made of for most aspiring trainers, and for Leah Zydenbos that became a reality at Hastings on Wednesday.

Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) is in good order to resume at Te Rapa on Saturday, although trainer Andrew Forsman believes the four-year-old will improve as she steps up in distance this preparation.

Talented three-year-old Tokyo Tycoon will commence his path towards next month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m).

A tilt at Group One glory at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day now awaits Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) following his comfortable 1000m trial win at Ellerslie on Monday.

Cambridge trainers Ben and Ryan Foote will take three fillies south to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), but their biggest quandary is trying to find enough jockeys.

The iconic TAB Karaka Millions raceday will become even bigger with New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) joining forces with Entain to introduce an additional $400,000 in available bonuses for horses offered at the 2024 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

The stellar racing career of dual Group One winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) is over.

Dionysus will be looking for redemption when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m).

Quality mare Pearl Of Alsace will sport a new look when she takes aim at the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Peter Didham’s impressive form this season continued at Trentham on Saturday, with eye-catching pair Fashion Icon and Manifique staking their claim for black-type opportunities this summer.

Excitement is building at Ellerslie, with racing set to return to the Auckland venue following its first set of official trials on its new StrathAyr track on Monday morning.

The Kiwi riding ranks have benefitted from the addition of another expat South African jockey in Billy Jacobson, and the family-orientated hoop was thrilled to pick up his first winner on Kiwi soil at Pukekohe on Saturday.

A lack of suitable options has forced Cody Cole’s hand with unbeaten mare In Extasy (NZ) (Exosphere) to resume at Hastings on Wednesday, despite a wide barrier.

Peter Didham’s impressive form this season continued at Trentham on Saturday, with eye-catching pair Fashion Icon and Manifique staking their claim for black-type opportunities this summer.

Adam I Am (NZ) (Almanzor) made quite the impression with his two eye-catching wins over spring and trainer Glenn Old said he has returned a more furnished animal ahead of summer racing.

Lance Noble is sending just one horse down to Wellington this weekend, hoping his rising star Habana can deal to some unfinished business in the race now known as the Gr. 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

Globetrotting Swedish jockey Ulrika Holmquist has made a homecoming of sorts, returning to New Zealand to ride for the summer.

Highly talented three-year-old Lupo Solitario has pleased Matamata trainer Danica Guy in the build-up to his return to racing, but a last-minute setback has cast some doubt over his participation in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

Peter and Dawn Williams have fond memories in past editions of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and the Byerley Park trainers are hoping another crown lies ahead with Desert Lightning on Saturday.

Under-rated sprinter Mercurial booked himself a ticket to the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe with a tenacious all-the-way win over the same course and distance on Saturday.

Te Akau Racing was on top of the two-year-old podium at Trentham on Saturday, with their untapped filly Captured By Love running out a dominant victor in the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).

A desperate finish to the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) saw exciting three-year-old Lupo Solitario extend his career record to three wins from just four starts as he defeated talented filly Orchestral by the barest of margins in a thrilling conclusion to the age-group feature.

In a race thrown into disarray by a false start, quality four-year-old Desert Lightning stood tall and claimed his first Group One victory in Saturday’s TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

New Zealand-bred juvenile Beau Dazzler was thrown in at the deep end for Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Eureka Stud Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm, and he rose to the occasion with a bold black-type win.

Cambridge Stud’s imported mare Terra Mitica (Ulysses) recorded her first New Zealand win with a powerful staying performance in Saturday’s $65,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2100m) at Pukekohe.

Lightly raced sprinter Is That So (NZ) (Sufficient) made a welcome return to winning form when he showed plenty of determination in a tight finish to take out the open sprint at Trentham.

Progressive mare Flamebird (NZ) (Shooting To Win) made up for an unlucky run in stakes company at her last start to register career win number four when she dashed home to take the Stella Artois 1500m Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Pukekohe.

Black-type winning stayer Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) will return to New Zealand tracks on Saturday at Pukekohe, with trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley hoping to commence a path towards key Cup races this summer.

