Townsville Preview & Best Bets - Friday January 13
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday January 14
New Zealand Tips 14/01/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Trentham & Wingatui Racecourses and gives his best bets.
TRENTHAM
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.6 LEVANTE ($1.60 with bet365)
Champion mare LEVANTE is third-up here and after a couple of disappointing runs so far, looks ready to bounce back to the winner’s circle here. Last start the Proisir mare failed to handle the dry track (yet again), but still managed to grab third prize in the Sistema Railway Group 1 over 1200m at Te Rapa. The winner (Imperatriz), ran it out in a handy 1:08.9 which explains why Levante struggled to make any headway (after settling mid-field in the race). Much better drawn here in gate two, Ryan Elliot (the regular rider) should manage to settle a little closer and stay in touch with the speed. Unbeaten in three previous third-up runs and a winner at the track and distance, we should see a different horse in this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.12 ROMANCING THE MOON ($5 with Palmerbet)
The Mark Walker-trained ROMANCING THE MOON is flying high at the moment with five top-two finishes from her past six starts and already placed twice in black-type races, she will prove hard to hold out here. Last start, the El Roca bounced back from her fourth-placed finish in the Group 1 NZ Guineas when she clobbered her rivals in a BM65 Hcp over 1200m at Matamata. This Group 2 event is a lot tougher but she has already proven herself at the top level and with Craig Grylls back in the saddle here, she will certainly make her presence felt.
WINGATUI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 9: No.2 DUNHILL ($4.80 with Unibet)
The Team Tyler-trained DUNHILL is yet to miss a podium finish in four starts this time in and is now ready to record his first win at the track. Last start, the Pins gelding made it consecutive runner-up finishes when he beat all but Asathought home in a BM85 Hcp, here over 2200m. After settling mid-field, he was wide before the turn and covered plenty of extra ground before losing the two-horse battle with Asathought in the run to the line. He meets that galloper better at the weights here and even fitter for four runs back, with a trouble-free run here, he should give us a bold sight in this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.5 ROCK SENSATION ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)
Racing in great touch (without winning) this time in, the Team Pitman-trained ROCK SENSATION is way overdue for a change of luck and it can all happen here. Last start, the Rock ‘N’ Pop gelding finished bridesmaid for the third time in four starts when he arrived a fraction too late in a in a BM86 Hcp over 1400m at Kurow. He drew the outside gate that day and settling with the tail-enders, just couldn’t bridge the gap in time that day. A riding change here sees Krishna Mudhoo in the saddle for the first time and after four runs back, the six-year-old should be at his peak for this assignment. He likes racing here, with a resume that boasts three podium finishes from five starts at the track and with a clear run to the line, he is capable of giving this a real shake.
