The words of champion New Zealand driver Tony Herlihy were ringing in the ears of James Rattray when his Inter Dominion dream turned into a nightmare yesterday.

New Zealand punters are stepping away from their usual stance of avoiding short-priced favourites around Who Shot Thebarman.

It might have taken until 4.00am yesterday and quite a few beers before the McKay camp and owners Paul and Cushla Smithies finally settled on taking Puccini to Sydney.

After a day of pacing gloom, the New Zealand heroics came from a forgotten star at Menangle.

Thousands of harness racing fans turned out last night at Alexandra Park for the first 10 races kicking off the Auckland Cup Week carnival.

Hems are being lowered, headwear embellished and pocket squares ironed as New Zealand's best-dressed racegoers prepare to strut their stuff tomorrow.

With a number of national and regional competition wins between them Anna Campbell and her daughters Claudia and Eleanor have nailed the art of racewear.

Battles already won and lost at Alexandra Park could play a major role in Venus Serena justifying her red hot favouritism for tonight's $125,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks.

One of the largest crowds of the Blues' season is expected tonight to kick off another bumper events weekend for Auckland.

Matt Cameron's knee might be improving enough to ride Spellbinder in tomorrow's $750,000 TV3 NZ Derby at Ellerslie, but don't be surprised if he tells you he's dizzy.

Some of the country's best-known sports stars and business people have a stake in horse racing.

If Smolda is going to win the A$750,000 Inter Dominion Final on Sunday he is going to have to do it the hard way.

Donna Logan went into last year's NZ Derby with Habibi extremely confident and she was right.

Gai Waterhouse's leading Golden Slipper contender Law will step out at Rosehill tomorrow in what could be his final start before the juvenile showpiece.

Locharburn may be the most talented 3-year-old pacer in the country but that won't stop him being vulnerable at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.

Terror To Love's Menangle nightmare continues even before he gets on the plane to Sydney for Sunday's A$750,000 Inter Dominion Final.

Owning shares in a racehorse can cost just $10 a week, provide some heart-stopping moments and involve year-round social events.

Johno Benner has already had his luck with classy juvenile Vespa and it appears he's about to have plenty more.

The stakes have risen for this year's Auckland Cup festival, and racegoers have been told to expect higher-calibre racing, entertainment and hospitality.

John Morell is one of a rapidly dying breed - rural owners who train their own racehorse from a farm.

There are essentially two types of successful 2-year-old racehorses.

Mark Purdon could be excused for having a bit on his mind this week.

Fears the new Inter Dominion date will savage the Auckland Trotting Cup look set to be wide of the mark for the second year running.

The connections of Kiwi pacer Franco Nelson have turned their back on a shot at Inter Dominion glory.

Right on cue, a Kiwi-bred Inter Dominion heat trifecta.