Hayley Hassman kicked off her riding career in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday when winning aboard Hill Of Kings in her first raceday ride.

Champion rider Michael McNab set a hectic pace during the 2022/23 season and he’s ready to hit the ground running again in the new term.

Mongolian Falcon got off the mark as a sire last Friday when Mumbo Jumbo broke through for her maiden win on Riccarton’s synthetic track.

Mixing training a team of horses with being the country’s leading jumps jockey keeps Shaun Fannin fairly busy, however, he has found success in both roles this season, culminating in a fourth Jumps Jockey Premiership title.

The beginning of the 2023-24 racing season marks a momentous occasion for Waikato Thoroughbred Racing. The newly established Club is set to make history with its inaugural Trials on Tuesday at Te Rapa, followed by a meeting at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, promising a thrilling start to the season.

After a series of near-misses for foundation stallion Pentire, Rich Hill Stud has finally broken through and taken top honours with New Zealand’s new champion sire Proisir.

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston finished the season off on a high at his home track last Friday when scoring a winning treble and securing the South Island Trainers’ Premiership in the process.

There will be a new trainer’s name in the racebook come Tuesday, with Ryan Foote set to join his father Ben in partnership at the dawn of the new season.

Mark Walker put a winning seal on a stellar season when taking out the last race of the card at Te Rapa on Saturday with Hero Worship (Xtravagant).

In a thrilling finish to the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m), Cambridge visitor and race favourite Itza Charmdeel got in the deciding stride at the winning post to claim the two-year-old feature at Otaki.

Turn The Ace returned to his favourite track at Te Rapa on Saturday and immediately bounced back into the winner’s enclosure with a dominant front-running victory in open company over 1400m.

Underrated mare Enchanted Elle provided trainer Shaun Phelan with another major prize as a trainer when she took out the Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup (2200m) in the hands of apprentice Jess Allen

New Zealand’s richest raceday will be further enhanced in 2024 with stakes increases and the launch of a new partnership announced for New Zealand Bloodstock’s iconic Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting.

Shaun Phelan is expecting improved showings from his lightweight prospects in the main event on the Te Rapa card on Saturday.

Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney has been impressed with MacFire’s run of form of late and she is hoping that continues at Te Rapa on Saturday where he will contest the Property Brokers Taumarunui 3YO (1400m).

As the 2022/2023 season draws to a close, the superstars of New Zealand racing will be acknowledged and celebrated at the prestigious New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on September 10.

Corrina McDougal has enjoyed another successful racing season in partnership with Paul Nelson, and the Hastings trainers hope to top it off in style with last-start winners Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) and Raucous (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Shaun Clotworthy didn’t foresee Quirky Habits (NZ) (Belardo) contending for black-type honours as a two-year-old, but has been more than happy to be proved wrong by the youngster.

Melissa Douglas’ dream start to her training career continued at Oamaru on Wednesday when Shejengar (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) scored her first win in the Stephen Heffernan Property Brokers (1200m).

Any thoughts Riccarton trainer Ryan Thistoll might have had that Strike Force (NZ) (Battle Paint) would become easier to deal with as he got older have long since dissipated.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association has announced that Nick Johnson will take up the position of Chief Executive Officer in early October.

Mark Walker is in rarefied air after becoming the first New Zealand trainer to record 200 domestic wins in a season at Awapuni on Thursday.

Rhys Mildon has been Stephen Marsh’s lieutenant over the last few years and has been rewarded for his loyalty with a recent promotion to assistant trainer for Cambridge’s leading stable.

Riccarton Park, LOVERACING.NZ and TAB are supporting Cure Kids with the “Riccarton Park Red Nose Raceday” at this Friday’s synthetic meeting.

Hopes of successfully executing a long-term southern plan with talented mare Sanibel (NZ) (Shamexpress) received a timely boost in her final lead-up appearance.

A trip to Karaka five years ago is well and truly paying off for southern trainer Stephen Blair-Edie.

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman celebrated a comfortable maiden victory at Cambridge on Wednesday with Medina (NZ) (American Pharoah) in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1550.

It will be take two for southern trainers when they head to Oamaru on Wednesday for their postponed Oamaru Cup meeting.

Rich Hill Stud proprietor John Thompson admitted he was caught off guard at Saturday night’s Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro, where he received the Entain NZTBA Personality of the Year award.

New Zealand Bloodstock has announced the appointment of Andrew Buick as the latest addition to the bloodstock team.

Apprentice jockey Tayla Mitchell finished her season with a bang at Tauranga on Saturday, but it wasn’t the climactic ending she was hoping for.

