Tatura Preview & Best Bets - Friday June 16
New Zealand Preview June 17 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips
New Zealand Tips 17/06/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Te Rapa & Awapuni Racecourses and gives his best bets.
TE RAPA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.1 CRYSTALLIZE ($4 with Bet Right)
The Byerley Park-based CRYSTALLIZE is three starts into this campaign and looks ready to win. Two starts back, the Iffraaj gelding beat all but one home, here in a 1300m Hcp, then followed that up by finishing second again when he stepped-up to the 1500m trip on a heavy track at Pukekohe Park. He’s had five starts here over the mile, resulting in a win and three runner-up finishes so he is no stranger to what needs to be done today. He is ideally drawn in gate two and the 4kg claim can only boost his chances here. He looks rock-hard fit and ready to produce today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 10: No.7 ROEDERER ($5.50 with bet365)
Fresh off a 15-week spell, the Tony Pike-trained ROEDERER has made a promising start to his racing career and looks up to this after the break. Last start, the Turn Me Loose gelding ended his first preparation (of four starts) where he brought up his maiden win at Arawa Park over 1560m. Sent out a red-hot favourite at $1.80, he finished best to cross half a length ahead of them over the line. He finished second on debut so the fresh start shouldn’t be a real concern. Kozzi Asano takes the reins today and with a trouble-free run, he should prove hard to hold out here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9: No.4 POW WOW ($9 with Bet Right)
The Tony Devcich-trained POW WOW has been thereabouts this preparation and looks well placed here to threaten for another victory today. Last start, the British-bred gelding came off a big win at Pukekohe Park in BM65 company when he stepped-up in grade and finished unplaced (with excuses) in a BM75 over the mile at New Plymouth. Hampered by a riderless horse, Sam Spratt had a fight on his hands to restrain Pow Wow, who was forced to over-race, trying to match strides with the riderless galloper. Forget that run. Rock-hard fit after four runs this time in and already a winner at the track, Spratt sticks with him here and expect a much improved effort today.
AWAPUNI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.1 TAVIS COURT ($5.60 with BoomBet)
Anna Clement saddles-up TAVIS COURT here who is third-up and looks ready to rock. Last start, the Tavistock gelding came off a first-up podium finish at New Plymouth when he finished just behind the placegetters in the Property Brokers Hcp, here over 1340m. Fitter for those two runs, he lines-up here a five-time winner over the trip and is also a winner at the track. He is well drawn in gate six and the 3kg claim will play an active part as well. A trouble-free run should see him in touch with the speed up front and he should prove hard to beat today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.7 PRIORESS ($6.50 with bet365)
The Lisa Latta-trained PRIORESS is in outstanding form this time in and looks well placed here to go on with it today. Last start, the Proisir mare made it seven-straight podium finishes when she finished third in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1300m. With Madan Singh in the saddle, she settled just behind the speed and fought on strongly to hold that minor placing as they crossed the line. She is on a seven-day back-up here as she returns to the 1200m trip where she boasts two wins and four minor placings from her nine starts at the distance. Already a winner at the track as well, Singh sticks with her today and a clear run to the line should see her thereabouts again.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.4 KUSUDA ($12.20 with BoomBet)
The Peter Didham-trained KUSUDA is second-up today and looks over the odds for this contest. Last start, the Tavistock mare resumed off an 18-week break when she finished a gallant fourth in a BM65 contest over 1340m at Wanganui. Drawn wide that day (11 of 13), she settled well back but finished strongly to be within three lengths of the winner as they crossed the line. Placed when second-up previously, Bridget Grylls has her first ride on the mare today who is already a two-time winner on this track. She steps-up to her pet distance here where she also boasts a strong record, winning four of her 13 starts over the mile. Fitter for that first-up run, she looks a must for an each-way ticket today.
