Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, the sire of 11-time Group One winner and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine Verry Elleegant, has passed away, aged 22.

Stephen Marsh may have temporarily lost the services of his star youngster Velocious, but he still has enough firepower to be a major force to be reckoned with in upcoming age group features.

A stunning come-from-behind performance carried Lord Spencer to a Peter Kelly – Bayleys Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) upset at Te Rapa on Sunday, handing trainer JJ Rayner and jockey Lemmy Douglas their biggest moments in jumps racing.

Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson is looking forward to stable star Sharp N Smart taking the second step on a journey to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November when he steps out at Te Rapa on Sunday in the Waitoa Free Range Chicken Mile (1600m).

Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Great Northern meeting at Te Rapa could provide a fitting end to a big week for Matamata trainer Jessica Brosnan.

Saturday’s Taranaki meeting was the final step towards Mustang Valley’s second Group One title last season, and the mare will return on an identical path to contest the Seaton Park 1400.

By just one season, Kylie Little missed an opportunity to take a horse to the iconic Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool, and she is hoping in-form stayer Irrigate can take the Kiwi spot through Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth.

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.

The Victress has got the nod as Te Akau’s leading black-type chance at Riccarton on Saturday, but it might be an opposing stablemate who will lead the chase for higher honours later in the season.

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock’s upcoming top-flight prospects can take turns for the better across two venues this weekend.

Tony Pike’s team of horses were airborne on the good track at Hastings last Saturday and the Cambridge horseman was pleased to return to Ellerslie with a similarly positive report following trials held at the venue on Tuesday.

The catalogue for this year’s NZB Ready To Run Sale has been released.

While top honours did not go the way of Savaglee in Saturday’s Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), Pam Gerard took plenty of positives from the performance of her colt as he heads towards loftier targets.

Matt Cartwright announced his arrival among the top echelon of New Zealand’s jockeys with a stunning treble on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival at Hastings on Saturday, culminating in a giant-killing Group One win with Grail Seeker in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m).