Modest purchase Bella Carolina has proved herself to be an exceptional investment for Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison.

Shane Crawford has shown plenty of patience with promising four-year-old Wallen, and that approach seems to be paying off, with the son of Tarzino having placed in his first three starts.

With a rail-skimming ride aboard Campionessa in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), comeback jockey Matt Cameron completed a feature double at Pukekohe on Saturday that marked his best day back in the saddle.

In a contest largely focussed on glamour mare Babylon Berlin, talented entire Sacred Satono made the most of his six-kilogram weight advantage to storm home in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) on Saturday at Pukekohe.

Almost all of the spring’s brightest two-year-old talent gathered at Pukekohe on Saturday for New Zealand’s first black-type juvenile race of the season, but it was the unbeaten filly Velocious who soared above her contemporaries and dominated the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) brings together four of the six winners of two-year-old races in the North Island so far this season, and Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is hoping to see his runaway debut winner Poetic Champion rise to the occasion in the star-studded Pukekohe clash.

Classy grey mare Aromatic will attempt to follow in the footsteps of a former stablemate when she returns to Pukekohe on Saturday to defend her title in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

Luck has never seemed be on the side of talented mare Bonny Lass, but co-trainer Graham Richardson is hoping her time in the spotlight nears after a standout performance at the Taupo trials on Wednesday.

Ben Foote enjoyed an outstanding first session at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale and he’s got the firepower to continue the party at Pukekohe.

Progressive galloper Uderzo made the best possible start to a new campaign when he powered through the heavy underfoot conditions at Tauranga to claim a comfortable victory in the Tauranga Hardware Plumbing Handicap (1200m).

Chad Ormsby has been preparing two-year-olds for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale for the last decade and he believes he will be offering his best draft at Karaka next week.

The two-mile distance is a step into unknown territory for most Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) contenders every year, but Nest Egg’s trainer Stephen Marsh has more confidence than most that his runner’s stamina will shine through at Riccarton on Saturday.

Highly regarded filly About A Girl will continue her career in Australia from the champion Sydney stable of Chris Waller.

Mali Ston will have several factors in his favour when he chases a comeback victory at Riccarton in the feature event on Wednesday’s card.