New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday December 10

New Zealand Tips 10/12/2022

Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Awapuni and Te Rapa Racecourses and gives his best bets.

AWAPUNI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 9:  No.2  KING OF HEARTS  ($5.50 with Unibet)

Tom Russell saddles-up KING OF HEARTS here who is second-up and should be ready to play. Last start, the Jakkalberry gelding came off a nine-week break and in need of the run, finished down the track in an unsuitable 1400m contest at Otaki. He overraced that day and weakened out of it just after straightening. He finished third here three starts back in a BM65 and meets similar company this time as well. Already a winner when second-up, Leah Hemi is back in saddle and has tasted success previously on the galloper. He maps to settle near mid-field under cover and with a trouble-free run, he should be there at the finish.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  SERGIO  ($8.50 with Palmerbet)

The Chrissy Bambry-trained SERGIO is in good touch after three starts back and looks in line for another top performance here. Last start, the Swiss Ace gelding came off a second-up win at Hastings when he found it tough going, finishing fifth in the Listed Levin Stakes at Otaki. He drops back to Open company here and has Sarah O’Malley back for her second ride on the five-year-old. Rock-hard fit after three runs back, he is a two-time winner at the track and from an ideal draw in gate two, he lines up here as a major player at odds here.

TE RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.1  SINARAHMA  ($2 with Unibet)

Second-up here, the Allan Sharrock-trained SINARAHMA has the right boxes ticked and looms as the best of the day. Last start, the Darci Brahma mare resumed off a lengthy seven-month break when she came within a whisker of taking out the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes, here over 1600m. Slowly away, she was caught up on the fence and turning for home, Craig Grylls had to ease her back, then cross heels before securing a clear run. But by that time the favourite (Prise De Fer) had set sail for home and hung on to outlast the big finish from the mare. Already a two-time winner when second-up, she draws well in gate two and if she can avoid a similar issue here, she looks the one to beat.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.10  DRAGON QUEEN  ($10 with Palmerbet)

The Matamata galloper, DRAGON QUEEN, is third-up here and should be ready to produce her best in this contest. Last start, the Sweynesse mare was second-up when she beat all but one home in a 1300m Hcp on this track. Here, she steps-up to the 1400m where she is a two-time winner. Yet to win at Te Rapa, she has collected second prize on three occasions and gets her chance to go one better in this event. Ideally drawn in gate three, she maps to settle in the first half of the field and with a clear run to the line, her race fitness should have her challenging for the major prize here at (currently) each-way odds.