Rockhampton Preview July 7 - Friday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Preview July 8 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Tips 08/07/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Te Rapa and Awapuni Racecourses and gives his best bets.
TE RAPA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 2: No.2 MARTELL ($4.20 with Bet Right)
The Jim Collett-trained MARTELL is third-up today and looks set for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the El Roca gelding improved enough off his first-up effort to easily account for his own age group, here over 1100m when making his Te Rapa debut. With Jasmine Fawcett back in thew saddle, he carried 57kgs and crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of them on a heavy track. That was Fawcett’s second win on the three-year-old and she sticks with him today. Already a winner over the trip and meeting similar company today, he looks the one to beat again.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.3 HIT THE SWITCH ($7.50 with bet365)
The J&R Vance-trained HIT THE SWITCH is second-up today and fitter for one run back, looks in the mix at odds here. Last start, the Power gelding was fresh off a lengthy nine-month absence when he beat all but one home in a BM65 over 1200m at Pukekohe Park. Drawn the outside gate (10) that day, Elen Nicholas crossed to settle outside the two leaders, three-wide. Turning for home, he was the widest runner (but the going was best there) and ran home strongly, doing his best work in the last 100m of the race. Both career wins have been over the 1400m trip so this contest looks ideal today.
AWAPUNI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.5 ROCABABY ($2.85 with BoomBet)
Anna Clement saddles-up ROCABABY here who is fourth-up today and looking the goods to crack it for her first win at the track today. Last start, the El Roca filly beat all but one home in a BM75, here over 1200m. That was her second run at the track, ending in the same result. The stable put her up in distance today with Bridget Grylls retaining the ride for today’s assignment. All three career wins have come on wet tracks so the forecast Heavy 10 looks ideal for chances of saluting today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.3 OLD TOWN ROAD ($3 with Bet Right)
Lisa Latta saddles-up two runners here as we run with OLD TOWN ROAD to get the job done today. Last start, the El Roca gelding made it a hat-trick of podium finishes when he finished a close-up third in Open company, here over 1100m with Jonathan Riddell in the saddle. After starting well, he lost his early spot and was last on the turn. Riddell swung wide but soon after ventured back near the fence looking for a run. He finished solidly to pick up the bronze medal, doing his best work late. The step-up to 1400m today looks ideal for him and already a winner at the track, with Riddell remaining aboard, he looks a genuine contender in this contest.
