New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 06/04/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, April 6

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

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.9  NEREUS

The boom four-year-old NEREUS is yet to miss a podium finish in seven starts and that doesn’t look like changing today. Last start, the Savabeel gelding made it three wins from his past four runs when he stormed home to grab the spoils in a BM75, here over the mile trip. Lumping 60kgs, Michael McNab settled him second last of the ten runners and nearing the turn, was spotting the leader a dozen lengths. He finished strongly in the run home to overpower them and grab victory on the line. He returns to the 2100m today which will suit him better and he drops 5kgs for his first crack at black-type racing. The runs are on the board and he will take beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.9  CAPTURED BY LOVE

The best of the two-year-olds clash here with the first four past the post in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes doing battle again. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson saddle-up three of the runners here as we run with CAPTURED BY LOVE who finished a close-up third behind odds-on favourite Velocious in the Sistema last start. Despite the small field of eight, the Written Tycoon mare settled back in the field and was never on the track, sitting three-deep without cover to the turn. Spotting Velocious six lengths as they straightened, she did a mighty job to finish just one length away from glory, taking home the bronze medal that day. The extra distance here looks ideal for her today as Craig Grylls is legged aboard (in place of Opie Bosson who is across the Tasman riding in Sydney today). Ideally drawn in gate three, the filly maps to settle closer to the speed and with a trouble-free run, she can finish the stronger and take home her first Group 1 scalp today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.9  VAL DI ZOLDO

The Tony Pike-trained VAL DI ZOLDO has had a nice preparation for this event and should now be ready to pounce. Last start, the War Decree mare made it consecutive podium finishes when she took home third prize in a BM75 over 2100m at Ellerslie. Michael Mc Nab was aboard for his eighth ride on the mare and after 200m, settled outside the leader without cover. The final 200m turned into a three-horse war with less than half a length separating them on the line. She has enjoyed four starts in preparation for this and should be at her peak today. McNab remains loyal to her and from gate one, she does no early work and maps to settle in the box-seat. A trouble-free run here should see her there at the finish.

PUKEKHOE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.5  HAT TRICK

The Tony Pike-trained HAT TRICK is unbeaten in three starts this time in and looks poised to score another picket for his fence in this contest. Last start, the son of Fastnet Rock completed the hat-trick when he beat home a BM75 field over 1400m on a Heavy 10 at Tauranga. He drew wide in gate nine (of 10), but still managed to cross and lead from barrier to box, passing the post almost a length clear in the end. He maps to lead here from gate four as he meets similar company today. Lily Sutherland is the new pilot and brings with her a 1kg claim. The four-year-old is going from strength to strength and looks the one to beat again today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.4  RUDYARD

Tony Pike saddles-up RUDYARD here who is in career-best form this time in and looks all set to go on with it in this contest. Last start, the Charm Spirit gelding came off a run of six-straight podium finishes when he had no luck in the small field of seven, taking home fourth prize in a restricted 85 Hcp over 1400m at Ellerslie. Settling third-last on the fence, he was bundled up in the run home and had to check off heels to find clean air which cost him dearly in the end. The 60kgs also played a role where he was conceding race-favourite (and eventual winner) Adam I Am 5.5kgs and was still finishing best over the final 100m of the race. He does no early work from gate two today and after Lily Sutherland’s claim, carries 4kgs less than last start. He is in this up to his eye teeth.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.11  XRATED

The Cambridge-based galloper, XRATED is flying high this time in and looks a good chance of going back-to-back today. Last start, the Rip Van Winkle mare came off consecutive runner-up finishes and finally broke through for her first win by taking out a Fillies & Mares Maiden over 1600m at New Plymouth. She is stepping up to BM65 company today but draws well in gate three and has Kozzi Asano as the new pilot for this assignment. Racing in great form this preparation, she can figure here at good odds.