Jonny Turner

In a year of unknowns, Spankem is set to offer punters some certainty when he seeks redemption in the New Zealand Cup at Addington today.

Victorian owners Merv and Meg Butterworth will take winning form into the New Zealand Cup after enjoying success at Ascot Park yesterday with Prince Envy.

It will be a case of the calm before the storm at Ascot Park tomorrow as the nation counts down with its final meeting before the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday.

Driver Ricky May received the biggest thrill of his comeback to race driving when Stylish Memphis won the group 3 Southland Oaks at Ascot Park yesterday.

Finding a good position in the first 100m of today’s Southern Supremacy Stakes at Ascot Park will be crucial for home-town hero Pembrook Playboy.

The New Zealand Cup awaits Robyns Playboy after he scored back-to-back wins in the Tuapeka Cup at Forbury Park yesterday.

Junior driver Ben Hope’s winning trot continued at Oamaru yesterday with Easy Pickings.

Steve added to 90-year-old Oamaru owner Gordon Martin’s five decades of harness racing thrills when winning at Winton yesterday.

The only thing left to debate after Nathan Williamson won with Pembrook Playboy, Chinese Whisper and Ragazzo Mach at Ascot Park on Saturday was which performance was most impressive.

New Zealand Cup contender Robyns Playboy’s standing start manners will be key to his chances of winning the ‘‘Battle of the Playboys’’ at Ascot Park today.

Driver Samantha Ottley pulled off an astonishing win with Bonnie Boy at Forbury Park last night after being jolted out of her sulky and going within millimetres of crashing to the track.

It will be as if nothing has changed if trainer Graeme Anderson’s colours are seen in the winner’s circle at Forbury Park tonight.

A New Zealand Cup week target awaits Wingtui mare Raise Your Sights after her impressive win at Ascot Park yesterday.

The equine Racing Minister led the way for his political namesake when scoring an overdue and deserved win at Winton yesterday.

Missing a plane to North America continued to pay dividends for Classie Brigade as he continued his brilliant run-in to the New Zealand Cup by winning yesterday’s Hannon Memorial.

Canterbury pacer A G’s White Socks will be out to buck a trend when he steps out in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru tomorrow.

The road to the winner’s circle has been a long and challenging one for trainer Paul Andrews, but he finally made it when Tad Lincoln won yesterday.

Classy 4yr-old Pembrook Playboy earned himself a shot at the big leagues with a highly impressive effort to down a classy field at Winton yesterday.

The wait is finally over. Southern sensation U May Cullect is back.

Talented but quirky mare Chookie’s Girl headed a home-track treble for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton at Wingatui yesterday.