Wingatui jockey Toni Direen could get her season kick-started on Princess Brook at Riccarton tomorrow - but the win could mean a whole lot more for the southern breeding scene.
ODT racing writer Matt Smith with his weekly take on the racing scene.
Mach Banner is up to 15th on the New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings thanks to his solid September form.
Ken McFarlane chuckles when he explains he worked for the legendary horseman, Cecil Devine, but was never allowed to drive Lord Module.
Thorn Majic is poised to strike at Winton today as she steps up in distance against her maiden rivals.
Conditions were far from suitable to qualify a trotter at the Forbury Park trials yesterday, but there was no stopping The Jinja Ninja.
The Forbury Park Trotting Club meeting scheduled for Friday has been abandoned due to insufficient nominations.
She might be by a pacing sire and is out of a pacing-bred mare, but Xmas Joy Belle has finally found her place in the trotting ranks.
A lot has changed in the last 12 months for the What Ever Syndicate, but one thing has remained constant - Franco Ledger is still a very fast horse.
Anthony Butt has sat behind plenty of open-class pacers in his time.
Jumps racing might be treading water in the South Island in particular, but how good was the Great Northern Steeplechase on Saturday?
Alcairn trainer Danny Frye chuckles when he hears the suggestion his daughter might consider herself an improvement on King Filou's previous jockey when she jumps on board at Ashburton today.
The success of the world championships in Auckland earlier this year has rubbed off on Dunedin BMX hopefuls preparing for the club's open day at Forrester Park on Sunday.
Anzac Star made a successful return at his first public appearance since last year, but how he came through the gallop at the unofficial trials at Wingatui yesterday will determine his next move.
The students are invading Wingatui - and they're showing a clean pair of heels in the process.
Four Starzzz Flash is the big mover in the New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings after his Maurice Holmes Vase win at Addington last Friday.
A nod to the formative years of thoroughbred racing in Otago has spurred the Otago Racing Club into action ahead of the South Otago-themed race meeting at Wingatui later this month.
Leighton Hest might take a bit longer to get to peak fitness this season, but his Waikouaiti trainer, Andrew Faulks, is just happy to have him back.
Hi Gun, the winner of this year's winter claimers' final at Forbury Park, has been retired - for now.
The Fiery Ginga trotted his way to a sub-2.00 mile rate win at the Forbury Park trials yesterday ahead of his clash against Stig at Addington on Friday night.
