Matt Smith

Four months ago, Tim Williams was left with a difficult decision to make.

The city of Christchurch has been going a little Terror To Love crazy over the past few days.

The punt by a bunch of mates from Melbourne paid off in spades at Riccarton on Saturday.

Otago thoroughbred racing legend Brian Anderton was a satisfied man a matter of minutes after the Melbourne Cup yesterday.

Racing Matters by Matt Smith

It is not often a horse slipping could be the perfect build-up to a group 1 race.

The dash for cash is back at Forbury Park tonight, and one of the club's new committee members is tackling it with plenty of horse power.

Last year, we gave you the dummies' guide to New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. This year, Matt Smith has decided you have all graduated well past the dummy stage, and all you want are winners for the biggest week in New Zealand racing. So, here is a brief look at the major races (minus the trotting and pacing free-for-alls) coming out of Addington and Riccarton from Saturday.

Who Shot Thebarman might be in the biggest race of his life today, but his North Taieri-based ''mum'' likely has more important matters on her mind.

Berenice is bouncing back to form, but whether she can topple a leading 3yr-old filly at Motukarara tomorrow is the big question mark for her co-trainer, Michael Pitman.

A TOUCH of Dexter Dunn magic helped John Bartlett earn his first training win, with Verdun, at Forbury Park last night. 

It has worked for Jag's Invasion, and Dwindle Mist is the next trotter who could benefit from a move to Nathan Williamson's Ryal Bush stables.

The marquees are going up, the horses are getting primed for race day - now all the Otago Racing Club needs on Melbourne Cup day next Tuesday is fine weather.