Sunshine Coast Preview & Best Bets - Friday March 3
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday March 4
New Zealand Tips 04/03/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Te Rapa & Wingatui Racecourse and gives his best bets.
TE RAPA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.1 SHARP ‘N’ SMART ($1.90 with Unibet)
The Team Rogerson-trained SHARP ‘N’ SMART has been set for this race and the indications are he will be very hard to beat. Last start, the Redwood gelding was second-up and went one better than his first-up effort by taking out the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, here over 2000m. With Ryan Elliot aboard, he jumped from the outside gate (11), and was trapped three and four deep the entire trip. Turning for home, he was still the widest runner but finished strongly to out-stay all of them and take the trophy home. It’s been a perfect preparation for the three-year-old who ha shown all signs he will run the trip out with little or no trouble at all.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.2 MAVEN BELLE ($3.10 with Palmerbet)
The Mark Walker-trained MAVEN BELLE has stamped her place in the racing ranks winning six of her eight starts to date and will take a ton of beating here. Last start, the Burgundy filly was shooting for the hat-trick when she took on some stiff competition in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint and wasn’t disgraced when finishing unplaced for the first time in her career, taking home fourth prize behind the very smart Imperatriz. Opie Bosson jumped ship that day to ride the winner but is reunited with the three-year-old filly here and has a perfect record with her, boasting three from three to this point. She will the Listed company here a lot easier to deal with and already a winner here, looks the one to beat in this contest.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 7: No.7 SAFURA ($7.50 with Ladbrokes)
Mark Walker saddles-up SAFURA here who is in good touch this time in and looks a genuine winning chance in this line-up. Last start, the Almanzor filly came off a hat-trick of podium finishes when she took on the might of Group 2 company and finished down the track that day in the D & K Ellis Fillies Classic over 2000m at Te Rapa. It was probably a little ambitious coming off a maiden win at Matamata but she gave her all in the contest, finishing sixth of the ten runners. She will find this event a little easier and has a victory over the 2000m trip already, making this an achievable goal. Opie Bosson is on board for the third time, still in search of his first top-three finish on the three-year-old. Placed at the track previously, she looks in the mix at odds.
WINGATUI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.1 ROMANCING THE MOON ($2.50 with bet365)
The Mark Walker-trained ROMANCING THE MOON has placed twice in as many starts in Listed company and looks the one to beat here. Last start, the El Roca filly gave her all when she beat all but one to the line in the Dunedin Guineas, here over 1500m. That was podium finish number six from nine career starts. Perfectly drawn in gate three, she maps to settle near the speed and could even be box-seating on settling. She has the runs on the board this preparation and will give this contest a real shake.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 4: No.5 AMBERECHO ($5 with Ladbrokes)
The Team Parsons-trained AMBERECHO is three starts back from a nine-week break and looks well placed here to figure in the finish. Last start, the Echoes Of Heaven mare was third-up when she beat all but one home over 1100m at Riccarton. She fought all the way to the line, beaten jus a length in the end with Kylie Williams aboard. He returns to the 1200m trip here where she is a three-time winner and on this track as well. Williams sticks with her for this challenge and ideally drawn in gate three, she looks right in the mix.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9: No.4 NORTIBUTNICE ($6.50 with Unibet)
Jamie Bullard saddles-up the promising NORTIBUTNICE here who is yet to miss a top-two finish in four career starts and is poised for back-to-back victories in this event. Last start, the Niagara mare broke through for her maiden win and did it in style as she put 3.5 lengths on her rivals that day, here over the 1400m trip and did it from gate 15 (of 16) as well. Kylie Williams remains aboard for this contest and nicely drawn in gate six, she maps to settle near mid-field with cover. This is a big jump in grade here as she steps-up to the mile trip for the first time as well. However, she does have the runs on the board and could easily get away with this contest.
