New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 16/12/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, December 16

Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Te Rapa & Trentham Racecourses and gives his best bets.

TE RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.2  PEARL OF ALSACE  ($2.60 with Ladbrokes)

The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray team saddle-up PEARL OF ALSACE in the feature race of the day and after four starts back, will be at her peak and ready to rock today. After finishing third in the Group 1 Livamol Classic, the Tavistock mare then made a one-off trip to Melbourne where she took her place in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes where she finished a gallant fourth in the race. She returns here after a five-week let-up and has Sam Weatherley back in the saddle for his second ride on the mare. She steps up to the mile today where she is already a winner over the trip on this track. Ideally drawn in gate two, she maps to settle in the first half-dozen and will pose a real threat from there. A trouble-free run here can see her holding the trophy after this event.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.9  COGNITO  ($6 with bet365)

Yet to miss a podium finish in four starts this preparation, COGNITO should be at his peak today and looks a prime candidate for the trophy in this contest. Two starts back, he came from well back (after drawing gate 12 of 13), to win over 1400m at Pukekohe Park. Then last start, well-bred So You Think gelding lined-up in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and did well to grab third prize in the strong field, beaten less then half a length that day. Already a winner at Group 2 level, Craig Grylls has his first ride on the four-year-old today and with the breaks in running, he can give this a real shake today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.8  DA OPTIMIST  ($9.10 with BoomBet)

The John Bell-trained DA OPTIMIST has won two of his past three starts and looks well placed in this contest to bring up a third win. Last start, the Exceed And Excel gelding led from barrier to box in a BM65 over 1400m at New Plymouth, carrying 59kgs with Johnathan Parkes in the saddle. His four-start fitness played a big role that day. He is well drawn in gate six and has a new rider today with Craig Grylls taking the reins for this assignment. There is plenty of early speed here so Grylls may decide to take a sit. He is up in grade today but enjoys a 3kg drop in weight and after four starts in now, he should be at his peak and certainly a real threat here at odds.

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.2  YELLOW JERSEY  ($5 with BoomBet)

The Jo Rathbone-trained YELLOW JERSEY is third-up today and after two-straight runner-up finishes, deserves a change of luck. Last start, the Zacinto gelding was having his second start for a new stable when for the second time, he beat all but one home in a BM65 over the mile at Wanganui. He drew gate 12 (of 14) that day and was taken back at the start and eventually settled mid-field with cover. Kate Hercock rode him patiently to the turn where she still had traffic to get through and once clear, the galloper hit his straps and went to the line full of running, beaten just half a length on the line. Drawn better here in gate seven, Hercock sticks with him today and fitter for those two runs back, he should be a real force here and will take beating in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.11  VIVACIOUS  ($5.50 with Bet Right)

Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson saddle-up three runners here as we run with VIVACIOUS who looks the most likely of the trio to take home the winners share of the purse here. The Dundeel filly is the rookie of the stable trio with just two starts next to her name but looks ready for a challenge of this nature. Last start, she broke through for her maiden win at Te Aroha, showing a liking for the dry track that day. Of course this contest is a lot tougher but she has Jonathan Parkes aboard for the first time who is capable of steering her across from the wide draw (gate 12) and could have her settling in first half-dozen. Stripping even fitter here with those first two runs firmly under her belt, she can make her presence felt in this event.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 1:  No.1  ARDROE  ($6.25 with Bet Right)

The Lisa Latta-trained ARDROE has had three career starts to date and with two podium finishes on his resume, he looks an improving type who has claims in this contest. Last start, he came off his Maiden win at Otaki when he stepped-up to a BM65 contest at Wanganui and wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in the event. Today, the Per Incanto gelding meets similar company over the same trip but will line up even fitter and welcomes back Lily Sutherland (who steered him to that maiden win). He draws the outside gate today but has a good turn of early speed and should manage to cross and settle near mid-field with cover. With a little luck on his side today, he can be there at the finish.