Rangiora galloper Show Pony has been near-unbeatable so far in his four-year-old season and trainer John Blackadder is hoping his rise can continue up in grade at Ashburton on Friday.

Classy gelding Sir Albert starred in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday in another winning double for Terri Rae, but the local trainer was only a nose and a neck away from an even more remarkable day.

Exciting galloper Spot On Time kept his winning streak intact with a desperate lunge at the winning post to take out the TAB Mile Trial (1400m) at Riccarton in a thrilling two-horse war with outsider Cluedo Lane.

Terri Rae’s topliners Spot On Time and Sir Albert are firing at the right time of the spring, with key assignments on their home track on Saturday setting the scene for next month’s Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m).

Labour Weekend is set to play a role in shaping Te Akau Racing’s contingents for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month.

Riverton stayer Vamos will stay close to home over the next couple of weeks as he aims to finish a successful preparation on a winning note.

Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong felt a real sense of satisfaction when her promising three-year-old Champagne Diblu turned his form around to win the Agraforum Growing Innovation 1300 at Ashburton on Sunday.

Just when it seemed like she might be slipping off the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) radar, Cool Aza Rene turned her spring around on Saturday and delivered a ninth win for Te Akau Racing in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton.

Riccarton trainer Terri Rae flexed her potential New Zealand Cup Carnival firepower with an impressive double in $50,000 open handicaps at Ashburton on Saturday.

Promising colt El Vaquero will be out to further his Group One claims when he steps out again in age group company at Ashburton.

Wingatui trainer Shankar Muniandy is developing a knack for producing exciting three-year-olds, and he may have his hands on another in Pontoon.

Local three-year-old Alottago thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Master trainer Gary Hall snr has an enviable record of producing pacers first-up in excellent condition, and he will be hoping for a powerful performance from Raklou in the $23,000 7Mate Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Bruce Tapper may have been a late starter to the training ranks, but he hasn’t let that slow him down, with the Timaru horseman bringing up his 100th win at his home track on Wednesday.