A determined victory in Saturday’s New World Otaki Handicap (1600m) took under-rated mare Sumi past $200,000 in prize-money.

Te Akau Racing had more than one reason to celebrate after winning Saturday’s Cavallo Farms Chris Rutten Bloodstock 2YO (800m) at Otaki with Cool Aza Rene.

Australian visitor Rolls is aiming to finish a frustrating trans-Tasman mission on a high note when he contests the New World Otaki Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday.

Multiple stakes winner Chantilly Lace has plenty of credentials to take into life as a broodmare, which may come swiftly after her recent mating with Windsor Park Stud’s exciting new shuttle stallion Paddington.

Truth Or Dare’s performance in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday is set to give Te Akau Racing an indication of whether they have a Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) contender on their hands.

Warrnambool raider Rolls’ New Zealand campaign hasn’t got off to the best of starts, but trainer Maddie Raymond and jockey Harry Grace are hoping that changes at Matamata on Wednesday.

Stephen Marsh believes the El Vencedor that is heading to Hastings for Saturday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) is barely recognisable as the same horse that has competed during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival in previous seasons.

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.

Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson produced an early highlight at Wanganui on Saturday when his speedsters Farravallo and Reign It In quinellaed the feature 1200m contest on the card, the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m).

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.

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.

The Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival is set to get an injection of international flavour, with Warrnambool raider Rolls set to contest the final two legs of the Hastings triple crown.

Winter is usually the busiest time of year for jumps jockey Emily Farr, but she decided to sacrifice the majority of New Zealand’s jumps season this year to head home to Wales where she felt she was most needed.