Te Akau Racing are hoping they can whet their appetite for Group racing at Trentham on Saturday with a couple of entrees at New Plymouth and Riccarton earlier in the week.

Town Cryer upset the applecart when downing multiple Group One winner Prowess in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera in October and trainer Roydon Bergerson is hoping she can cause another upset this weekend.

Prise De Fer was rewarded for his consistency when recording his first elite-level victory in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping for a repeat dose in this year’s edition, when run as the TAB Classic on Saturday.

Fashion Icon has made a stylish start to her career and she looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity on Saturday to again star on the Trentham stage.

Cannon Hill’s performance in Saturday’s age group feature at Pukekohe will determine the summer path for the colt.

It’s been more than a year since New Zealand punters have seen Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) step out on raceday in his homeland, but they will get their fix of the gelding when he lines-up in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) on Saturday.

Steven Cole is hoping to kill two birds with one stone when he heads to Trentham on Saturday with Hard Attack (NZ) (All Too Hard).

High-priced Karaka purchase Mad Max (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to make his much-anticipated debut this week, but where is yet to be decided.

Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is hopeful she can claim the lion’s share of the $400,000 purse in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) with her triumvirate of runners.

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will have a strong hand to play in Saturday’s age group feature at Pukekohe, with gifted fillies Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) to go head-to-head.

Malt Time has gone close this preparation to major success and she will head south later this week in a bid to tick that box.

A return to compete in front of Warrnambool’s boisterous crowd could be on the cards for Nassak Diamond following her dominant win in Sunday’s Jericho Cup (4600m).

Talented middle-distance specialist and million-dollar earner Defibrillate has been retired.

Graham Richardson is hoping a successful week for his female contingent can continue after Snazzytavi was a stand-out victor at Te Rapa on Saturday.

After several years away from raceday riding, Kelly Myers showed no signs of rust when winning aboard the Ralph Manning-trained Liquid Fire in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Well-performed stayer Uareastar (NZ) (Jakkalberry) is back in work with Marton trainer Fraser Auret to build toward another extreme distance target.

Malt Time has gone close this preparation to major success and she will head south later this week in a bid to tick that box.

Twelve months ago, Roger James and Robert Wellwood were battling to see the best of Roccia (NZ) (Iffraaj), but the classy mare has returned to top form and collected back-to-back victories at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Te Rapa trainer David Greene turned his back on the local race meeting on Saturday and took three runners to Wanganui instead, making a 600km round trip that proved to be well worthwhile.

Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), one of last season’s well performed three-year-olds made a powerful statement at Te Rapa on Saturday when he opened his summer campaign with a comfortable victory.

Brian and Shane Anderton’s classy performer Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines) continues to be the perfect advertisement for their Wingatui-based sire Ghibellines, adding the Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m) to his impressive record on Sunday.

Enigmatic galloper El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) capped off some consistent form and provided trainer Stephen Marsh with a winning black-type double when he bolted clear to win the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

A reputation for being a perennial placegetter is now a distant memory for Glamour Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon), who scored her second win in a row with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.

New Zealand’s oldest racing club celebrated its 175^th anniversary with the running of Saturday’s Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m), and the Listed feature could have had no more fitting and popular winner than Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir).

A patient ride by Bailey Rogerson paid off in spades as she guided Just As Sharp to a convincing victory in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Te Rapa.

Kylie Hoskin is hoping she has the luck of the Irish at Te Rapa on Saturday, having secured expat Samantha Wynne to ride Zaila (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m).

A busy Saturday afternoon is looming for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who has 19 runners entered across the Te Rapa and Wanganui meetings including strong chances in all four black-type events.

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie has crossed the Tasman for a second tilt at the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on Sunday, four years on from a highly creditable first attempt.

Leading Otago trainers Brian and Shane Anderton are set to make their presence felt with two well-credentialled runners in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).

Handicap conditions won’t be in the favour of middle-distance specialist Defibrillate when the classy gelding contests the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.

Champion Victorian jockey Blake Shinn will be in action in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Pukekohe Park as well as at the lucrative Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27.