New Zealand Tips 12/05/2023

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.6  SPORTING CHANCE  ($4.60 with Bet Right)

Andrew Forsman saddles-up SPORTING CHANCE here who is second-up and ready to rock. Last start, the Dundeel gelding was fresh off a 10-week spell when he beat all but one home in a BM75 over 1500m at Pukekohe. He was wide most of the way and well back, giving them too much start but still finished off well to claim second prize. Drawn well in gate six here, Craig Grylls returns for his second ride on the four-year-old and with a trouble-free run here, he can get the job done in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.3  SHE’S A SHOWOFF  ($6.50 with Ladbrokes)

The Mark Walker-trained SHE’S A SHOWOFF is third-up here and conditions look ideal for her to stake serious claims for victory. Last start, the Showcasing mare was second-up off a lengthy six-month break where she finished just behind the placegetters in a BM65 over 1200m at Pukekohe Park. Jessica Allen sticks with her here and after her 4kg claim, the mare carries just 1kg more than last start. She is a two-time winner in heavy going and is also a two-time winner when third-up. Drawn nicely in gate four, she can figure here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.10  ENCHANTED ELLE  ($6.50 with bet365)

Third-up here, the Shaun Phelan-trained ENCHANTED ELLE has done enough this time in to suggest she can give this contest a real shake. Last start, the Jakkalberry mare improved a great deal on her first-up effort when she claimed third prize in a blanket finish at Hastings over 2100m. Third-up here, she is reunited with Michael McNab who has ridden her three times previously for two wins and a close-up second. She jumps from the middle of the pack here (after early scratchings) and maps to settle mid-field with cover. All four career wins have come on wet tracks so conditions here look ideal. Fitter for two runs back, she looks right in the mix here.

NEW  PLYMOUTH 

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.4  POW WOW  ($3.70 with Neds)

Cambridge galloper POW WOW found his mojo last start and looks set here for back-to-back wins. Third-up last start, he clobbered them in a BM65 over the mile at Pukekohe. With regular rider Sam Spratt aboard, the Power gelding led from barrier to box, putting three lengths on the 15-strong field while carrying 59kgs. Even fitter for three runs back, Spratt is in the saddle for his 11th ride on the six-year-old, having steered him to all three career victories to date. He maps to lead them (from gate six) and will take catching again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.1  ALJAY  ($2.55 with BoomBet)

Kevin Myers saddles-up top-weight ALJAY here who is unbeaten in two starts this preparation and looks primed to bring up the hat-trick here. Last start, the Rock ‘n’ Pop gelding came off a first-up win at Awapuni when he franked that effort by going back-to-back, winning a BM87 over 2100m at Hastings. Lily Sutherland had her eighth ride on him that day to records her third win on the galloper. She sticks with him here again as she lightens the load with her 2kg claim. All six career wins have come on wet tracks so the conditions here will be ideal for him. Already a two-time winner when third-up, he looks well in the mix again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.2  LIQUID LES  ($4.60 with Palmerbet)

The Craig Williamson-trained LIQUID LES has been knocking on the door for a win this preparation and with conditions to suit here, he looks ready to produce. Last start, the Echoes Of Heaven gelding came off three-straight podium finishes when he ran into trouble in the run home and dropped out to finish mid-field in the end in a BM65 over 1400m at Hastings. He was checked badly passing the 100m mark and had to be eased, ending all chances of another top-three finish. He meets similar company here with Lily Sutherland returning for the ride and after her claim, the six-year-old will carry 2kgs less than last start. With a trouble-free run this time, he is every chance of breaking the shackles here and bringing up career-win number two in this contest.