Almost nothing has gone to plan this spring for Te Akau colts He Who Dares and Hostility, but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping for a change of fortune in the lead-up to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 15.

Trainer Mark Walker will have a two-pronged attack on the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, headed by last start Listed 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) winner Azazel, with lightly-tried McWoody also making the field.

Passiflora will provide her connections with a sound guide at Tauranga as to where she sits in the three-year-old pecking order.

Evaporate is in line for Golden Eagle honours after a narrow Group 1 defeat in Melbourne.

Rain, rain, go away – that’s the thoughts of many trainers around the country as the wet weather persists through the spring.

The rescheduling of Monday’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) to Saturday at Tauranga could rule both of Andrew Forsman’s pair out of a trip south for New Zealand Cup Week.

The rescheduling of Monday’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) to Saturday at Tauranga could rule both of Andrew Forsman’s pair out of a trip south for New Zealand Cup Week.

New Zealand-bred gelding Evaporate will be seeking to pick up the biggest cheque of his career when he heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m).

Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.

Trentham’s 1200m chute had posed a query for talented sprinter Ima Brazen One in previous starts, but that all changed when the mare made every post a winner in Sunday’s Rothley Sprint (1000m).

Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Chad Ormsby and Ben and Ryan Foote have plenty on their plate in the build-up to next month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, but the multi-talented Cambridge horsemen also made their mark on the racetrack on Saturday with victories in $65,000 open handicaps at Ellerslie.

The value of raceday experience and a touch of class saw two-year-old Out Of The Blue retain his unbeaten record when taking out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (800m) contest for the juveniles at Riccarton.

A two-pronged tilt at the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Monday is set to headline a busy weekend for the newest trainer inducted into New Zealand’s 1000-win club.