Stephen Marsh has made a habit of excelling at this stage of the season with his emerging two-year-old talent, and the Cambridge trainer is hoping to continue that trend in Saturday’s Listed TAB Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Robbie Patterson has already won twice as many Group and Listed races in 2023-24 as any other season in his career, and the New Plymouth trainer has three chances to add to that tally at Riccarton on Saturday.

Andrew Forsman will be chasing several repeats of history with seven runners across the two features events at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Boom filly Estriella has opened a dominant favourite for next weekend’s $1m Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

Fraser Auret couldn’t find any reason not to send his ultra consistent filly Race Ace south to chase down a deserved black-type victory.

Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall were rapt with their treble at Arawa Park on Wednesday, and they are hoping they can continue that winning form into the rest of the week.

Up and coming staying prospect Investigate promises to give another bold account of himself at Ellerslie on Saturday in what is likely to be the final appearance of his current campaign.

Wairarapa gelding Times Ticking has an affinity with the South Island, and he will be looking to extend that record when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday.

New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar secured the seventh black-type win of her career in Saturday’s Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Otaki, and this one meant more than most.

Talented filly No Rain Ever has yet to fully convince connections that she can be effective over more ground, and she will have the opportunity to bury any doubts on that score at Riccarton.

Antrim Coast continued his upward Derby trajectory on Saturday, despite having to settle for second in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield.

Manawatu horsewoman Gail Temperton has experienced a stellar month, which got even better on Saturday when her homebred mare Royal Flower attained black-type when placing in the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham.

The rise of promising sprinter Platinum Attack continued at Trentham on Saturday, claiming his fourth win on the bounce in The Oaks Stud Premier (1200m).

An impressive performance in Saturday’s Stella Artois (1600m) at Pukekohe capped a breakthrough autumn for Billy Lincoln, who has strung together three successive victories over the last five weeks.