Rockhampton Preview & Best Bets - Friday March 31
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday April 1
New Zealand Tips 01/04/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Awapuni and Avondale Racecourses and gives his best bets.
AWAPUNI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 6: No.1 SHAMUS ($3.80 with bet365)
The Allan Sharrock-trained SHAMUS is second-up today and his resume suggests he will take a ton of beating here. Last start, the Shamexpress gelding came off a 10-week break and did everything but win the Jennian Homes Lightning Hcp, taking home second prize on the day. He looked home for all money but was grabbed right on the line by Maria Farina (who had a 6kg weight advantage). They clash again here today with Shamus meeting her 1kg better and better at the starting gates as well. He is also three from three at the track and unbeaten in two starts over the 1400m trip. Opie Bosson has his first ride on the galloper while last-start rider Craig Grylls rides stablemate, Tavattack who could very well make up the quinella here. Unbeaten in two previous second-up appearances, and a track and distance winner as well, Shamus stands out here today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.1 TROBRIAND ($2.20 with bet365)
Mark Walker saddles-up TROBRIAND here who is yet to miss a podium finish and without his stablemate (Tokyo Tycoon) to worry about today, looks set to bounce back to the winner’s circle. Last start, the Kermadec colt had to settle for second prize as he watched Tokyo Tycoon whizz passed him and take out the Group 3 Matamata Slipper over 1200m, remaining unbeaten in five starts. He did, however, finish three lengths ahead of the rest with Opie Bosson on board. The 1400m today looks ideal for him and now five starts into this campaign, he will be rock-hard fit for the contest. Ideally drawn in gate two, he maps to box-seat on settling and Bosson is sticking with him. No stablemate to fear today, he should give these something to chase.
AVONDALE
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.3 CANNY MAN ($8.50 with Unibet)
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott saddle-up a couple here as we run with CANNY MAN who looks the better placed in this contest. Last start, the Preferment gelding made the podium for the third time (in four starts) this preparation when he covered plenty of ground but still managed to take home third prize in a BM75 over 1400m at Tauranga. Making his run before the turn, he was four and five wide, then took the turn via the cape, eight horses off the fence and still ran home strongly to grab that minor prize. He sees the Avondale track for the first time today but is yet to miss the podium in four starts over the 1400m trip. Ideally drawn in gate four, he maps to settle mid-field nearer the fence with cover today and rock-hard fit after four runs this time in, he looks a genuine winning chance at great each-way odds.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.6 GRACE ‘N’ GLORY ($11 with Ladbrokes)
The Mark Brosnan-trained GRACE ‘N’ GLORY has come good at the right time and looks primed for a big effort here today. Last start, the Shamexpress filly turned it all around when at her seventh race start, she broke through for her Maiden win over the mile on a heavy track at Tauranga. Settling back in the field, Masahiro Hashizume gave her a dream run to the turn where she moved up, took over and then gave them a galloping lesson, going on to win by three lengths on the line. Hashizume sticks with her today and if she can repeat that last-start performance, she wins this with a leg in the air. Certainly well worth an each-way ticket.
