Mackay Preview & Best Bets – 12/04/2024
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 13/04/2024
New Zealand Tips for Saturday, April 13
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Otaki & Riccarton Park Racecourses and gives his best bets.
OTAKI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.7 ARIS ARIS
The Riccarton Park-based galloper, ARIS ARIS has her first look at the Otaki track today and second-up, looks a serious challenger in this contest. Last start, the Contributer mare was fresh off an 11-week absence when she beat all but one home in a BM82 over 1200m on a Heavy 10, in driving rain, at Tauranga. She steps-up to Listed company for her third attempt at scoring a podium finish but conditions today are heavily in her favour. Wiremu Pinn is the new pilot today and from gate three, should have the mare settled just behind the speed. All four career-wins have come on wet tracks so the forecast Soft 7 will be ideal. She also boasts top-shelf second-up status with five previous attempts resulting in three wins and two runner-up finishes. She looks a serious chance of making her track debut a winning one today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.4 ELEGANT LADY
The Walker & Bergerson-trained ELEGANT LADY has been in career-best form this preparation and looks set to bounce back from her last-start failure in black-type company. After eight-straight podium finishes, she faced just her second Group 3 challenge and was a tragedy beaten that day in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She settled worse than mid-field (one off the fence) and was never a chance after running into dead ends everywhere. She found a needle-eye opening (along the fence) at the 200m mark and darted through, only to be foiled again by a weakening leader who shifted in and cut off any winning chance she had. Just put that run down to ‘Murphy’s Luck’. Craig Grylls is the new pilot today and with the mare drawn out today (8), she should manage to avoid any last-start dramas here. She returns to the 2200m today where she is already a winner. Dropping back to Listed company and on her preferred ‘soft’ tack surface, she looks great value in this contest.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.11 BOW HILL
Robbie Patterson saddles-up two chances here as we run with BOW HILL who looks the more likely to take home the bacon today. Last start, the Japanese sired mare resumed off an 11-week break where she came from a long way back to beat all but one to the line in a BM75 over 1400m at Trentham. Craig Grylls returns to steer the ship today and will do little to no work early from gate six where she maps to settle near mid-field. With that first-up behind her now and already a winner when second-up, she looks every chance of going one better in this contest at odds today.
RICCARTON PARK
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.8 MYSTIC PARK
The Team Pitman-trained MYSTIC PARK is in top-shelf form this preparation and looks set to go on with it today. Last start, the Ocean Park gelding made it three wins from his past four starts when he proved too good in Open company, here over 1400m with Tina Comignaghi in the saddle. After winning by 4.5 lengths in his start prior, punters sent him out a white-hot $1.50 elect and he gave his supporters no cause for alarm as he ‘toyed’ with the challengers in the run home. Eased with 50m to go, he cruised to victory, crossing the line a length clear with plenty in reserve. Nine starts for five wins and three minor placings says it all about this promising galloper. Comignaghi sticks with him like glue and tackling the mile trip for the first time today looks like a procession. He should be good enough here to bring up the hat-trick.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 3: No.4 THE RADIANT ONE
The Dennis Brothers saddles-up THE RADIANT ONE here who resumes off an eight-week let-up and ticks all the important boxes to suggest she can bring up career-win number five today. Last start, the Darci Brahma mare came off a good win, here in Open company, when she found one better on the day, finishing second over 1400m at Ascot Park on a Good 4 that day. She used up a lot of fuel early in search of the lead and wasn’t disgraced taking home the runner-up’s cheque. Tina Comignaghi has plenty of experience with the mare, having ridden her to all four victories and five other podium finishes from 14 previous rides as she steers the ship again today. Already a two-time winner at the track, she will take beating here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9: No.4 ROYAL VALOUR
Team Wilson have a smart one on their hands as ROYAL VALOUR heads to the gates today a serious contender for the major prize in this contest. Last start, the British-bred gelding was chasing the hat-trick but found the mile trip a little beyond him, finishing fifth in a BM75 at Ashburton. He drops back to the 1400m today where all four of his career wins have been celebrated. Jasmine Fawcett is legged aboard for the first time and will need a bit of luck at barrier rise as he jumps from gate 14 today. Already a three-time winner on wet tracks, today’s forecast Soft 7 looks ideal for him. If he can cross and settle near mid-field with cover, he is capable of giving this a real shake at odds today.
