Smart filly Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) ran out a dominant winner of the Agritrade Valagro 2YO Maiden (1200m) at Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

Talented three-year-old Mr Bully Tee (NZ) (Complacent) broke through for a richly deserved maiden victory on his home track when winning the Corteva Agriscience 3YO (1400m) at Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday.

Allan Sharrock has a pair of trump cards to play in the main events on the card at Wanganui on Saturday.

Sassy Chouxs (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) is ready to serve up a tasty morsel of what’s to come at Riccarton on Friday, according to North Canterbury trainer Karen Parsons.

New Zealand Bloodstock is proud to be at the forefront of a new sponsorship incentive known as the NZB Best Newcomer Award, forming part of the NZTR Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports (TiES) Series.  

Alby MacGregor’s southern forays with Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock) have enabled the Central Districts horseman to mix business with pleasure to grand effect.

New Zealand’s premier jockey Michael McNab can’t wait to grasp his opportunity in Group One company in Brisbane on Saturday.

First season apprentice Jessica Allen showed she will be in hot demand over the winter months as she took out the first two races at Pukekohe on Saturday in contrasting fashion.

Youth and experience successfully combined at Pukekohe Park where apprentice Joe Nishizuka posted the first win of his fledgeling career.

Rookie trainer Nayton Mitchell is still riding the highs of a dream start to his training career.

Promising two-year-old Solidify emerged unscathed from the home straight interference that counted him out of the finish of Saturday’s Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Highview Stud’s new recruit Santos sired a double on Sunday which took his tally of Individual first-crop winners to four, headed by Group One winner Ulanova.

A significant decision has been reached regarding the establishment of a new racing Club, named Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR), following the official merger approval between Waikato Racing Club, Cambridge Jockey Club, and Waipa Racing Club.

After two positive trial performances four-year-old gelding Regal Lion is set to return to the races on Saturday in the Gr. 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

Despite having to sit wide throughout, promising juvenile Saltcoats proved too strong for his rivals in the feature race at Pukekohe on Saturday, the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m).

In a thrilling finish to the Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdle (2800m) rugged winter performer Suliman used his pace on the flat to out-finish a game Berry The Cash to snatch major honours.

There aren’t too many jumps jockeys as chill as Shaun Fannin but even he can’t hide his excitement for the first feature jumps meeting of the year.

Thursday’s race meeting at Hawke’s Bay was abandoned after just one race after a horse slipped.

Progressive juvenile Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) will get another tilt at black-type when he contests Saturday’s Listed Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

Aaron Kuru’s reputation as a jumps jockey has long since spread beyond our shores but he’s hoping the horse who once made him world-famous-for-a-week might provide him with another memorable moment at Trentham on Saturday.

An association with Trentham racecourse spanning more than half a century will end on Saturday when Robin Tapp officiates for the final time as clerk of the scales at Wellington Racing Club headquarters.

Craig Grylls is enjoying his best domestic season ever in the saddle and has taken time out this weekend for a whistle-stop overseas tour of duty.

Cody Cole has already had a week to remember and it could get even better for the Matamata trainer on Saturday.

Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) will head back to her homeland of New Zealand after fetching A$850,000 in the Queensland Broodmare Sale when snapped up by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing.

Promising filly Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) will spearhead a strong stable challenge on the two-year-old events at Hastings on Thursday.

Andrew Carston will be represented by five runners at Friday’s Wingatui meeting and believes Russian Fable is one of his best chances.

Minister for Racing Kieran McAnulty has announced the approval of a 25-year partnership between TAB NZ and UK betting company Entain that delivers at least $900 million in guaranteed funding for the racing industry over the next five years.

Leading Central Districts rider Johnathan Parkes capped a magnificent day at the office when he rode four winners at Awapuni, including the main event on the card, the Listed Happy 90^th Birthday Edith Bull Rangitikei Cup (1550m) aboard Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed).

A four-win bag at Awapuni on Saturday has provided a confident platform for talented apprentice jockey Wiremu Pinn to launch the next chapter in his burgeoning career.

An emotion-charged Johnathan Parkes notched a significant milestone at Awapuni on Saturday with four wins to his name including the day’s feature, the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1550m) aboard venerable winter galloper Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed).

Lightly raced galloper Martell (NZ) (El Roca) lived up to his trainer’s expectations when he downed a handy field of three-year-olds over 1100m at Te Rapa.

Classy winter performer Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) extended his impressive record on the Te Rapa track when he made it back-to-back victories at the venue on Saturday.

Kelsey Hannan is desperate to make up for lost time and will have a number of opportunities to further her cause at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Outstanding three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the Tuhikaramea stables of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson on Friday as he prepares for a lucrative four-year-old season.

The Mark Walker-trained Tokyo Tycoon has been officially disqualified from his first placing in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe on March 11.

Connections of stakes winning two-year-old Codigo (NZ) (Ardrossan) are considering a trip to Australia next month for their unbeaten youngster.

Local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will be represented in good numbers at the Riccarton synthetic meeting on Thursday.

Stakes success on his home track on Saturday would cap a proud week for Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson.

Impressive debut winner Marengo will step out at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Jarvis Trading 3YO (1100m) as one of a trio of runners for Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.

A pair of recent winning doubles have served to boost the profile of a newcomer to New Zealand racing.

Te Akau Racing has announced that Sam Bergerson will join Mark Walker in a training partnership in New Zealand, commencing August 1.

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote is pleased with his Group Three winning three-year-old filly Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj), who will have her first start in Brisbane on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.

