Cody Cole will spend most of his long weekend in the Central Districts with representatives across two meetings, including his early Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) contender Landlock at Trentham.

The New Zealand racing fraternity is in mourning following the passing of leading Central Districts jockey Johnathan Parkes over the weekend.

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.

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.

Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock is hoping to make another successful Central Districts raid with two strong chances at Waverley on Wednesday.

Split may have been the sole maidener and the $70 outsider in Tuesday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3200m), but that didn’t stop him from outstaying his rivals and booking a ticket to the Australian feature for Jo Rathbone.

Impending rain had Stephen Nickalls questioning whether to start Chase in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui, but the honest galloper looked more than comfortable in the conditions, just falling short to Jay Bee Gee in the feature.

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.

Victories with a pair of promising first-starters at Wanganui on Saturday provided jockey Kelly Myers with the 50th and 51st wins of her career at the track.

Mark Oulaghan has moved on from the disappointing outcome of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) and is looking forward to an unexpected opportunity with Berry The Cash.

Last weekend’s New Plymouth abandonment has forced Allan Sharrock into a change of plans with his Group One winner Ladies Man, who is entered to kick off his seven-year-old season in the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday.

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.

A hard-fought victory by Raziah in Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park provided trainer Tony Pike and jockey Matt Cartwright with a second feature three-year-old success within the space of a week.