New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 11/05/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, May 11

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

ARAWA  PARK

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.2  CASINO PRINCESS

In good touch this time in, the Cliff Goss-trained CASINO PRINCESS has racked-up three-straight podium finishes this preparation and now looks ready to win. Last start, the Casino Prince mare again found one better on the day when she finished second in a BM75 over 1600m at Te Rapa. She has been up there since resuming and with three starts under her belt now, this contest looks all set for her today. She gets the gun-run from gate one and has a new pilot with Michael McNab jumping into the saddle. With a trouble-free run here, she can give this a real shake today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.5  FASHION ICON 

The Peter Didham-trained FASHION ICON is third-up today and ticks enough boxes that puts her right in the firing line for victory in this contest. Last start, the US Navy Flag filly wasn’t far away when finishing third in a Three-Year-Old Open event over 1340m at Wanganui. Not suited by the slow tempo, she still managed to find the front on straightening but faded out over the final 100m, settling for third prize on the day. She was clearly in need of that second run and already a winner when third-up, she should play a major role here at decent odds.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.3  IMPREVU

Janenne Dalley saddles-up IMPREVU here who is second-up and has the runs on the board that put her in the thick of things in this contest. Last start, the Irish-sired mare was fresh off a 10-week spell when she did enough to grab third prize in Open company over 1200m at Ellerslie. In the driving rain, she settled mid-field and railing like a greyhound, she looked a winning chance but the first two past the post found firmer ground out wide to keep her in check that day. Joe Doyle returns to steer the ship today and already two from two with the mare, will be looking to keep his unbeaten record with her intact. Already a winner when second-up and successful at the track and distance, she looks well worth an each-way ticket today.

NEW  PLYMOUTH

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.4  ORLOV

David Haworth saddles-up ORLOV here who is in career-best form of late and looks right in the mix today. Last start, the Sweynesse gelding was at peak fitness when he finished best to win a Restricted 90 over 2040m on a Heavy 9 at Wanganui. Kate Hercock steered him to victory at Trentham four starts back and returns today for this assignment. Ideally drawn in gate two here, he maps to settle just behind the speed with cover. In great touch this time in, his debut on the New Plymouth track today could be a winning one.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.7  BELLADONNA LILY

The Robbie Patterson-trained BELLADONNA LILY is three starts into this preparation and has shown enough to suggest she is a genuine winning chance in this contest. Last start, the Belardo mare was well ridden by Courtney Barnes when finishing second in a BM75 over 1400m at Woodville. Settling just behind the speed, she came wide on the turn and was doing her best work late, beaten just a length on the line, taking ground off the winner all the way. Today, she steps up to the mile for the fifth time, still in search of her first win over the journey. Ciel Butler rode her to victory three starts back and steers the ship for this assignment. Jumping from gate one today, she maps to be box-seating on settling and fourth-up, she should be at her peak now. Already a two-time winner at the track, she looks great value here and an each-way ticket looks the go today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.10  BETTERBEYOU

The Gavin Sharrock-trained BETTERBEYOU is in top-shelf form this preparation and looks a solid chance of going back-to-back today. Last start, the NZ-bred filly was third-up when she broke through for her maiden win at Hawera. Defying all the rules, she raced three-wide (without cover) the entire trip, and still went on to win comfortably by more than a length on the line with Ciel Butler in pride of place that day, steering the ship again. Ciel has been aboard for all five starts to date and remains in the saddle for this contest. The three-year-old steps-up in class today but gets the gun-run from gate one and should avoid being caught wide here. At her peak after four starts this time in, the half sister to Mr Brightside looks great value here and is well worth an each-way ticket today.