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray had themselves a royal day out at the last meeting on the all-weather track at Cambridge and will be hoping for more of the same on Wednesday.

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote will be looking to end the season on a high note at local meetings this week.

Waverley trainer Erin Hocquard has always harboured a passion for horses and she is now pinching herself that she gets to work with them for a living.

Many racehorse owners spend their entire life in search of their star athlete, but for Philip Brown, he has been fortunate to have two in a short space of time – Levante and Legarto.

Popthebubbles (NZ) (Wrote) edged her trainer Mark Walker closer to the magical 200 wins for the season mark when taking out the Ultimate Mazda 1600 at Tauranga on Saturday.

A jump-out at Casterton will determine whether Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock) will have the addition of blinkers when she has her next race start at Flemington.

Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall only had one runner at Tauranga on Saturday, but their trip over the Kaimai Ranges was made worthwhile when Lovearoadie produced an impressive maiden victory.

Debut Wanganui winner Naval Anthem extended his unbeaten record when he scored impressively at Tauranga.

Trainer Bryce Revell was confident that a pair of trials and jumpouts had his promising galloper Rocket Science ready to make a winning start to a new campaign and so it proved as the five-year-old downed a handy rating 75 line-up over 1200m on his home patch at New Plymouth on Saturday.

In a performance that had to be seen to be believed, topweight Justaskme produced a sensational late run to claim victory in the feature event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m).

Cork (NZ) (Complacent) continued her love affair with Tauranga on Saturday when extending her unbeaten streak to three on the Bay of Plenty track in the Punter Of The Year Now November 4^th (1400m).

Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning is happy to give On The Prowl (NZ) (Contributer) her chance to convince him she’s worthy of a shot at next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton when she races at Tauranga this weekend.

Benji King has achieved quite a lot in the thoroughbred industry and now he can add winning trainer to that list.

John Wheeler has good reasons to be looking forward to his home meeting on Saturday with the Taranaki trainer to be represented by an in-form quartet of runners.

Tony Kemp has had plenty of highs in sport, but he gets no greater satisfaction than winning races with his best mates Bruce and Allan Sharrock.

Gore trainer Ellis Winsloe has the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) in his sights for progressive galloper Taramea Lad, who will aim to secure his place in the Riccarton feature this weekend.

Four-time premiership-winning jockey Lisa Allpress has recently taken an enforced injury layoff from the sport, but returned to raceday riding at Otaki last Friday, with her motivation for winning as strong as ever.

Zelenski (NZ) (Shocking) will be vying for a hat-trick of Cups wins when he heads to Oamaru on Sunday.

Trainer Andrew Forsman is hunting more black-type with Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) when she heads south to New Plymouth on Saturday to tackle the Listed Sinclair Electrical And Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m).

As Jonas Vingegaard gets set to wear Tour de France’s distinct leader’s jersey down the Champs-Élysées this weekend to claim his second consecutive tour victory, Matamata trainer Daniel Miller is hoping to claim his own Yellow Jersey (NZ) (Zacinto) victory at Tauranga.

Hawke’s Bay trainer Vicki Wilson is looking forward to showcasing her stallion Mongolian Falcon at Hastings on Thursday when his son Falcons Diamond (NZ) makes his debut in the PGG Wrightson Livestock 2YO Maiden (800m).

With a stakes success already ticked off by Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy), trainer Chrissy Bambry is happy to bide her time before setting the mare another black-type target.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has revealed a promising spring hope at Avondale on Wednesday, with debutant Elemental (NZ) (Ocean Park) producing an eye-catching victory in the Westbrook Wines Maiden 2YO&3YO (1400m).

The jumps racing scene in New Zealand has been bolstered in the past few seasons by young aspiring jumps jockeys, among them 25-year-old Portia Matthews, who continued her successful run in the saddle at Trentham on Saturday.

A jumping future is calling Group One performer Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine), but not before he gets his chance to try and make it a hat-trick of wins in the Listed Sinclair Electrical And Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.

Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) made his first public appearance this year at the Foxton trials on Tuesday and he pleased trainer Bill Thurlow with his hit-out.

It was a red-letter day for Lucy de Lautour at Trentham on Saturday, with the Hawke’s Bay trainer scoring a winning double at the feature jumps meeting courtesy of Metallo (Zoffany) and Ian’s Legacy (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).

Promising juvenile Whiskey Lies continued his dominant run of form at Ruakaka on Saturday, recording his third consecutive win in the ITM/GIB 2YO Winter Championship Final (1200m).

A perfectly judged ride by Shaun Fannin helped pave the way for West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) to add another feature steeplechasing event to his blossoming career record when the pair took out the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham.

