Matt Smith

Fields are still to be confirmed and dresses are still being bought (or cleaned from last year’s carnival), but the favourites are becoming clearer for  New Zealand Cup week in Christchurch....

''Melbourne next year!''

Sentiment can sometimes overrule the eye.

As reminders go, Franco Nelson's front-running Kaikoura Cup win yesterday was a pretty handy one just a week out from the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Alley Way might be well up the rankings for the Dominion Trot next month but his place in the 3200m trot is still no sure thing.

Pat Collins' first winner as a trainer at Oamaru yesterday was hard to miss for a couple of reasons.

Tony Willetts has a perfect strike rate with West Melton trainer Tony Prendergast.

Waikouaiti trainer Amber Hoffman has the ideal going-away gift for departing jockey Toni Direen.

Tomorrow's Tuapeka Cup at Forbury Park has deja vu written all over it.

The Oamaru Jockey Club meeting abandoned yesterday has been rescheduled for Labour Day.

The name of Doug Gillespie’s trotter is Don’t Look Back, but it is impossible not to look to the past when Gillespie tells you about his mare’s breeding.

The promise of a ''lovely track'' has encouraged Ashburton trainers Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy to bring a team of developing stayers to the Oamaru Jockey Club meeting today.

Brad Williamson has forged his reputation with the trotters, but the pacing trainers have been giving him plenty of chances in his first season as an open driver.

Canterbury trainer Cran Dalgety was feeling pretty chipper about Mighty Flying Mac’s prospects in tomorrow’s Methven Cup.

Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight would prefer to bring up their next milestone sooner rather than later, before they head into "David Butt" territory.

It is easy to tell when visiting trainers and owners to Forbury Park haven’t won a race for a while.

The Forbury Park Trotting Club has been granted an extra race date next month.

A change in tactics at yesterday's Wingatui jumpouts proved Step Inside Love is more than just a one-trick pony.