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.

Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast, as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton Park.

Time has been a friend to a once-erratic Bradman, who will have just celebrated his eighth birthday when he tackles Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 128th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park.

Te Akau Racing have continued their dominant run, securing their 12th New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership this season with a tally of 131 wins, 27 clear of nearest rival Stephen Marsh.

Mark Oulaghan has called on one of Australia’s leading jumps jockeys to partner West Coast, as the outstanding jumper heads south in pursuit of a historic fourth-consecutive Grand National crown.

The short-priced favourite for the upcoming Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Jesko, will step out on the flat at Waverley on Friday as he readies for his biggest test yet in a fortnight.

Talented filly Intention made an impressive winning return to the Foxton trials on Tuesday, ticking the first box in a journey towards top three-year-old honours.

Tough stayer Wolfgang showed enough during a brief Melbourne campaign last spring to warrant a return visit.