New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 09/09/2023

New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 20/04/2024

 

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, September 9

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

 

HASTINGS 

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.11  SLIPPER ISLAND  ($7.50 with Bet Right)

Tony Pike saddles-up SLIPPER ISLAND here who is in great touch this time in and looks a great chance at the weights in this contest. Last start, the No Nay Never galloper came off a second-up win at Cambridge and turned heads with a big finish at the same track when grabbing third prize in BM75 company over the longer 1550m trip. Coming from back in the field, he stormed home to finish less than half a length from the winner. Michael McNab returns for the ride today after steering the four-year-old to both his career wins to date. Ideally drawn in gate four and at his peak after three runs back, he should prove hard to hold out here.

 

NEXT BEST  🥈

Race 5:  No.4  CODIGO  ($7 with Palmerbet

The Stephen Marsh-trained CODIGO is fresh off a 14-week spell and looks right up to this contest today. Last start, the Ardrossan gelding made a one-off trip to Melbourne where he wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in a Two-Year-Old Hcp down the straight over 1200m at Flemington. He returns to his homeland tracks today where he last won the Listed Wellesley Stakes over 1100m at Trentham. Michael McNab is back aboard after steering him to his first two victories and with a trouble-free run here, he is certainly in the mix for another win today.

 

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 1:  No.6  GOOD OIL  ($7.50 with Ladbrokes)

The Andrew Forsman-trained GOOD OIL is second-up today and looking for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the French-sired gelding resumed from a lengthy eight-month absence when he led all the way in a BM65 over the mile at Te Rapa. Joined by several others on the turn, he found an extra gear and left the rest to fight over the minors as he crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of them. He steps up in grade here and faces the 2000m trip but already a second-up winner and fitter for that barrier to box win last start, he can dictate terms again in this contest and take home the major prize.

 

 

RUAKAKA

 

BEST BET 🏆

Race 1:  No.4  DANCING DREAM  ($3.60 with Palmerbet)

Local galloper, DANCING DREAM, has been bridesmaid in half of her ten career starts but with a change of luck here, can turn that all around today. Last start, the Contributer filly made it four-straight runner-up finishes when she beat all but one home in the Group 3 Breeder’s Stakes, here over 1200m. Tegan Newman returns for today’s assignment after steering the filly to a second-place finish two starts back. In her last two starts, she finished second to the very promising Crocetti (who is unbeaten in three starts) which is great form coming into this event. She looks set to break the run of outs today.

 

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.10  LET FLY  ($11 with bet365)

Sarah Worker saddles-up LET FLY here who is in top-shelf form this preparation and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. First-up, she beat all but one home in a 12-strong Maiden Hcp, here over the mile. Then, last start, the Raise The Flag mare finally broke her maiden status when she did enough to beat home a 10-strong field, also on this track over the same trip. She appears to be on the up and fitter for those two efforts, she can make it two-straight today. From gate five, she maps to settle near the speed and with a trouble-free run, she can give this contest a real fright at each-way odds.

 

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 5:  No.7  FONTEYN  ($12.20 with BoomBet)

The Ralph Manning-trained FONTEYN is a 1400m specialist and after four starts this time in looks ready to win again. Last start, the Swiss Ace mare suffered her first defeat at the 1400m when she finished third, here in Open company. Jasmine Fawcett is the pilot today and from gate seven, she may elect to take a sit (in lieu of leading) and with a clear run to the line, she gets the chance to make it six victories over the journey. Coming in on the limit here (with 54kgs), she looks a genuine winning chance and well worth an each-way ticket today.