Former New Zealand eventer Annabel Tuthill has added another string to her equine bow by taking out her thoroughbred trainer’s license.

Local trainer Lance Robinson holds a strong hand heading into Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is hopeful he can snare a couple of winners cheques on the nine-race card.

Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong will again target a black-type feature on their home track on Saturday with a pair of contrasting juvenile contenders.

Trainers Sophie Hargreaves and Naomi Murfitt will be on a fact-finding mission when they head to Phar Lap Raceway with Brancaster Bomber on Wednesday.

An autumn trip to Canterbury has turned out to be career-defining for Matamata mare Sassy Merlot, who added a valuable black-type win to her record in Saturday’s Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.

Having already secured a special place in South Island racing history through a career spanning more than four decades, it would be fitting for Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman to take a share of the spotlight during an exciting raceday on his home track on Saturday.