Lux Libertas kicked off her campaign in July as a maidener and on Saturday she will be given the opportunity to prove herself in Open company for the first time in the Financial Services 1300.

Stephen Marsh has nine three-year-olds still nominated for either the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) or Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month, and six of them will contest Group races during the Labour Day long weekend.

Tony Pike will have his two talented fillies, Raziah and Archaic Smile, chasing age-group crowns within 10 minutes of each other this Saturday at Riccarton Park and Ellerslie.

Promising filly Acapelago will face her sternest test to date when she heads north to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).

New Zealand’s darling of the turf Orchestral is set to cross the Tasman this week to tackle the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Multiple Group One winner Mustang Valley has joined her mother in the Windsor Park Stud broodmare band with both set to visit the Cambridge farm’s new stallion Paddington.

Inglewood Stud is in the running to defend its title in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

Donavan Mansour has defied the odds and has made a winning return to the saddle after a five-year absence as a result of what was deemed to be a career-ending injury.

Andrew Forsman always intended to aim Positivity at Saturday’s Gr.3 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington, but the Cambridge trainer has been caught off guard by what his rising star stayer has already achieved this spring.

Truth Or Dare’s performance in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday is set to give Te Akau Racing an indication of whether they have a Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) contender on their hands.

Talented mare Casino Princess has been retired from racing.