The Central Western town of Wellington is ready to come alive this week with their Wellington Boot Carnival one of the biggest social occasions of the year.

The Central Western town of Wellington is ready to come alive this week with their Wellington Boot Carnival one of the biggest social occasions of the year.

Group One-winning trainer Cydne Evans recorded her first win since moving to Waverley three years ago when Stringline took out the Riverstone Café Handicap (2100m) at Otaki on Monday in the hands of Kozzi Asano.

Quality mare Town Cryer performed with distinction in her first appearance at Ellerslie and trainer Roydon Bergerson has every reason to expect another bold showing there on Saturday.

Another North Island mission beckons for Prince Alby after the classy stayer headlined a treble of victories for trainer Kelvin Tyler and apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper at Wingatui on Sunday.

Southern sprinter Our Echo showed his northern rivals just how good he can be when he sat wide throughout before holding off a host of challenges to win Saturday’s Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham.

It’s not lost on trainer Brett Robb that most expect his promising galloper Gallant Star to stamp himself as one of the horses to beat in next month’s Newhaven Park Country Championships Final when he steps up to qualify at Coonamble on Sunday.

Phantom calling races in his childhood bedroom is a key memory for Justin Evans, and he is pinching himself that he is now able to live out his lifelong dream of being a race caller.

Robbie Patterson will be soaking up the atmosphere at Caulfield on Saturday but acknowledges his stable’s best chances of success this weekend lies on the home front.

The New Zealand Oaks run at Trentham on Saturday is often a very good guide as to whether the fillies will go on to be good stayers.

Fresh off Orchestral’s dazzling display in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie last Saturday, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will head back to the Auckland track this weekend hoping to add another feature scalp to their record.

A difficult search for a lightweight jockey for Waisake in Saturday’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) led Allan Sharrock to look to the south.