Stablemates Dragon Leap and Spring Heat furthered their preparations for a tilt at the Brisbane Winter Carnival with a day out at Te Rapa on Saturday where they completed an exhibition gallop between races.

Trainer Jamie Richards was taking a philosophical approach to his day at Royal Randwick on Saturday after watching three of his stable stars perform with credit but fail to put a win on the board.

Nick Bishara is a sucker for punishment.

A charitable trust that provides essential support for rising New Zealand race drivers is seeking wider support from the motorsport and business communities in order to expand its work.

Matamata visitor Roch ‘N’ Horse put a disappointing last start performance behind her when she produced a powerful closing burst to take out the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings.

There was definitely a catch in the voice of co-trainer Shaun Phelan as he described just what the victory of stable favourite Big Mike means to his family after he led all-the-way to win the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings.

Despite being delayed a week, the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as plucky mare Avantage made it Group One win number nine with a thrilling victory.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (20, Wanaka) has finished in second place at the Natural Selection Tour finals, held in the Tordrillo Mountains in Alaska.

A lot can change in a week and the misfortune of the races being abandoned mid program at Te Aroha has resulted in leading jockey Danielle Johnson picking up the plumb ride on Avantage in Saturday’s rescheduled Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are down to just one runner in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m), with five-year-old entire The Chosen One to represent the stable following the withdrawal of stablemate Quick Thinker with a minor setback.