Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have utilised Ruakaka for a week stint in winter over the last few years, and they are hoping this year’s sojourn continues to reap rewards at the northern venue on Wednesday.

South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.

The Jomara Bloodstock bred and raced Geneva is primed for a bold showing in Saturday’s Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), according to trainer Kylie Hoskin.

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

Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.

A broken finger on his right hand will have last season’s National Jockeys’ Premiership winner Craig Grylls out of action on raceday for the next few weeks.

Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.

The maiden three-year-old race on Foxbridge Plate Day at Te Rapa is developing a reputation for unveiling bright talent, and a superb debut by Quantum Legend on Saturday suggested he could be heading for the top of that list.

The polytrack surface brings out the best in enigmatic mare Mars and her connections are hoping that trend continues on Wednesday.

The last three months have been a breakthrough period in the career of Zanzibar, who will attempt to continue his rise through the winter ranks in Saturday’s ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m).

Stephen Marsh’s stable promises to be a major player when the feature spring age-group races roll around, with a host of talented three-year-olds to take serious steps toward those targets at the weekend.

The Oaks Stud’s silks were to the fore in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) six years ago when carried to victory by Catalyst, and this year they are hoping to feature once more.

Donna Logan will be back in the black-type frame with her young stable at Ruakaka on Saturday, presenting the promising Yokozuna in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Luminance has proven herself up to black-type level on a heavy surface and trainer Kurtis Pertab is looking to put that ability to the test on a better track when she contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.