The first appearances of an unusual number of well-bred first starters has taken some of the focus from the National Apprentices race at Doomben.

A capacity field of 16 plus four emergencies has been declared for the Group One Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.

Australian Cup winner Harlem will try to add another Group One win when he heads to Rosehill for the Ranvet Stakes.

Connections of Lord Fandango will watch the weather forecast to decide whether he runs in the Manion Cup in Sydney or instead contests the Mornington Cup.

Trainer Tony Gollan’s young daughter Jamieson is proving a good luck charm and he hopes it will rub off on Ef Troop in the Golden Sipper.

Victorian racing identity Bill Vlahos has pleaded not guilty to 350 charges stemming from his collapsed betting syndicate.

Suncraze has qualified for the Country Championship final with a last dash at the line to win the Scone heat.

The Golden Mile at Bendigo shapes as the likely return for Vengeur Masque who is expected to have a light autumn campaign.

Snitz is likely to trial at the Gold Coast rather than run at Doomben as he prepares for the NSW Country Championship final.

Hawkes Racing and the connections of Chautauqua are hoping the gelding can pass the first of two barrier tests in a trial at Cranbourne.

Queensland jockeys Wayne O’Connell and Shannon Apthorpe have been disqualified after testing positive to cannabis at a Toowoomba race meeting.

Tony Gollan has won his third Listed Goldmarket Handicap with a horse he was going to sack only three months ago.

Sovereign Nation has appreciated a drop in class in the Listed March Stakes, narrowly getting home over Theanswermyfriend in a blanket finish at Flemington.

Levi Kavanagh is looking for black-type success with Soho Ruby after the mare scored a narrow victory in The Curragh Racecourse Handicap at Flemington.

Comin’ Through has enhanced his prospects as a lightweight chance for the Doncaster Mile, pipping stablemate Tom Melbourne in the Ajax Stakes at Rosehill.

Humidor has taken out the Blamey Stakes at Flemington for Darren Weir while stablemate and favourite Tosen Stardom finished at the tail of the field.

Unforgotten has staged a form reversal to take out the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill.

Olympic champion Chloe Esposito will return to Hungary for training after a day out soaking up the Australian sun at the autumn racing carnival at Rosehill.

Two-year-old Khulaasa has landed a valuable stakes win at her third start but her co-trainer David Hayes believes the filly has plenty more to offer.

Veteran sprinter Dothraki has won the Group Three Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill on protest.

Sunlight remains favourite for the Golden Slipper after her all-the-way win in the Magic Night Stakes but is being challenged by Written By.

The Darren Weir-trained Quilista has sprinted to victory in mares’ grade at Flemington, dropping in class after a midfield finish in the Oakleigh Plate.

Japanese sprinter Ittetsu has suffered a career-threatening leg injury at the Canterbury quarantine centre.

Plans to tackle the NSW Country Championships with Mediterranean have been shelved after the gelding bled in his Gold Coast win.

Winx has put in a pleasing race day gallop at Rosehill ahead of her next visit to the track for the George Ryder Stakes.

The John Sargent-trained Luvaluva has finished strongly to win the Group Three Kembla Grange Classic for three-year-old fillies.

Shumookh is eyeing her first black-type win in the Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill after Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott switched her from the Coolmore Classic.

An encouraging comeback, handy draw and favourable track conditions combine to boost Chris Waller’s confidence in Egg Tart ahead of the Coolmore Classic.

Hellova Street has earned a crack at the Blamey Stakes with his trainer Scott Brunton excited to test the top Tasmanian galloper in the Group Two race.

A tendon injury has forced the Kim Waugh-trained Uptown Lad out of the Provincial Championship final at Randwick.