Tony Pike is confident Golden Century can realise his full potential over ground and his opinion has been endorsed by a major international player.

It may have only been a nose at the finish but it might as well have been a mile for trainer Shelley Hale after Blue Sky At Night took out Saturday’s Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m).

Raging hot favourite Snazzytavi more than justified the torrent of support she received in the final minutes of betting prior to Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), the feature event for the fillies and mares at Te Rapa.

Top mare Snazzytavi is ready to kick off her summer campaign, which will revolve around further Group One weight-for-age opportunities.

Wind of Change was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Ellerslie on Thursday just in the nick of time ahead of her looming trip across the Tasman.

Bold front-runner Witz End is likely to be seen in a different role in Saturday’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Victory has eluded Gold Currency by the narrowest of margins in the early stages of his career, a trend Shaun Phelan hopes he can change on Friday at Tauranga.

Lynda German has been a familiar figure in harness racing industry for much of the past two decades, but she went back to her thoroughbred roots at Ellerslie on Saturday, securing her first winner as a trainer with Steely Man.

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will plot a path towards the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with their promising three-year-old Interplanetary, who put his staying prowess on display at Te Aroha on Sunday.

While all eyes are on New Zealand-bred gelding Ka Ying Rising ahead of Sunday’s Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), his compatriot Flying Ace has made a late bid to cause an upset in the Sha Tin feature.

In Hong Kong, Christmas comes early for racing fans, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosting their International Races at Sha Tin each December.

A new face will launch her New Zealand riding career this week, with apprentice Nichola Yuen set to ride at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Ellerslie.

Cambridge Stud mare Dazzled was bound for the broodmare paddock this year, but after failing to get in foal, she is making a big impression on the track with a powerful victory in the NHR Group 1300 at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The decision to move the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) to a new position on the calendar has worked wonders for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who has now won both December runnings of the Wanganui feature.