Sunshine Coast Preview & Best Bets – 13/10/2023
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 14/10/2023
New Zealand Tips for Saturday, October 14
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Hastings and Ashburton Racecourses and gives his best bets.
HASTINGS
BEST BET 🏆
Race 6: No.7 ROMANCING THE MOON ($3.20 with Bet Right)
The Matamata-based ROMANCING THE MOON is second-up today and although seeing the Hastings track for the first time, still has strong claims to be considered for victory in this contest. Last start, the El Roca mare came off a lengthy six-month break and on fresh legs, clobbered her rivals in a BM75 over 1100m at Taupo. Carrying top-weight and leaving the outside gate, she found the front and never looked like being caught, going on to win by 1.5 lengths in the end. That made it three wins on end for the four-year-old. She will only strip fitter from that run and has black-type success on her resume, winning the Group 1 Levin Classic two starts back with Kozzi Asano in the saddle that day. Asano returns here for today’s assignment and from an ideal draw in gate four, she will take beating.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 3: No.8 BARZETTI ($6 with BlueBet)
The Matt Eales-trained BARZETTI is a model of consistency, having finished top-four at his past nine starts (without winning) and gets another chance to crack the ice in this contest. Last start, the Roc De Cambes gelding ploughed through the heavy conditions, lumping 60kgs, to beat all but one home in a BM65 over 2200m at Awapuni. That was his third-straight top-three finish this campaign. He steps-up in grade today but drops 5kgs as Joe Doyle returns for his second ride on the five-year-old. He is overdue for a change of luck and from gate four here, it can happen today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.6 LADIES MAN ($9.50 with Ladbrokes)
Allan Sharrock saddles-up LADIES MAN here who has come back in great shape with three-straight podium finishes and looks ready to pounce today. Last start, the Zed gelding drew the carpark (16 of 16) and still managed to beat all but one home in the Group 3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile at Awapuni. On a Heavy 10 that day, he never on the track, caught four and five deep to the turn. He took over on straightening and looked the winner until he was grabbed late by Belardo Boy, having to settle for second prize. He has been set for this race and after three runs back, he should be at his peak now. Drawn much better today in gate seven, conditions are in his favour with a drier track to run on which puts him right in the mix for the major prize. He looks well worth an each-way ticket today.
ASHBURTON
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.1 IFIDIDIT ($5.10 with BoomBet)
The Riccarton Park based IFIDIDIT is second-up here and looks set to go on with it today. Last start, the Iffraaj gelding was fresh off a 22-week spell when he broke through for his maiden win at Phar Lap raceway over 1200m. Kavish Chowdhoory settled him back in the field spotting them eight lengths to the turn. Wound up on straightening, he stormed home down the centre of the track and took no prisoners as he crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of them in the end. Chowdhoory sticks with him here and a repeat fo that effort puts him right in contention for this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.5 AMBERECHO ($6.50 with Bet Right)
Third-up today, AMBERECHO ticks enough boxes here to pose a real threat to this field and conditions look ideal for her to take this one out. Last start, the Echoes Of Heaven mare was never in the race after drawing wide (10 of 13) and never on the track. She showed signs of a big finish, but couldn’t go with them all the way, finishing fifth, beaten three lengths over the line. Placed in all four previous third-up appearances, she will strip even fitter today and gets all the favours from gate one. Kylie Williams has steered her to victory three times to date and sticks with her for this assignment. She has found the podium seven times from her 11 starts on Good tracks so conditions are perfect for her today. She looks in the mix at odds.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.8 EARS BACK ($6.50 with Bet Right)
John Blackadder saddles-up EARS BACK here who is three starts into this preparation and looks ready to win today. Last start, the Jakkalberry mare showed a ton of improvement when she beat all but home in a BM87 over the mile at Riccarton Park. That race served as a good lead-up for today’s contest. She is already a two-time winner at the track and distance and with a clear run to the line, she should prove hard to hold out today.
