Shaun and Hazel Fannin may be without their star jumper Jesko this year, but Fourty Eight may fill that void following his impressive win in the Dr John D. Moore Memorial Open Steeplechase (3800m) at Wanganui on Sunday.

Cambridge mare Churchillian left her rivals in her wake when claiming her second victory at stakes level in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Promising staying mare House Of Lords relished the quick backup when successful in the Corvette For Cancer Handicap (2200m) at the standalone Bendigo meeting on Saturday.

Palmerston North horseman Stephen Gray hasn’t been to Riccarton in more than 23 years, and he is hoping he can make a winning return this weekend.

Shaun Fannin has dominated the New Zealand jumps jockey ranks in recent years, but he is now passing on the baton after confirming his retirement from riding over fences.

Palmerston North trainer Lisa Latta will have a busy next few days as she gets set to tackle stakes assignments at three different venues.

Rugged stayer Crouch may well have earned the right to put an Australian stamp in his passport with a typically dogged effort to claim the headline event on the Otaki card on Saturday, the Listed NZ Punter Of The Year @ HB Spring Carnival Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).

Awapuni stayer Crouch will bid to capture an elusive stakes victory this weekend before he readies to head across the Tasman to test his talent in Melbourne next month.

There is a changing of the guard at the Cambridge stables of Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray as veteran gallopers Mahrajaan and Nereus have been retired, paving way for the younger generation to take centre stage.