Unbeaten three-year-old December stamped himself as a galloper to watch over the next few months after taking the next step in his development at Wanganui on Saturday.

Black-type performer Flower Of Wanaka will depart from Chrissy Bambry’s stable early in the new year, but the Foxton trainer is aiming high during her final few weeks with the Burgundy mare.

Lance Noble’s Karaka stable has made a fast start to the season and the momentum promises to roll on to Pukekohe on Saturday with an in-form team of five to do battle.

A classic case of being in the right place at the right time led Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson to the stable door of Ace High.

Progressive galloper Uderzo made the best possible start to a new campaign when he powered through the heavy underfoot conditions at Tauranga to claim a comfortable victory in the Tauranga Hardware Plumbing Handicap (1200m).

Visits to Christchurch have been few and far between for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott during their decade-long training partnership, but the Matamata pair have two strong reasons for venturing south this weekend.

The two-mile distance is a step into unknown territory for most Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) contenders every year, but Nest Egg’s trainer Stephen Marsh has more confidence than most that his runner’s stamina will shine through at Riccarton on Saturday.

Highly regarded filly About A Girl will continue her career in Australia from the champion Sydney stable of Chris Waller.

Cambridge trainer Sam Mynott has enjoyed her first New Zealand Cup Week with stable star Imwonderfultonight and is hoping she can finish it with a bang at Riccarton on Saturday.

A three-time stakes placegetter over the last eight months, Not Guilty took the next step with a brilliant black-type breakthrough in Saturday’s Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton.

Lance Noble is hoping for a more routine race-day at Pukekohe Park on Tuesday, as he presents several top chances including Aquacade in the feature Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m).

Lance Noble is hoping for a more routine race-day at Pukekohe Park on Tuesday, as he presents several top chances including Aquacade in the feature Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m).

Seasoned sprinter Packing Rockstar has been a long-time performer for trainer Lauren Brennan, and the eight-year-old continued to show his class when scoring in the Flying Mullet Sports Bar 1400 at Tauranga on Saturday.

Promising filly Tonia’s Dragon produced a deserved maiden victory in the testing conditions at Te Aroha on Friday, scoring in the Donaghys Pro-Dairy 1180.