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Star performer Orchestral won’t be over-taxed during her spring preparation, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood more focussed on longer-term targets with their stable star.

Liquid Les has become more like a family member than a racehorse for Craig Williamson, and the capable gelding will aim to collect a hometown success at New Plymouth in the Revital Fertilisers Open (1800m).  

Jon Miller will be represented by two decent prospects at New Plymouth on Saturday and he will also be keeping a close eye on Flemington.

Group One sire Vadamos will not shuttle to Rich Hill Stud for the upcoming 2024 Southern Hemisphere season. 

Belardo Boy will make the final step towards his defence of the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) when he contests Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.  

Matamata trainer Jim Collett is looking forward to heading south to Hastings on Thursday where promising juvenile Basel Warrior will make his debut in the PGG Wrightsons Livestock 2YO (800m).

Stratford trainer Tina Egan will head to New Plymouth on Saturday with Chajaba in the hopes that he can turn the tables on Justaskme in the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m).

Ellerslie’s newly developed StrathAyr track passed its first test on Monday since remedial work was undertaken following several slips on the surface earlier this year.

Caitlin Johnson has embraced the opportunity since entering into partnership with Fred Pratt over the past 18 months and the Hastings trainers are hopeful for a strong showing at their local meeting on Thursday.  

Glenn Old will head to Thursday’s Hawke’s Bay meeting with high hopes of a winning double.
The Matamata trainer will make the long trip south with the in-form Kaimai Queen and promising two-year-old Thankgoditsfriday, who has trialled well ahead of her debut.

There has been a changing of the guard at the New Zealand Equine Academy (NZEA).

Nominations for the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards, to be held at the Don Rowlands Event Centre in Cambridge on July 27, have been announced.