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

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, February 3

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

WINGATUI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.1  HAKADECREE 

The Terry Kennedy-trained HAKADECREE hasn’t missed a beat in four career starts and looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the War Decree gelding came off a win in Open company when he beat all but one home in the Listed Gore Guineas over 1335m. Now four starts into his racing career, he should be at his peak for this assignment and has Joe Kamaruddin sticking with him today. Already a two-time winner on his home track, if he can cross early and find a sit with cover, he should hitting the line hard in the run home and prove hard to hold out today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.2  EMANON 

Lionel Dobbs saddles-up EMANON here who is has been in top-shelf form of late and looks well placed here to go on with it today. Last start, the Burgundy mare fell just short again when she beat all but one home in Open company over 1200m at Gore. Beaten to the line by Henry Hubber, they clash again here but the five-year-old mare meets him 2.5kgs better today after a long neck defeat at Gore. Drawn in gate five, she maps to lead on settling and should take catching here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.4  SESTINA

The Jo-Anne Dalton-trained SESTINA is high-flying this time in and looks in good stead to bring up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Lonhro mare made it two-straight when she clobbered a 12-strong field in a BM65, here over the mile. On a Heavy 10 that day, Samantha Wynne rode her a treat as she crossed the line almost four lengths clear of them. Wynne has now steered her to all three career-wins and will be shooting for a fourth in this contest. From gate three, she maps to settle near mid-field and in career-best form, she looks poised to win again.

NEW PLYMOUTH

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.5  SHAMUS

The Allan Sharrock-trained SHAMUS is third-up today and stepping up to his pet distance here, he looks set to return to the winner’s circle. Last start, the Shamexpress gelding was second-up and had no luck when finishing mid-field in the Group 1 Jr & N Berkett Telegraph over 1200m at Trentham. Unable to secure a clear run, Ryan Elliot was caught up in traffic all the way to the line and did well to finish within two lengths of the winner that day. Drawn out today, he should manage to avoid the clutter on the inside and find clean air a lot easier here. Elliot sticks with him and fitter for two runs back, he should prove hard to hold out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.11  NEPHETI

The Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray training team saddle-up NEPHETI here who has shown great promise in two career starts to date and looks set to lay down the gauntlet here. Last start, the Charm Spirit filly was sent out a white-hot favourite ($1.50) and didn’t let her supporters down as she easily accounted for a 1600m Maiden at Hastings. Sitting just behind the pace most of the way, Michael Mc Nab eased her off heels and in the run home, finished far too good for them, crossing the line 1.5 lengths clear, eased over the final 50m. Fitter for two runs in, the 1800m shouldn’t pose any problems for her today as McNab remains in control. Ideally drawn in gate two, she maps to settle in the first half-dozen and with a clear run to the line, she should prove hard to hold out today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.15  DUBAI DIVA

The Stephen Marsh-trained DUBAI DIVA secures a start here (after early scratchings) and looks right in the mix for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Pride Of Dubai mare surprised punters when she took out a BM75 Hcp over the mile at Trentham when sent out at double-figure odds. She settled mid-field and simply finished too strong for her rivals, beating home the 16-strong field by more than a length on the line. Sam Spratt returns for her second ride on the five-year-old and will look for a sit just behind the pace from barrier eight. She has a podium finish in Group 3 company behind her already and looks well-weighted here. Now five starts into this preparation, she will be at her peak today and looks well worth an each-way ticket in this contest.