Sunshine Coast Preview & Best Bets - Friday October 7
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday October 8
New Zealand Tips 08/10/2022
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Hawera and Matamata Racecourses and gives his best bets.
HAWERA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.5 SECRET AMOUR ($4.50 with Neds)
New Plymouth galloper SECRET AMOUR is second-up here and in great touch of late and looks a genuine contender in this event. Last start, the Niagara mare came off a 13-week spell when she beat all but one home in Open company over 1340m at Wanganui. This assignment is a little tougher but she placed third in the Group 3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park three starts back so she has runs on the board for an event of this nature. Other boxes ticked show she is a three-time winner over the journey and a two-time winner when second-up. Ideally drawn in gate two, she looks right in the mix for a victory here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 4: No.5 SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT ($4.80 with Unibet)
The Mark Walker-trained SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT is second-up here and conditions looks ideal for her to show up in this contest. Last start, the Rip Van Winkle mare resumed from a lengthy six-month break when she finished near mid-field (but beaten just two lengths) in a BM75 over 1200m at Ruakaka. Lisa Allpress is legged aboard for her first ride on the on the four-year-old. She meets similar company here and fitter for that first-up effort she can play a role in this event.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.8 INMYSHADOW ($5.50 with Ladbrokes)
Ashley Meadows saddles-up INMYSHADOW here who has won three of his past five starts and is more than capable of taking out this event. Last start, the Ferlax gelding failed again when second-up when finishing down the track in Open company over 1800m at New Plymouth. He steps-up to a more suitable distance here and will strip even fitter after two runs in this preparation. After the claim here, he carries 2kgs under the limit with just 52kgs on his back. He sees the Hawera track for the first time here and should play a leading role at the finish.
MATAMATA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 9: No.10 IMPERATRIZ ($2.15 with TAB)
The Mark Walker-trained IMPERATRIZ came unstuck at Hastings after five-straight victories but looks well placed here to bounce back in the big event. Last start, the I Am Invincible mare was shooting for six-straight when she proved she wasn’t unbeatable, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. Never on the track, she travelled three and four-wide all the way and was beaten just over two lengths on the line. She draws much better here in gate three, giving Opie Bosson the opportunity to take a sit near the fence with cover this time. If she can secure this run, we will see a different mare out there this time.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.7 PERFECT SCENARIO ($5 with bet365)
Mark Walker saddles-up PERFECT SCENARIO here in search of black-type success and his current form suggests he will be hard to beat in this contest. Last start, the Iffraaj gelding drew the car park (gate 14 of 14) but still managed to take home third prize in an Open Hcp over the mile at Te Rapa. Due to the wide gate, he was taken back early and had to do it all from the rear of the field. Ideally-drawn here in gate two, he maps to be box-seating on settling and being much closer to the speed, he should prove hard to hold out this time.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.7 COTE DE BEAUNE ($15 with bet365)
Second-up here, the Mark Walker-trained COTE DE BEAUNE should appreciate the return to the 1200 metres and with conditions to suit, looks poised to bounce back in this contest. Last start, the Burgundy gelding was fresh off a lengthy 19-week absence when he found them a little too slick in a BM75 over 1100m at Taupo. He settled near last that day and couldn’t make up the ground in time. Here, his resume shows he is a three-time winner over this trip and is already a winner when second-up. With a trouble-free run, he is capable of giving this field a real fright at (currently) double-figure odds.
