Promising staying filly Ohope Wins chose the best possible moment to break her maiden status when she powered home to take out the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

La Crique, arguably the most consistent horse in Australasian racing, has been retired.

Gifted four-year-old She’s A Dealer is in the right order to make a successful challenge for higher honours on New Year’s Day.

Leading Queensland rider Angela Jones will make her New Zealand debut at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day where she will partner the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared mare Smart Love in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m).

Nearly a decade after taking up the mantle as private trainer to Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Jo Lady Lindsay, Lance Noble has delivered results that he hopes to embellish at one of New Zealand’s racing’s biggest events, Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping a return to the right-handed way of going will help Qali Al Farrasha bounce back to winning form at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Young Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has landed another timely winning blow across the Tasman.

The Dirty Dee’s Oaks preparation hit a slight snag this week when trainer Robbie Patterson was forced to scratch her from Saturday’s Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), but he is hoping to get her quickly back on track.

Trainer Stephen Marsh had a massive grin on his face at Te Rapa on Saturday and it wasn’t just because promising stayer Roctave had overcome some mid-race difficulties to win the MVP Cars 2100 (2100m) and secure his place in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Matamata visitor Sagunto etched his name into the folklore of the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) when he claimed his third victory in the race with a brilliant front-running performance at Trentham.

Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti is back on track for a tilt at the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in a fortnight following a setback earlier this month.

Latrelle and Old Bill Bone may not be ideally suited by the conditions of the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham, but there’s belief they can rise to the occasion.

The Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in a fortnight has been locked in for First Five.