Impending rain had Stephen Nickalls questioning whether to start Chase in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui, but the honest galloper looked more than comfortable in the conditions, just falling short to Jay Bee Gee in the feature.

Hunterville gelding Jay Bee Gee is going from strength to strength as a spring seven-year-old, collecting the first two black-type wins of his career within the first two months of the 2024-25 season.

Victories with a pair of promising first-starters at Wanganui on Saturday provided jockey Kelly Myers with the 50th and 51st wins of her career at the track.

Mark Oulaghan has moved on from the disappointing outcome of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) and is looking forward to an unexpected opportunity with Berry The Cash.

Last weekend’s New Plymouth abandonment has forced Allan Sharrock into a change of plans with his Group One winner Ladies Man, who is entered to kick off his seven-year-old season in the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday.

There have been few horses with the consistency of Bradman over the past 12 months, and the versatile galloper will aim to continue that vein of form in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m).

Kelvin Tyler will have two competitive lightweight hopes in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m), with talented pair Master Marko and Lightning Jack set for the Wanganui feature.

A hard-fought victory by Raziah in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park provided trainer Tony Pike and jockey Matt Cartwright with a second feature three-year-old success within the space of a week.

Bellatrix Star was among the leading two-year-old fillies in New Zealand last season, and she showed in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington that she has the class to compete on Melbourne’s spring carnival stage.

Next month’s Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) is looming large on the horizon for Unusual Legacy, who enhanced his growing reputation with an outstanding last-to-first performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Chandon Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill.

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock’s upcoming top-flight prospects can take turns for the better across two venues this weekend.

Kelvin Tyler has plenty of travel ahead of him in the coming weeks and he was pleased to pick up a success closer to home at Wingatui on Sunday with Albatross.

Capable flat galloper Billy Boy made the perfect start to his jumping career at Woodville on Sunday, putting on a polished display to claim the Pat & The Late John Shannon (3000m).

Rugged galloper Master Marko was toughness personified at Riccarton on Saturday when he produced a front-running victory in the main race on the day, the TAB Open Mile (1600m).