Matamata trainer Pam Gerard will head to Pukekohe on Saturday to tackle a couple of feature targets with her emerging mares Shoes and Reputation, and she is under no illusion about the size of the task ahead of them.

Now with an Australian base at Cranbourne, New Zealand trainer Mark Walker is chasing a ‘hometown’ Cup victory.

Last week will live long in the memory of northern race caller George Simon.

Wentwood Grange savoured a trans-Tasman double at the weekend and the Hawkins family will be looking for further reasons to celebrate at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

Yaldi’s quest for further stakes honours gained momentum at Monday’s trials at Te Awamutu where the talented three-year-old enjoyed a good hit-out.

Promising mare Bella Waters indicated she is on the right path to success in some of the upcoming major summer feature events when she came from last to secure victory in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga.

Apprentice Sima Mxothwa would have had his heart in his mouth with 250m to run in Saturday’s Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach (1400m) at Tauranga.

Andrew Forsman has won every Group One race for three-year-olds in New Zealand apart from the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and the Cambridge trainer hopes Kitty Flash might be the filly to give him his missing piece at Riccarton on Saturday.

Te Rapa has brought the best out of Dusty Road with a career-high run of form in recent months, and owner-trainer Graeme Cameron is hoping to extend that sequence with another bold performance in Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m).

The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.

A powerhouse performance in Saturday’s Financial Services (1300m) at Tauranga proved that former star three-year-old Wild Night is right back at the top of his game.

Cody Cole is eyeing up a Group One assignment in January for emerging sprinter Navigator, who will contest the Financial Services (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday.

Dual Group One-winning mare La Crique bypassed the spring features this season, and looking to the summer period, Katrina and Simon Alexander are excited to get their star mare back on track at Tauranga on Saturday.

Arjay’s Flight will be out to keep his perfect record intact for new trainer Shaun Phelan when he heads to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Feilding Hotel 1600.