New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 02/03/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, March 2

Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Ellerslie & Wingatui Racecourses and gives his best bets.

ELLERSLIE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.6  POUR THE WINE

The Team Williams-trained POUR THE WINE is unbeaten this time in and looks every chance of remaining that way after running out this contest. Last start, the Telperion mare brought up the hat-trick impressively when she destroyed her rivals in a 1200m Open company Hcp on this track. With Warren Kennedy enjoying his seventh ride (and third win) on the mare, she settled back in the field (spotting the leaders six lengths), but in the run home, Kennedy knew how much horse he had under him and passing the 200m mark, she exploded to the lead and went on to win by 2.5 lengths, eased over the final 50m. This a little harder but with that picket fence alongside her name at the moment, and at the weights here, she looks a genuine contender for the big prize today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  BONNY LASS

The Matamata-based BONNY LASS is a track specialist here and ticks all the boxes that suggest she is the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Super Easy mare was fourth-up and at her peak when she led from barrier to box to win the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Jumping from the outside gate (13), Craig Grylls had her crossing quickly and taking on the pacemaker role early. In the run home, she had plenty of fight left and held off the challenges to take home her first Group 1 victory. Now a multiple black-type winner, she is as fit as she can be with Grylls shooting for his sixth win on the mare today. She drops back to Group 3 company here and should find the task a little easier in the small field. Already a two-time winner at the track and distance, she looks set for back-to-back victories today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.2  PERICLES 

The Moroney and Gerard-trained PERICLES has won three of his past four starts and looks set to bring up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Rubick gelding made it back-to-back wins when he conquered the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes, here over 1200m. Sent out at the incredible odds of $20, he came from back in the field to take control inside the final 100m and go on to score a solid win. Carrying the number one saddlecloth that day, he covered the 1200m in a zippy 1:09.6. This is his hardest test to date but he has the runs on the board and has Billy Jacobson as the new pilot today. He does no early work from gate two so the extra distance shouldn’t be an issue. With a clear run to the line here, he can give this a real shake at odds.

WINGATUI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 9:  No.2  TURF WAR

The Samanatha Wynne-trained TURF WAR is third-up today and ticks all the boxes that suggest he can go back-to-back today. Last start, the War Decree gelding was ridden by Wynne herself and after a early battle, finally settled in the one, one. In the run home, the four-year-old gained the upper hand and fought on strongly to claim victory in the BM75 contest over the mile at Riccarton Park. The gelding has won three of his six starts since joining the Wynne stable and only has to overcome the wide draw here to be a serious contender the main prize today. If he can cross and settle in the first half-dozen with cover, he should prove hard to hold out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.10  SPARTAN

The Riccarton Park-based SPARTAN sees the Wingatui track for the first time today but with conditions to suit here, looks a real winning chance in this contest. Last start, the War Decree gelding led everywhere but where in counted, having to settle for third prize in Open company over 1100m at Riccarton Park. Now two-starts into this preparation, he will strip even fitter today and comes in on the limit, carrying just 54kgs for the assignment. The icing on the cake is he jumps from gate one and maps to lead them on settling. He has Diego Montes De Oca sticking with him and dictating the speed, he can pinch this today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.4  MADAM DUBAI

Team Anderton saddle-up MADAM DUBAI here who will be looking to bounce back from her disappointment at Ascot Park. Last start, the Pride Of Dubai mare was enjoying a career-best run when she failed to fire in a BM75 over 1200m. Sent out a firm elect at $2.70, she settled near last in the 14-strong field and with pace on up front, she never looked likely and only plodded to the line. That was here second start at the Ascot Park track where she is yet to find the podium. Ashvin Goindasamy is the new pilot today as the mare returns to Wingatui where she is unbeaten in two starts here. The four-year-old also returns to the 1400m trip where she is a winner and with a trouble-free run today, she can turn it all around right here at good each-way odds.