Free-going three-year-old filly Wessex proved too swift for her older rivals in Saturday’s Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) as she secured a dominant front-running victory.

Exciting two-year-old Carbonados did exactly what his connections thought he could when he bolted in by five lengths on debut at New Plymouth on Saturday.

At just 21 years of age, Kurtis Pertab is surrounded by many far more qualified and experienced racing industry people.

Veteran trainer Cliff Goss has once again proved he’s still got it.

Progressive three-year-old Urenui is proving a marquee player for New Plymouth trainer Debbie Harris.

A pair of recent winning doubles have served to boost the profile of a newcomer to New Zealand racing.

Up and coming stayer Poser showed just how tough she is when producing a determined finish to claim victory in the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m).

From a select group of only four broodmares based at Curraghmore, Sir Owen Glenn has now bred two Group One winners on opposite sides of the Tasman and over wildly different distances.

Trainer Chrissy Bambry is looking forward to saddling smart juvenile filly Chantilly Lace in Saturday’s Seaton Park 2YO (1200m) at New Plymouth.

The Matamata race meeting abandoned today (Friday) has been rescheduled to Sunday 14 May.

The unbeaten Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will not race again this season, with co-trainer Mick Price keen to send the promising galloper to the spelling paddock on a high.

Andrew Forsman’s solo training career gained serious momentum 12 months ago and Saturday may again provide the Cambridge horseman with a significant milestone.

Te Akau Racing gallopers Leaderboard (Street Cry) and The Mighty Spar (NZ) (Savabeel) might be earmarked as prodigious jumpers of the future but trainer Mark Walker is hoping the pair can soar to flat riches in Saturday’s Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m).

Highly regarded four-year-old Sumi is in the right order to add black-type and crown an already successful campaign.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced the deployment of its Concussion Management, Neuropsychology Testing and the Return to Riding Following a Concussion Policy, providing a major step forward towards the long-term health and safety of riders in New Zealand.

In-form jockey Kylie Williams believes a pair of last-start winners represents her best chances of success at the Riverton fixture on Wednesday.

Shaun Phelan’s first visit to the Warrnambool carnival didn’t go as planned and the Cambridge horseman is keen on a return to tend to unfinished business.

Six people and four horses were inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday night in a gala dinner in Hamilton.

The father and daughter training partnership of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler were to the fore at Riccarton on Saturday when they produced class performer Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto) to win the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m).

Jumps jockey Portia Matthews enjoyed a home cooked meal and a few celebratory drinks with family on Saturday night after taking out the first race on the card at Te Rapa aboard versatile performer Tweedledee (NZ) (Zed).

The outstanding season for trainer Robbie Patterson continued on Saturday when the New Plymouth horseman saddled the quinella in the Adrian & Associates Insurance 1400m at Te Rapa with progressive mares Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One) and Nom De Plume (NZ) (El Roca).

Des Wyatt never achieved champion status as a jockey, however after his recent passing he is being fondly remembered as one of the gentlemen of the jockeys’ room during an era of great riders.

Speedy North Island visitor Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) proved too fleet of foot for her two-year-old rivals when she took out the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

While comparisons with his older stablemate Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) are inevitable, promising two-year-old colt Solidify (NZ) is the son of Redwood currently in the limelight after adding his first win at stakes level to a burgeoning career when taking out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Services 2YO Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Saltcoats has made an encouraging start to his career and will on Saturday bid to go one better and deliver a first black-type success for Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan.

A patient approach with capable filly Kana may be rewarded when she steps out on the inaugural synthetic track meeting at Awapuni on Sunday.

Gavelhouse Plus has become Te Akau Racing’s platform of choice for selling high-quality mares as they retire from the racetrack and that trend is continuing over the next week with the sale of Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) and Burgundy Rose (NZ) (Burgundy).

Tim and Margaret Carter have suffered their fair of frustrations with gifted sprinter Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit), but they are now confident of a smoother run with the five-year-old.

Te Akau Head Trainer Mark Walker will have leading two-year-old black-type prospects at both venues on Saturday.

Nightmare travel logistics have forced Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler to abandon Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) plans with high-class filly She’s A Con (NZ) (Contributer) but that hasn’t stopped him from preparing a strong team of six to travel to Riccarton for feature racing on Saturday.

Top staying prospect Arby (NZ) (Proisir) has taken no harm from a last start defeat in trying conditions at Pukekohe Park.

Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen is hoping to break new ground on two counts this week: securing her first stakes win on her home track and winning her first race on the all-weather surface.

Stephen Marsh has made a successful practice of targeting Saturday’s black-type feature at Te Rapa as a springboard to future success.

The Chris Gibbs-trained Malfy Rosa (NZ) (Burgundy) has acquitted herself well against the better staying three-year-olds in recent starts to put herself in the mix for the Queensland winter carnival.

Graeme and Debbie Rogerson hope that it is a case of lightning striking twice after Solidify (NZ) (Redwood) put his rivals to the sword when winning the Decise Electrical and Control 2YO (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Opie Bosson will head into unfamiliar territory to partner leading Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) contender Suizuro.

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman was justifiably pleased with the efforts of his well-travelled galloper Aegon, who attacked the line well under James McDonald for fifth in Sunday’s Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) in Hong Kong won by superstar Golden Sixty for a record third year in succession.

At the beginning of her career, a feature Sunday meeting at Rockhampton would have seemed an unlikely setting for reaching 1000 career wins by jockey Samantha Collett but 2023 The Archer Day will be one the 33-year-old will remember.