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Donovan Cooper may have only been in New Zealand for a little over six months, but it’s already become home for the expat South African.

Awapuni jumps jockey and trainer Shaun Fannin enjoyed a successful outing in the saddle at Woodville on Sunday, a hot run of form he hopes can continue heading into the AHD Hawke’s Bay Hunt Raceday at Hastings this Saturday.

Trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley are hoping third time’s a charm with Tru Planet when she heads to Cambridge on Wednesday.

Riccarton’s all-weather track has provided Megalomaniac with a lifeline he has grasped with all four hooves.

Stakes placed mares Jodelin Gal and Miss Cartier will have points to prove when they go head-to-head in the open sprint at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Darryn Weatherley is eyeing an Australian spring raid with a couple of his stable’s leading lights, including Group One winner Pier.

Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up Tuchel won Sunday’s HK$3.9 million Gr.3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.

Having ridden bareback on the East Coast since he was a child, Ngakau Hailey has always felt at home on the back of a horse, and he is enjoying turning that passion into a career.

A change in venue proved fruitful for Cleese on Saturday, with the local galloper taking out the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2000m) at Cambridge.

After two unlucky runs during the Queensland Winter Carnival, accomplished Kiwi-bred gelding Ucalledit has returned to New South Wales and turned his form around in Saturday’s Listed Drinkwise Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Super Strike delivered a special and particularly satisfying win at Randwick on Saturday for the expat New Zealand father-son duo of Richard and Jason Collett.

Kicking off a new campaign at Caulfield on Saturday after four months off the scene, highly promising New Zealand-bred gelding St Lawrence wasted no time in making his mark.