Mackay Preview July 14 - Friday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Preview July 15 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Tips 15/07/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Trentham and Ruakaka Racecourses and gives his best bets.
TRENTHAM
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.5 MANOLO ($4.25 with BoomBet)
Stephen Nickalls saddles-up MANOLO here who is three starts back form a spell and back on his game. Last start, the Jimmy Choux gelding chalked-up his fourth career win when he took out a BM75 over the mile at Hastings with apprentice Temyia Taiaroa enjoying her tenth ride on the gelding. All four career wins have come on heavy tracks so today’s conditions are ideal for the seven-year-old. Taiaroa has the reins again today and knows where the winning post is, having ridden the galloper to three of his four victories to date. Already a winner here, he should be at his peak today and looks a serious chance for back-to-back wins.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.6 PRIORESS ($4.20 with Ladbrokes)
The Lisa Latta-trained PRIORESS is in great touch this time in and looks poised for another podium finish today. Last start, the Proisir mare found the Listed company a little too strong when she finished unplaced (after eight-straight top-three finishes) in the Tauranga Classic over 1400m. Drawn wide that day ((gate 11 of 12), she settled well back and gave them too much start, finishing seven lengths from the winner on a Heavy 10. She should find today’s assignment a lot easier with Madan Singh remaining aboard for the ride (after steering her to victory twice previously). Already a winner at the track, she gets her chance to bounce back today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 10: No.1 PUKE PARK ($5.50 with Palmerbet)
The Fraser Auret-trained PUKE PARK carries top weight today but fitter for two runs back, looks a genuine winning chance here. Last start, the Ocean Park gelding impressed with an eye-catching effort when finishing fourth in the Taradale Club Hcp when second-up over 1200m. He drew wide and dropped out to the tail early and took the turn, the widest of them all. Never a winning chance from there, he hit the line well and third-up here, the 1400m looks ideal for him today. Already a winner when third-up and a two-time winner at the trip, he looks right in the mix here.
RUAKAKA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.3 PATRICIA ($4.55 with BoomBet)
The Rick Wells-trained PATRICIA is in career-best form this time in and looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Super Easy mare was shooting for the hat-trick and came within a whisker of success when she beat all but one home in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1200m. With Warren Kennedy aboard, she settled mid-field and ran home strongly, only to just miss out on the line. Today, it’s a case of déjà vu, same track, same trip, similar company and Kennedy sticking with her as she draws ideally in gate two and maps to be parked right behind the speed. At her peak after four starts this time in, she looks a real player today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.1 HIT THE ROAD JACK ($5.10 with BoomBet)
Shaun Phelan saddles-up HIT THE ROAD JACK here who carries top weight but still looks the one to beat here. The Jakkalberry gelding found his best form two starts back when he clobbered his rivals over the mile at Avondale, putting 2.5 lengths on them across the line. Then last start, he rocked-up here and was almost as impressive, beating all but one to the line in the Bream Bay Cup over 2100m with regular rider Elen Nicholas aboard. The wide gate (11 of 11) cost him that day as he settled at the rear and had to it all from the back of the pack. He comes back from a five-week freshen-up and has Nicholas in pride of place after steering him to all six career wins to date. He boasts track-specialist status with two wins and as many minor placings from his five starts at the track, and here he looks right in the mix.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 2: No.4 AQUA MAN ($8 with Unibet)
The Clotworthy stable saddle-up AQUA MAN here who has been knocking on the door since resuming and is in line to record his second career win today. Last start, the British-bred gelding had his first run on a synthetic track where he finished fourth in a BM65 over 1550m at Cambridge. That made it four-straight top-four finishes for the five-year-old. He should be at his peak today with four runs under his belt and after the claim, he carries 5kgs less than his last start effort. Regular rider, Ace Lawson-Carroll rode him to victory in this race last year and will be having his 16th ride on him today. Already a winner at the track and distance, he can make it happen again today at odds.
