New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 09/12/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, December 09

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

PUKEKOHE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.7  KHAN HUNTER  ($4.85 with BoomBet)

Track specialist, KHAN HUNTER is in career-best form of late and looks a genuine chance of bringing up the hat-trick today. Last start, he made it two-from-two on this track when he clobbered them in a BM75 Hcp over 2100m. The Mongolian Khan gelding eventually settled in the box seat, then on straightening, the gaps appeared and he quickly dashed through to take over and went on to win in a romp, putting 2.5 lengths on them over the line. Ideally drawn today in gate four, he maps to take a similar path here and already a three-time winner at the track and distance, he should prove hard to beat again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.4  ADAM I AM  ($2.30 with Ladbrokes)

Glenn Old saddles-up ADAM I AM here who is unbeaten this time in and looks poised to make it three-in-a-row today. Two starts back, he made short work of his maiden win when he put five lengths on the 11-strong field over 1200m at Matamata. Then last start, he stepped-up to the 1400m trip and was just as impressive, crossing the line 2.5 lengths ahead of his rivals that day. Jasmine Fawcett was aboard for both of those victories and has the reins again today. Drawn in gate seven here, he maps to settle better than mid-field with cover and looks set to continue on his winning way today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.3  MAGAWA  ($6.10 with BoomBet)

The O’Sullivan & Scott-trained MAGAWA has had three starts for this stable now and looks ready to produce his best today. Last start, the Burgundy gelding was third-up off a lengthy 38-week absence when he beat all but one home in a BM65 Hcp on a Heavy 9 at Tauranga. Back on top of the ground today, he draws well in gate seven and maps to settle near mid-field with cover. Fitter for those three runs back and under new guidance, he can give this contest a real shake today.

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.7  MANIFIQUE  ($3.20 with Palmerbet)

The Peter Didham-trained MANIFIQUE is high flying this time in and is well placed for back-to-back wins today. Last start, the Savabeel mare was second-up when she destroyed her rivals in a BM75 Hcp over 2000m at New Plymouth. With Michael McNab having his fifth ride on the mare, he had her settled worse than mid-field on the fence where he played the waiting game and it paid off handsomely. On straightening, the gaps came and McNab took full advantage of it. Steering the mare through, she grew another leg and sprinted away from the 11-strong field to put 4.5 lengths on them, with plenty to spare. Up a little in grade today, she is ideally drawn in gate six where McNab will most likely have her settled in a similar spot to her last run. Even fitter after those two runs back, she is already a track and distance winner and will take a ton of beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.2  RUSTY LANE  ($5 with Neds)

The Niall Quinn-trained RUSTY LANE is third-up here and in good touch since resuming, can go on with it in this contest. Last start, the Atlante gelding did well to beat all but one to the line in a BM75 over the mile at Riccarton. Drawn wide that day (12 of 16), Joe Doyle was forced to push forward and eventually was left in front, one off the fence. He fought like a caged tiger all the way home and was beaten just half a length on the line. Doyle sticks with him today and from gate 10, he will have to apply similar tactics here. Fitter for two runs back, he looks a major player in this field.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 9:  No.4  NEREUS  ($5.50 with Ladbrokes)

The Ritchie & Murray-trained NEREUS is second-up today and looks a serious contender for the main prize in this contest. Resuming from a 19-week spell, the Savabeel gelding did well when coming from behind to finish a close-up third in a BM65 Hcp on a (rare) Firm 2 at Ruakaka. Opie Bosson sticks with him here and in the big field, a good start will be vital as they jostle for early positions. He won second-up last preparation and has success over the journey as well. With a trouble-free run here, his track debut could turn out to be a winning one.