Local trainer Michelle Bradley was on cloud nine as she celebrated taking out two of the feature events on the card at Ruakaka on Saturday.

A brave performance by Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj) to take out the final race on the card at Ruakaka on Saturday, the ITM/GIB Winter Sprinters’ Championship Final (1400m) has edged trainer Mark Walker even closer to the magical 200-win mark for the 2022/23 racing season.

The Duke of Gloucester Cup (2100m) is a coveted race for New Zealand’s amateur riding ranks and Hamilton jockey Michelle Northcott was delighted to get her hands on the silverware at Trentham on Saturday.

Delorean (NZ) (Time Test) cleared maiden ranks in style at Ruakaka on Saturday when snaring the lion’s share of the $60,000 purse on offer in the ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m).

A nine-strong team of runners will carry the hopes of local trainers Ken Rae and daughter Kystal Williams at Ruakaka on Saturday, with a trio of promising two-year-olds set to feature at the finish of the ITM/GIB 2YO Winter Championship Final (1200m).

Trainer Royden Bergerson will put the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) aspirations of stable runners Bradman and Queen Of Spades to the test at Trentham on Saturday.

Although he won’t be at Ruakaka on Saturday as he finishes up a brief break on the Gold Coast, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike believes he is represented by two strong chances at the meeting.

Local gelding Strides added to his winning haul at Otaki on Friday when taking out the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1200m), but it wasn’t without its drama.

England’s Test Cricket Coach Brendon McCullum hasn’t had a lot to cheer about over the last month, but trainer Kurtis Pertab is hoping to change that on Thursday.

Hurry Cane (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) tested his jumping talents against the best in Australia earlier this year and he has returned to New Zealand in search of an elusive prestige jumps scalp.

JJ Rayner will head to Trentham with two strong chances and events on Saturday will determine whether she ventures further afield with the pair next month.

Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray had the perfect day at their local meeting on Thursday, scoring three wins from as many starts on the synthetic surface.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are happy to take their shot at a rare winter feature race double.

Shaun Phelan is hoping an extended stay at Ruakaka will be further rewarded at Saturday’s Whangarei meeting where he has a number of strong contenders.

One of the most anticipated match-ups in New Zealand racing will occur at Trentham on Saturday when top jumpers The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) clash in the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m).

Local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman went home happy men from Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday after scoring four wins and reclaiming the lead for the South Island Trainers’ Premiership.

Lessons learned from La Crique’s (NZ) (Vadamos) last spring campaign will be strictly adhered to this time around with the Group One-winning mare.

New Zealand’s leading stable, Te Akau Racing, begun their march towards spring racing with the return of several of their big hitters at the trials on Cambridge’s synthetic surface on Tuesday morning.

Te Akau Racing are hoping to put the last start disappointment behind them with Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj) when they head to Ruakaka on Saturday.

The Melbourne Cup has often captured the imagination of young racing fans and for newly established Canterbury race caller Daniel Fogarty, he was no exception.

Football has been a big part of Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin’s life and that has continued in racing through the naming of his horses.

Irish jockey Joe Doyle has returned to New Zealand to bolster the country’s riding ranks ahead of the new season.

Uraskyfullastars (NZ) (Tarzino) continued to shine at Awapuni on Saturday when taking out the BJW Motors LTD 1400.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have big plans for their exciting Kiwi-bred Golden Path this spring.

Windsor Park Stud has continued an enviable trend with its most recent stallion acquisition.

Riccarton Park’s synthetic track is proving popular with local trainer Lance Robinson, and he is looking forward to racing on the surface on Wednesday with a handful of runners.

Former New Zealand-trained galloper Cavalry got his Singapore career off to a winning start when he kicked clear to score comfortably in a Class 3 1400m race at Kranji on Saturday for new trainer Michael Clements.  

Torrid weather conditions in Hawke’s Bay have not halted the success of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s stable, with Raucous adding to their winning tally at Te Rapa on Saturday.

It was a proud moment for Kylan Wiles on Saturday as he rode his first winner at Te Rapa in front of his family.

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will present two prominent three-year-olds among their strong team of runners at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Stylish trial winning two-year-old Ardee Boy lived up to his private reputation with an eye-catching debut victory at Awapuni.

Speedy three-year-old filly Caitlyns Wish is doing her late owner Stan Painton and his grand-daughter Caitlyn proud as she continues on her winning way after producing a decisive front-running performance on a heavy 10 surface at Te Rapa.

