The Northlanders came to town at Tauranga on Saturday and played a starring role, headed by a quinella for Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs in the $50,000 Mills Reef Wines Open (2100m).

Promising three-year-old Lupo Solitario followed up his stylish victory at Te Rapa last month with an even more impressive display to beat his age-group rivals over 1300m at Tauranga and remain unbeaten in two starts to date.

Quality four-year-old Warsaw has been sold and will continue his career offshore.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will have a number of runners heading to Tauranga and Rotorua this weekend, but he is wary of potential heavy rain headed for the regions.

Impressive debut winner Lupo Solitario has been the subject of major buyer interest but will continue his career in New Zealand this season.

Talented mare Cork will return to stakes company on Saturday in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni, following her successful southern mission last month when recording another stakes placing.

There's a family tradition for Chrissy Bambry to uphold in Saturday's Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) with talented filly Chantilly Lace but the Foxton trainer also has the bigger picture in mind.

Matamata horseman Kurtis Pertab will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with just the one runner, but he is quietly confident one is enough to bring home a winning cheque.

Underrated mare Shelbyrock’n carried the colours of her home province to an upset victory in the main event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m).

Trainer Tina Egan was hard at work on raceday at New Plymouth on Saturday but was looking forward to getting home and celebrating the win of her stable star Chajaba, who showed plenty of determination to take out the open 1200m event on the card.