Townsville Preview & Best Bets – 06/10/2023
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 07/10/2023
New Zealand Tips for Saturday, October 07
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Hawera & Matamata tracks and gives his best bets.
HAWERA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 6: No.1 DARCI LA BELLA ($2.90 with Ladbrokes)
Allan Sharrock saddles-up DARCI LA BELLA here who ticks enough boxes to suggest she will take beating in this contest. Last start, the Darci Brahma mare was second-up when she beat all but one to the line in Open company over 1200m at Awapuni. Ploughing through Heavy 10 conditions that day, she did well to finish as close as she did that day. Craig Grylls returns to pilot the mare here who will strip fitter for those two runs back. Placed twice from three third-up appearances, she is a winner at Group 3 level and looks the best of the day.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.4 COGNITO ($5.10 with BoomBet)
Matamata-based galloper COGNITO has shown plenty of promise to date and second-up here looks a serious contender for the main prize. Last start, the So You Think gelding came off a six-month break when he beat all but one home in a BM75 over 1100m at Taupo. He finished strongly that day and appears to have plenty of upside. Michael McNab is the pilot here as he sees the Hawera track for the first time. He finished runner-up when second-up last preparation and fitter for that first-up run, he looks in the mix here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.9 ELCHEIKHALI ($8.60 with BoomBet)
The Lisa Latta-trained ELCHEIKHALI is second-up here and looks a good chance of taking this out at odds. Last start, the Sweynesse mare was fresh off a five-month absence when she beat all but one home in a BM65 over 1200m at Waverley with Lily Sutherland in the saddle. She has drawn wide here but is already a winner when second-up and boasts a win at the track and distance as well. Sutherland sticks with her here and a trouble-free run could see her fight out the finish.
MATAMATA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 2: No.2 LUBERON ($1.85 with BoomBet)
The Lance Noble-trained LUBERON is a promising type who is second-up here and looks a strong of going back-to-back in this contest. Last start, the Embellish filly was resuming after 10 months off the scene and showing no signs of fatigue, beat home a BM65 field over 1200m at Te Rapa. Warren Kennedy boasts a 25% success rate with the Noble stable and sticks with the filly for this assignment. Fitter for that first-up run, this little lady has speed to burn and should prove hard to hold out again.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.3 MAHRAJAAN ($5.60 with BoomBet)
The Richie & Murray training partnership saddle-up MAHRAJAAN here who has improved after two starts this campaign and looks ready to pounce all over this contest. Last start, the Kitten’s Joy gelding was second-up when she beat all but one home in the Kerikeri Cup over 2200m at Ruakaka. He sees the Matamata track for the first time here and fitter for those two runs back, looks set to figure in the finish again. Already a winner when third-up, he has also saluted over this distance and looks a good investment at ‘current’ market prices.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.6 SASSYNESS ($7.60 with BoomBet)
The Andrew Forsman-trained SASSYNESS is third-up here and down in grade, looks a genuine chance at taking out this event. Last start, the Sacred Falls mare struggled in the Heavy 10 conditions when second-up, she finished unplaced in a BM75 over 1600m at New Plymouth. She has drawn a tricky gate today (12) and will need a little luck to find a sit with cover as Warren Kennedy takes his first ride on the four-year-old. Fitter for two runs back, she has found the podium in five of her 12 starts to date and the extra ground here just might do the trick. She looks right in this at odds today.