After hinting that he was back to somewhere near his best with a last start third placing at Te Rapa, consistent galloper Seajetz returned to the venue to secure career victory number eight with a fighting performance to take out the feature flat race on the day, the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m).

Waverley’s Bill Thurlow will return to Te Rapa this Saturday with rising jumping star Whiskey Tango (NZ) (Proisir), hoping the promising jumper can produce a repeat of his winning performance at the Waikato venue last month.

Trans-Tasman Group One-winning filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) has returned to fast work at the Cambridge stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood, in preparation for potential Melbourne spring targets.

Kim Reid has always thought there was something special about Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent), and the Taranaki horsewoman is delighted that her initial impression of the now four-year-old mare is coming to fruition.

The well-related Fabian Hawk (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) has made impressive progress this preparation and has another opportunity to further his record on his home track on Saturday.

Awapuni is becoming synonymous with displays of supreme horsemanship, and that continued on Friday through the deeds of jockey Jonathan Riddell.

Northern apprentice Kelsey Hannan and Canterbury mare Athene (NZ) (Raise The Flag) have been rivals in their last two meetings, but the pair will unite at Ashburton on Thursday in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200.

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker continued his standout season at Rotorua on Wednesday when scoring with Fay Khan It (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the Have Your Function At Arawa Park 1560.

From her wide alley, Fay Khan It was stoked up early by jockey Michael McNab to press on for the lead. The pair dictated terms up front on the heavy footing and maintained their advantage to the line, winning by 1-3/4 lengths over Go Butch (NZ) (Mongolian Khan).

It was the Mongolian Khan mare’s second win from 10 starts and Walker believes there is plenty left instore for the rising five-year-old.

“It was a good ride of Michael’s, summing it early, he got her out wide to the right part of the track and it was a top effort by the mare,” said Walker, after extending his record-breaking season to 194 wins.

“I think there’s more in store for her after a nice win, especially as we step her up in distance.”

Hawera trainer Anna Clement will head to Awapuni with a strong hand on Saturday and hopes her stakes-winning filly Rocababy (NZ) (El Roca) can return to her winning ways.

Butler (NZ) (Showcasing) is guaranteed to start a short-priced favourite in the open handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday, but trainer Allan Sharrock isn’t under-estimating the threat posed by his well-performed stablemate.

Mark Walker is refusing to get complacent as he closes in on an historic first 200-win season.

A trio of Southland runners will be on trial for looming Cups targets when they head to Ashburton on Thursday.

Trainer Andrew Forsman will be keeping an eye on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, with the Cambridge horseman set to have runners at both New Zealand venues, as well as Caulfield.

Andrew Forsman’s successful Cambridge stable has bid farewell to True Enough, who raced with distinction up to the highest level.

Roopesh Jaun didn’t let the inclement weather at Wingatui on Sunday curtail his enthusiasm, with the expat Mauritius jockey notching his first riding win aboard Atomic (NZ) (Sooboog) in the Property Brokers (1200m).

Little Jeanie (NZ) (Savabeel) will make her raceday debut in the AT Cook Contracting 2YO (1230m) and Kelso is hoping she can showcase the talent that she has displayed at home.

Irish jockey Jack Power is off the mark in New Zealand after recording his first win aboard Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) in the Best Forsyth Electrial Maiden Hurdle (2500m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Hometown lad Shaun Fannin was full of emotion at Hastings racecourse on Saturday after attaining a lifelong dream of winning the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle and Steeplechase double.

The champagne was flowing in Cambridge on Saturday night as local trainer Stephen Marsh celebrated bringing up his 1000^th New Zealand win at Ruakaka earlier in the day.

Robbie Patterson is relying on Secret Amour to crown an outstanding season for his Taranaki stable.

Wingatui was a winter wonderland for trainer Amber Hoffman on Sunday as she recorded a winning double under snowfall.

The Andrew Forsman-trained Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) scored his first win in just over a year when triumphant in the 15 July ITM/GIB Northern Winter Championships (1400m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Jumps jockey Nick Downs had a day to remember on Saturday, scoring wins as both a jockey and an owner.

As far as dress rehearsals go, local two-year-olds Whiskey Lies (NZ) (Embellish) and Dancing Dream (NZ) (Contributer) couldn’t have been more impressive as they prepare for the upcoming Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka next month.

Race favourite West Coast (Mettre En Jeu) displayed all of his undoubted class over the fences when he made the AHD-Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) a one-horse affair in the final stages, winning under a hold by more than 16 lengths.

Trainer Chrissy Bambry celebrated her recent engagement with a huge result at Hastings on Saturday when Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy) downed a solid line-up of fillies and mares in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m).