The powerful Te Akau Racing operation has celebrated six consecutive wins in the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), and it is no surprise to see an early tangerine tinge within the first month of qualifying races for the 2023 edition of the $1m race on January 21.

New Zealand Group 2 winner Xpression will do the rest of her racing in Australia after departing for Sydney on Monday.

Smart Hastings filly Xpression will be missing from Saturday’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham, but trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen have their Group One winner Wait A Sec on the verge of a return to racing.

Group One performer Xpression will contest the Hyslop Plumbing 3YO Premier (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday ahead of a tilt at Group One glory next month.

Leading Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) contenders Xpression and Melt once shared a paddock at Haunui Farm, but there will be no love lost between the star three-year-old fillies when they contest the Riccarton feature on Saturday.