Another week into spring and there's more great racing in store, though, from a southern perspective, it will be impossible to top last weekend with Patrick Erin winning the Metropolitan.
It was a brilliant win on many levels - an emotional one for his owners, the Smith family, and one that vindicated the Anderton stable suggesting he could foot it with the best in Australia.
It would be an equally emotional victory should Savvy Coup win the Livamol Classic at Hastings tomorrow, given what the Pitman family has been through recently.
The race heads my list of 10 weekend highlights ahead:
The Sires Stakes heat at Addington, 6.49pm tonight.
Up-and-coming 3yr-olds clash in the first South Island heat of the Sires Stakes series.
Global Domination was brilliant last time at Addington, but his greenness is a major worry for him at this level. There is hype about Major Coo, but he has drawn 9. Heisenberg has the draw, but will need to lift.
The Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington, 7.20pm tonight.
The best trotting field of the season so far contains six last-start winners. Many of them have returned from spells and won first-up.
It promises to be an enthralling clash featuring Great Things Happen, Marcoola, Harriet Of Mot and Destiny Jones, but tough to pick.
The Canterbury Classic at Addington, 8.21pm tonight.
This is simply a star-studded field of New Zealand Cup-bound pacers.
Cup favourite Ultimate Machete has been a naughty boy, botching the standing start of two of his three recent trials. He cannot afford to be too slowly away against stars such as A G's White Socks, Dream About Me and Eamon Maguire.
The Guineas Trial at Riccarton, 2.30pm tomorrow.
It is game on again between flying fillies Emily Margaret and Wekaforce.
The draw has again favoured Emily Margaret, but will be less of a factor as the fillies step up to 1400m. That is a distance I think Wingatui 3yr-old William James will relish and he will give them plenty to think about.
The Hawke's Bay Guineas at Hastings, 2.50pm tomorrow.
Melt evokes memories of her classy and fast dam, Ticklish. Here's hoping Melt can continue to show the brilliant speed her mother was known for when she steps up to 1400m for the first time this campaign.
The Gold Chip Final at Ascot Park, 3.48pm tomorrow.
Will the real Davey Mac please stand up. He showed us what he is capable with a brilliant fresh-up win to qualify for this race. But the Phil Williamson-trained trotter has never been consistent. If he is at his best he will win.
The rating 72 1400m race at Riccarton, 4.15pm tomorrow.
Otago's most promising horse, The Precious One, returns for her first start as a 4yr-old. She meets a handy line up of middle-grade sprinters, but she is quite handy herself.
The Livamol Classic at Hastings, 4.35pm tomorrow.
New Zealand's premier spring could go to a southerner. Savvy Coup was brilliant behind Melody Belle in the Windsor Park Plate. She has been set for this race and will be extremely hard to beat.
The Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, 6pm tomorrow.
Wonder mare Winx is going to give this lot an absolute flogging. And we are all going to enjoy it.
The Bart Cummings at Flemington, 7.20pm tomorrow.
This race is not packed with stars but the winner could become one, as victory in the Bart Cummings will clinch a start in the Melbourne Cup. Avilius is a worthy favourite on his Sydney form.
The field includes two horses by Otago sire Raise The Flag, in Yogi and Chequered Flag.
