New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 09/03/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, March 9

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

ELLERSLIE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.4  CAPTURED BY LOVE

The Walker & Rogerson Team saddle-up CAPTURED BY LOVE here who is unbeaten in four starts and looks on track to remain that way today. Last start, the Written Tycoon filly kept the picket fence (alongside her name) building when she clobbered her rivals in the Group 2 Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m at Matamata. She is going from strength to strength with every start and looks well placed here with the fillies weight advantage over the boys. Warren Kennedy rode her to victory on debut and returns to steer the ship once again. Parked just behind the speed here, she should get first crack at them and will prove hard to run down.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.6  ASTERIX

The O’Sullivan & Scott-trained ASTERIX has struck form at the right time and looks set to grab the glory today. Last start, the Tavistock gelding surprised a few when he saluted in the Group 2 Avondale Cup over 2400m with Lynsey Satherley aboard for the first time. The stable were happy with the performance and have booked Satherley for today’s assignment. The winner of last year’s Group 1 NZ Derby, he is unbeaten at Ellerslie with both victories coming at the 2400m trip. He draws well in gate seven today and maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. Satherley has already stated she will play the ‘waiting game’ and ride with patience today. All going according to plan, he should be thereabouts on straightening and looks a huge chance at going back-to-back here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 1:  No.5  KLAIRELLE

The Stephen Marsh-trained KLAIRELLE is in great touch this time in and looks well placed here for another victory today. Last start, the Savabeel mare came off a BM65 win at Te Rapa when she came within a whisker of another victory, beating all but one home in a BM75 over the mile at Tauranga. She steps-up to Open company here but has enough runs on the board to suggest she will handle the challenge here. Sam Weatherley has been aboard for her past four runs and steers the ship again today. Seven career starts to date have resulted in two wins and four minor money finishes, missing a podium finish just once so far. Making her Ellerslie debut today, she can finish it off with a win in this contest.

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.4  THE CHOPPER

Robbie Patterson saddles-up THE CHOPPER here who has improved greatly in his three career-starts and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the son of The Bold One made it third time lucky when he broke through for his maiden win over the 1600m trip at New Plymouth. Craig Grylls rode him a treat that day, box-seating on settling and just proved too good in the run home, crossing the line 1.5 lengths in front of them. With Grylls riding at Ellerslie today, the stable have locked in apprentice, Ciel Butler who boasts a 27% success rate with the Patterson stable and brings a 2kg claim with her today. The four-year-old should in peak condition after those three runs to date and although up in grade here, he still looks the one to beat.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.10  TERRA PRETA

Allan Sharrock has a handy mare on his hands with TERRA PRETA lining-up here in top-shelf form and looks set for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Proisir mare was third-up and on heavy ground when she took out a BM65 over 1400m at New Plymouth. With Sam Spratt aboard, she sat second (on the fence) and stalked the leader to the turn. Spratt then gave her a nudge and she took over, then fought off the challenges and crossed the line ahead of them in a gutsy win. She steps-up in grade today but is dropping 3kgs as she comes in just half a kilo over the limit. Due to Ellerslie commitments, Spratt is unavailable, and we have Kate Hercock as the new pilot today. Ideally drawn in gate three here, she maps to be box-seating and will take a ton of beating with the light weight.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.3  IDYLLIC

The Kevin Gray-trained IDYLLIC is well seasoned and in good touch this preparation and looks well up to taking out this contest today. Last start, the No Nay Never mare made it three-straight podium finishes when she took home third prize in a 1200m Open Hcp at Otaki. Settling outside the leader, she had the job of taking the field up for the challenge and fought like a caged tiger in the run home, beaten a whisker in a four-way photo finish on the line. Drawing wide (in gate 9) could see her cross and take a sit behind the speed today which just might turn out to a blessing ass she drops back in grade here. Chris Dell is the new pilot and with a trouble-free run here, the mare looks a good chance of avenging that unlucky last-start defeat.