British Horseracing Authority CEO Nick Rust believes the six-day shutdown of racing was necessary to get a “clear picture” of the equine flu outbreak.

The countdown is on for places in the inaugural All Star Mile at Flemington with voting approaching its final days.

The popular Tom Melbourne has been confirmed as a rival for stablemate Winx in her return in the Group Two Apollo Stakes at Randwick.

With two-year-old Jedastar taking on weight-for-age company in the Lightning Stakes, apprentice Chris Caserta has been booked to ride her at 44kg.

Terbium will attempt to keep his unbeaten record intact when he lines up in a 1300m-race at Sandown.

The Craig Widdison-trained Cash Crisis has produced an elevated TCO2 reading in a pre-race blood test at Sandown.

Champagne Stakes and Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon is to stand at Kooringal Stud in the NSW Riverina for an introductory fee of $11,000.

Tabcorp is expected to announce further sponsorships after linking with the Brisbane Racing Club.

The British Horseracing Authority has announced racing will resume as scheduled in the UK after a six-day shut-down because of equine influenza.

British horses have been cleared to race in Ireland following an outbreak of equine flu, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has confirmed.

The British Horseracing Authority will soon clarify whether scheduled fixtures at Southwell, Plumpton, Musselburgh and Kempton will take place on Wednesday.

Paul Innes has announced he will retire as the Australian Jockeys Association’s chief executive but will remain chairman of the National Jockeys Trust.

Co-trainer Tom Dabernig is hopeful either More Sundays or Mickey Blue Eyes can win the race named in honour of his late grandfather at Flemington.

Pat Webster is pleased with Happy Clapper heading into his race return in the Apollo Stakes after an enforced ban because of a bleeding attack.

Ben Melham has been confirmed to ride unbeaten colt I Am Immortal in the Blue Diamond while Luke Currie has been booked for Lyre in the $1.5 million race.

The speedy Mr Marbellouz will tackle open company at Doomben after trainer Kevin Kemp opted not to run him in a Class Six Plate.

The Group One Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Flemington signals the return of Godolphin sprinter Osborne Bulls.

Trainer Adam Trinder believes Mystic Journey still has improvement to come from her latest win in Hobart and will be spot-on for the Australian Guineas.

The Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington has attracted 15 nominations including Group One winners In Her Time, Sunlight and Written By.

The BHA has announced four cases of equine influenza identified in vaccinated thoroughbreds at Simon Crisford’s Newmarket yard.

The Darren Hyde-trained Westlink and Sons Of Bourke from the Clint Lundholm stable are the first two qualifiers for the Country Championship final.

Triple Group One winner Trapeze Artist will miss the Apollo Stakes which signals the return of Winx for her next, and most likely, final campaign.

Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite is set to have her first start for her new stable, Lindsay Park, in the Group Three Vanity at Flemington.

Karaka Million winner Probabeel is to have her next start in the Group Three Magic Night Stakes in Sydney on her way to Group One races.

The rising value of stallion Spirit Of Boom’s stock has again been highlighted by the win of Boomtown Lass at Doomben.

Star filly Sunlight is set to return in the Lightning Stakes, chasing her second Group One win after taking out the Coolmore Stud Stakes last spring.

Multiple Group One-winning jockey Damian Browne says he will exhaust all avenues before making a decision on his riding career after a health scare.

So far no more horses have tested positive for equine influenza in Britain, which Sky News reports was the same strain that shut down Australian racing in 2007.

Trainer Ben Currie’s plan to get Sword Of Justice into a race with a light weight paid off when the gelding won at Doomben.

Avilius has returned from finishing down the track in the Melbourne Cup with an impressive win in the T S Carlyon Cup at Caulfield.