Trent Didham has become the fourth generation in his family to become a trainer after joining his father, Peter, in partnership earlier this month.

Faraglioni’s retirement has left a big hole in Josh Shaw’s stable this season, but the Group One performer’s half-sister Chart The Stars has started to do her bit to continue the family legacy.

Intention’s future program will be determined by her performance in Saturday’s Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).

The prospect of Reece and Wayne O'Connell riding at the same race meeting just a few years ago was almost as remote as it could be.

The 370km journey from Matamata to Woodville has proven to be a worthwhile commute for Jakama Krystal, who collected her third jumps success at the course in Sunday’s $50,000 Jude Challies Property Brokers Woodville Tararua Steeplechase (4800m).

A booming late run out wide on the track has carried promising stayer Crouch to an eye-caching victory in the first run of a new campaign as he took out the feature race at Otaki on Saturday, the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m).

Awapuni filly War Princess will head up State Highway Three on Saturday to Wanganui in search of all-important black-type in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).

Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Late starter Jack Morrison will be presented with another ideal opportunity on his home polytrack course at Awapuni on Sunday to make up for lost time.

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.

Following a track inspection on Tuesday, the decision has been made to delay the return to racing at Awapuni’s grass track.

A return to racing on Awapuni’s grass track is inching ever closer, and it passed its first test for that return following a successful set of trials on the surface on Tuesday.

A couple of New Zealand’s feature two-mile contests are in the offing for Palmerston North stayer Crouch this season, but track conditions will play a key part in those plans.

Veteran hurdler Suliman turned back the clock to his former glory days when he proved toughest in a four-horse war at the finish of the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton.