Mary Shan will resume at Wanganui on Saturday to open a preparation with a sole aim.

Midnight Delight didn’t reach the heights expected of her by Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow on the track, but she’s proving her worth as a broodmare for the family.

Unbeaten mare Elle Sourit kept her winning record intact with an eye-catching performance to take out the Super Seth 1500 (1500m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Palmerston North trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray are hoping to pick up a couple of winners’ cheques this weekend as they prepare to line-up a quintet of runners at Hawera and Awapuni.

Consistent mare Chantilly Lace carried the colours of Horowhenua to a thrilling victory in the feature race at New Plymouth, the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m).

Veteran sprinter Tavis Court showed there is still plenty of fight left in the old dog as he led all the way to take out the opening event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Paslode Open (1400m).

Former jockey Sam O’Malley will chase his first winner as a trainer this weekend after recently joining employer Bill Thurlow in partnership.

Allan Sharrock isn’t expecting first-up fireworks from Ladies Man on his home track on Saturday, with the focus on upcoming Group One targets.

It’s not every day that you get to compete for $100,000 on your backdoor step, and Debbie Harris is hoping to make the most of that opportunity this weekend.

Tavis Court looks to have found his niche in small fields, and trainer Anna Clement has found him another intimate contest on Saturday.

Caley Myers has been a frequent visitor to Riccarton Park’s Grand National Festival of Racing, campaigning her father Kevin Myers’ team, but on Saturday it was her name in the result sheet as a winning trainer, courtesy of Duke Of Plumpton.

It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.

Jumping has always been Stephen Nickalls’ main passion in racing, and while he is heading to the South Island’s premier jumping carnival on Saturday, flat racing will be his priority.

Gavin Sharrock had a day out with three of his promising young gallopers at Hawera a fortnight ago, and he hopes to replicate that effort at Otaki on Saturday, particularly with Spandeedo, who will contest the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).