Clare Preview & Best Bets - Saturday, April 8
New Zealand Preview April 8 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Tips 08/04/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Pukekohe and Riverton and gives his best bets.
PUKEKOHE
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.3 ROCA FUNDEEDA ($4.80 with BlueBet)
The Dan Miller-trained ROCA FUNDEEDA is in career-best form this time in and looks the one to beat here. Last start, the Road To Rock mare beat all but one home in a BM75 over 1200m at Tauranga. She tried to lead all the way that day and fought on gamely to go down by just half a length on the line. Michael McNab returns for the ride today who steered the mare to consecutive wins at Cambridge and Wanganui earlier in this campaign. With a trouble-free run today, she can figure in the finish here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.15 MAZZOLINO ($10 with Ladbrokes)
The Stephen Marsh-trained MAZZOLINO has found form at the right time and looks right in the mix for a Group 1 trophy today. Last start, the Savabeel filly wasn’t disgraced when finishing fourth in the Group 1 Levin Classic over the mile at Trentham. She box-seated most of the way and fought on strongly to hold onto fourth prize that day. Ideally drawn here in gate three, she maps to be box-seating again as Craig Grylls sticks with her for this one. If the pace is genuine today, she gets first crack at them and at her peak, she can give this a real shake.
RIVERTON
BEST BET 🏆
Race 2: No.1 HENRY HUBBER ($3.20 with Neds)
Sally McKay saddles-up HENRY HUBBER here who is in red-hot form as he shoots for the hat-trick today. Last start, the Rip Van Winkle gelding came off a BM75 win at Gore and then franked that effort by beating home similar class at Ascot Park over the 1200m trip. Carrying 59kgs, he crossed the line 1.5 lengths clear of them that day and has just 1kg more for today’s contest. Diego Montes De Oca remains aboard after steering the four-year-old to three of his five career wins already. All five career wins have come over the 1200m trip and drawn nicely in gate four today, he will take beating here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.3 FIERY RED ($9.50 with Palmerbet)
The Sophie Price-trained FIERY RED is in great touch this time in and with conditions to suit looks a genuine winning chance at odds today. Last start, the Iffraaj mare easily accounted for a BM75 field over 1335m at Gore. Ridden a treat by Lee Callaway, she box-seated to the turn, then stuck to the fence as the run came and outsprinted the race-favourite (Adiktiv Passion) and crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of that mare. Callaway has tasted success with her on four occasions previously and has the job here again. Ideally drawn in gate four, she maps to settle behind the early speed and with a clear run to the line, she can give field a real fright at odds today.
