The Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) is looming large on the horizon for exciting mare It’s Business Time, who will step out as a $1.85 favourite for Saturday’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) at Riccarton.
Andrew Forsman is stepping his stable star Mustang Valley back down in distance for her first Australian assignment of the season.
Last season’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) winner Desert Lightning kicked off his four-year-old season with a slick performance in Saturday’s Dunstan Horsefeeds (1200m) at Pukekohe.
Pre-race indicators all point to another high-class performance from Prowess in her delayed introduction to the Melbourne spring carnival.
Riccarton trainers Anna Furlong and Shane Kennedy are looking forward to tackling stakes company once more with Second Thought when they head to their home meeting on Saturday.
Stablemates Burn To Shine and Deels Done loom as top chances at Riccarton where conditions on Saturday will be nigh on perfect for the Stephen Marsh-prepared duo.
It’s a long trip from Riverton to Riccarton but travelling up with two stakes contenders and a Group One performer made it a little easier for Kelvin Tyler.
Highly Vindicated was rewarded for his consistency when breaking through for his maiden victory in the MacMillan Accountants 1560 at Arawa Park on Thursday.
Luberon will bid to complete a hat-trick of wins on Saturday and remain undefeated this preparation ahead of her spring grand final at Riccarton next month.
Vague continued her great association with Gore on Wednesday when taking out the Aon Insurance Brokers 1800, her third triumph at the Southland venue.
Stephen Autridge believes he has his quartet of fillies bang on for the Gr.2 Jamieson Park Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, but whether all four gain a start is another matter.
Allasera has been a boomerang horse for Trent Yesberg and the Rangiora horseman isn’t complaining one bit.
