Belmont Park Preview & Best Bets - Saturday August 13
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday August 13
New Zealand Tips 13/08/2022
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Riccarton Park & Tauranga and gives his best bets.
RICCARTON
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5 : No. 7 SEA SHEPHERD ($3.80 with Unibet)
Sabin Kirkland saddles-up SEA SHEPHERD here who brings an impressive resume with him and looks well placed to give this a real shake. Last start, the Zacinto gelding wasn’t too far away when finishing third in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1400m. He carried 58kgs on a heavy track that day, coming from back in the field to record his fifth podium finish from his past six starts. He steps up in grade here but drops 4kgs in the process. All three career wins have come on wet tracks so conditions look ideal for him on Saturday. Ideally drawn in gate three, he will take beating here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2 : No. 4 MAKE TIME ($4.60 with Palmerbet)
The Lisa Latta-trained MAKE TIME is in great touch this time in and looks set to put in another bold performance here. Last start, the Makfi gelding recorded his first win for this preparation when he took out a BM65 Hcp, here over 1200m. On a heavy track, he came from mid-field to finish best and take home the chocolates that day. He steps up in grade here but after the claim carries 2.5kgs less against this field. His good early speed has him settling better than mid-field and with a trouble-free run, he looks right in the mix for back-to-back victories here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 7 : No. 6 FIVE PRINCES ($5 with Neds)
The Stephen Marsh-trained Five Princes loves the wet tracks and looks in his element here for back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the Red Giant gelding crushed his opposition when he put two lengths on them in a 2200m Hcp at Ashburton. With Terry Moseley aboard for the first time, he came from well back to beat home Vulture Street and Miss Tavi. Moseley sticks with him here and from gate two, will do little to no early work as he settles back in the field. Carrying the same weight (54kgs), he should prove hard to keep out again.
TAURANGA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7 : No. 1 HELENA BABY ($3.20 with Palmerbet)
The John Bell-trained HELENA BABY has been thereabouts this preparation and with conditions to suit here, looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the son of Guillotine came good when it mattered most when he crushed his opposition in the Listed Opunake Cup over 1400m at New Plymouth. Leading all the way on a heavy track, he finished 2.5 lengths ahead of them over the line. He drops back to Open company here and with a heavy track forecast, he looks to be all at home with all six career wins coming on wet tracks. He should be at his peak now with five starts under his belt this time in and will prove hard to run down again.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 3 : No. 2 AERO DE PARIS ($2.80 with Unibet)
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott saddle-up AERO DE PARIS here who revels in the mud and should take beating in this event. Last start, the Tavistock gelding drew wide (gate 10 of 11) and travelled deep most of the way when finishing fifth over 1400m at Te Rapa. Overracing in the middle stages, he used up most of fuel and had nothing left when the whips were cracking. Better drawn here, he maps to settle a little closer to the speed as he drops back in distance. He boasts an outstanding record on heavy tracks, with 10 starts resulting in four wins and five minor placings so the wetter the better for him. At his peak after three starts this time in, he should be fighting out the finish here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9 : No. 5 DEEBEE ZAPOWER ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)
The Gavin Opie-trained DEEBEE ZAPOWER has impressed at his past three starts and looks set for another strong performance in the wet conditions here. Last start, the Power gelding beat all but one home in a BM74 Hcp over 1200m at Te Rapa. From the outside gate (12), he crossed and settled outside the leader (three-wide) and that was all that beat him on the day (as the winner came through on the inside to claim victory). He draws wide again here but has Vinnie Colgan remaining in the saddle and if he can get him settled closer the fence this time, he should prove hard to beat here.
