New Zealand Tips 06/05/2023

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

RICCARTON

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.2  PENVOSE LAD  ($3 with bet365)

The locally-trained PENVOSE LAD will welcome the home-track advantage today as he ticks enough boxes to get the job done in this contest. Last start, the son of US Navy Flag clobbered his juvenile rivals, putting almost four lengths on them in a 1000m sprint, here on a heavy track. Kavish Chowdhoory steered him home that day and sticks with him again today. He draws well in gate four and maps to lead them early. Fitter for two runs, he will take catching here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.2  CLASSIC DIVA  ($3.25 with BoomBet)

The Team Tyler-trained CLASSIC DIVA has found her mojo this time in and looks a serious chance to bring up the hat-trick today. Last start, she came off a win at Riverton in BM75 company over the mile when she franked that effort by destroying a similar field in her first win at this track, also over the 1600m trip. She settled mid-field that day, then in the run home, Kylie Williams asked her for an effort she obliged, putting more than three lengths on them across the line. The margin didn’t go unnoticed as she has 3kgs extra to carry here. Stepping up in trip today, she still looks the one to beat.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.5  BURNVUE  ($7 with bet365)

Lance Robinson saddles-up a trio of runners here as we run with BURNVUE who looks the most likely to take this out today. Last start, the Redwood gelding was second-up when finishing just behind the placegetters in the Listed Easter Cup, here over the mile. Having no luck at all in the run home, Lee Callaway finally found fresh air at the 150m mark where the seven-year-old came from last to finish ahead of all but the placegetters that day. Unbeaten in two previous third-up runs, he will strip even fitter today and back to the 1400m trip, he should prove hard to hold out.

TE RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.4  JOHNY JOHNY  ($2.50 with Palmerbet)

The Team Carter-trained JOHNY JOHNY is second-up here and will be out to break his Te Rapa hoodoo today by recording his first win at the track. Last start, the Charm Spirit gelding was fresh off a 13-week spell when he led from barrier to box in a BM82 over 1200m on a heavy 10 at Pukekohe Park. Showing no signs of fatigue, he put a space on them in the run home, crossing the line six lengths clear in the end. Jessica Allen sticks with him today and after her claim, the five-year-old carries 2.5kgs less than last start. Already a winner when second-up, he will be in his element with another heavy track to run on today and should prove hard to run down.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.9  POUR THE WINE  ($5.10 with BoomBet)

The Team Williams-trained POUR THE WINE has hit the ground running since resuming and looks a serious contender in this contest. Last start, the Telperion filly settled just behind the pace to the turn before easing out to mount a challenge. The three-year-old took the lead but was out-muscled in the run to line, and had to settle for third prize that day. Warren Kennedy steered her to second place two starts back at Pukekohe Park and returns for the ride here today. Ideally drawn in gate two, she maps to be box-seating on settling and with three starts under her belt this preparation, she should be rock-hard fit and should play a major role in this event.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.7  GLAMOUR TYCOON  ($7.50 with bet365)

Stephen Marsh has three gallopers representing his stable here and we have GLAMOUR TYCOON down as the best of his chances in this contest. Last start, the Written Tycoon filly made her racing debut on this track and impressed when she beat all but one home in the Two-Year-Old event over 1100m. Bridget Grylls had her box-seating to the turn and then had no luck securing a run under the tow leaders, having to ease back and cross their heels. She finished strongly in the end, finishing just a head from victory that day. With that run under her belt, she will line-up here a lot fitter and has Michael McNab in the saddle today. With a trouble-free run here, she can get the job done at odds today.