It’s not every day that you get to compete for $100,000 on your backdoor step, and Debbie Harris is hoping to make the most of that opportunity this weekend.

A decision to bypass the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) a fortnight ago paid dividends for the connections of Pride Of Aspen on Sunday, as the mare went three in a row in the Free Court (2100m) at Hawera.

Bevan and Robyn Wilson were disappointed their trio of runners didn’t feature in last week’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), but they got a consolation prize at Riccarton Park seven days later.

Niall Quinn’s Wanganui stable again promises to be a force to be reckoned with at Riccarton on Saturday.

Shaun Fannin has spent plenty of time in the winner’s circle during the Grand National Festival of Racing, and this year’s carnival presents an entirely new challenge for the Awapuni horseman.

Time has been a friend to a once-erratic Bradman, who will have just celebrated his eighth birthday when he tackles Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 128th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park.

Earlier in the year, Bevan and Robyn Wilson mapped out a plan for three of their talented gallopers to tackle Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m), and despite a few challenges, the trio will each take their place in the Riccarton showpiece.

Kelvin Tyler will be represented by young and old at the Grand National opener on Saturday at Riccarton Park, including a pair of promising juveniles stepping out at three for the first time.

Kris Lees will be on hand at Flemington tomorrow to gauge Changingoftheguard’s spring prospects.

Chariots of Fire winner and Eureka favourite Bay Of Biscay takes on several Inter Dominion participants when he makes his return to Sydney for the Kevin Newman Free For All at Menangle on Saturday night.

Jumping has always been Stephen Nickalls’ main passion in racing, and while he is heading to the South Island’s premier jumping carnival on Saturday, flat racing will be his priority.

Katie Lally had never even touched a horse until 2018, and it wasn’t until May 2019 when she went for an interview at the astute stables of Justin Prentice that she had ever experienced harness racing, but her love of the game started there, and it’s unwavering.

The thought of underdoing shoulder surgery wasn’t enough to stop leading Rockhampton apprentice McKenzie Apel from landing one of the biggest wins of her short career at Townsville on Saturday.

Bevan and Robyn Wilson brought a formidable trio of chances into Sunday’s Crombie and Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m) and all three ran with great merit, but none more so that the winner, Royal Valour.