Kiwi three-year-old Bitcoin made a good impression at his Australian debut when winning the Brandt Maiden Plate (2000m) at Ballarat on Wednesday for new trainer Lindsey Smith.
Andrew Forsman has trained two previous victors of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in partnership with mentor Murray Baker, and he is hoping he can claim one in his own right at Te Rapa this weekend.
Australian jockey Andrew Adkins has answered the call of trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and will cross the Tasman next week to ride Jaffira in the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa.
Cambridge trainer Ben Foote was pondering a raft of options for his bonny mare Babylon Berlin on Sunday after yet another game performance with a familiar result.
Plans have been made for Asterix and Dragon Leap to cross the Tasman this year, but first the stablemates face ultra-competitive line-ups in their respective Group One engagements at Te Rapa.
