New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 04/05/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, May 4

Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Riccarton and Te Rapa Racecourses and gives his best bets.

RICCARTON

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.12  THE MISTRESS

Robbie Patterson saddles-up THE MISTRESS here who is third-up today and looks ready to pounce. Last start, her efforts really caught the eye when finishing fifth (of 16) in a BM75 over an unsuitable 1400m. She drew the car park, jumping from the outside gate and was never on the track. Covering more ground than Bourke & Wills, she took the home turn eight horses off the fence and while no chance of winning, she was finishing stronger than any other in the run home, beaten less than three lengths on the line. Already a winner when third-up and a winner over today’s journey, she looks hard to hold out in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.1  STAR BALLOT

Team Pitman saddle-up a couple here who both dominate the market as we run with STAR BALLOT who looks to have the edge in this contest. Last start, the Tarzino gelding jumped from the outside gate and missed the start by two lengths, settling last in the 11-strong field. Spotting the leaders a dozen lengths, Lisa Allpress asked him for an effort nearing the turn and he gave plenty, getting up to win on the line, beating home his stablemate (Tomyturbo). The pair clash again today with both having to carry more weight. Allpress sticks with him here and meeting similar company, he can go back-to-back.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.5 AMBERECHO

Third-up today, AMBERECHO boasts track specialist status here and looks well placed to strengthen those claims in this contest. Last start, the Echoes Of Heaven mare was second-up when she placed third in a BM82 over 1400m at Wingatui. The trip proved (yet again) a little too far for her but she fought on well to finish on the podium. Back to her pet-distance today, she has placed four times from five previous third-up appearances and five of her six career-wins have come over the 1200m trip. After the claim today, she carries 7kgs less than last start, which is 1.5kgs under the limit for this event. From gate six, she maps to settle near the speed and with that small weight to carry, she may take beating here at good odds.

TE  RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.2  SUPER PHOTON

The Stephen Marsh-trained SUPER PHOTON was outstanding on debut and looks right up to this contest today. Last start, the Super Seth colt had his first race start and couldn’t have been more impressive as he destroyed his rivals in the 1150m Maiden at Arawa Park. Ridden a treat by Joe Doyle, he box-seated on settling before crossing heels where he soon after took over and put more than three lengths on them in the run home. Michael McNab is the new pilot today as he draws ideally in gate three and maps to be box-seating again. The extra distance should be ideal for him (based on his easy first-up win) and he looks the one to beat here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.2  SHAMUS

Team Murdoch saddle-up SHAMUS here who resumes off a 13-week spell today and boasting a strong fresh record, looks right in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Shamexpress gelding ended his last preparation by finishing (a distant) second behind Ifndoubtgetout (who put 10 lengths on them). Whilst convincingly beaten that day, he still finished the best of the rest and was gallant in defeat. His first-up record is glowing with three wins and two minor placings coming from his five previous fresh appearances. Four of his six career-wins have come on wet tracks so the conditions here today are ideal for him. Jasmine Fawcett steers the ship today as the five-year-old gets the gun-run form the inside gate. This is his first run for the Murdoch camp and with a trouble-free run today, he will take beating here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.13  FRANCEE

Down in the weights here, FRANCEE is second-up today and looks well in contention for a shot at the major prize. Last start, the Iffraaj mare was fresh off a nine-week break when she flew home to grab third prize in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1200m. She drew gate 16 that day and settled back near the rear of the field. Never on the track, she straightened-up closer to the outside fence and while never a winning chance, did a mighty job to grab that podium spot in the end. Warren Kennedy sticks with her today where she draws much better in gate seven. The four-year-old steps up to the 1400m today where she is already a two-time winner. The extra distance here looks the biggest selling point for her in this contest and with a clear run to the line, she looks right in the mix today.