New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 19/08/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, August 19

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

NEW PLYMOUTH

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.3  CHAJABA  ($3.60 with Bet Right)

Tina Egan saddles-up CHAJABA here who is in great touch this time in and looks well placed here to bring up career-win number six today. Last start, the Keano gelding fought hard to the line when he beat all but one home in the Listed Opunake Cup, here over 1400m. He crossed from gate 10 (of 13) to settle second in the run and travelled well to the turn. Taking over in the run home, he looked set for victory when he was swamped by Justaskme who came from last on the turn to spoil the party. At his peak today after four starts back, the seven-year-old is already a track specialist (boasting three wins and just as many minor placings) and from gate one today, looks the one to beat here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.2  ZEEFA ZED  ($3.95 with BoomBet)

The John Wheeler-trained ZEEFA ZED is in top-shelf form of late and ticks enough boxes here to be a genuine winning chance in this contest. Last start, the Zed gelding came off a big win at Awapuni when he beat all but one home in a BM75, here over 2000m. Kate Hercock was aboard for both rides and sticks with him today. Now five starts into tis campaign, the galloper should be at his peak for this event and is already a two-time winner at the track. Nicely drawn in gate six, he maps to settle mid-field with cover and with a trouble-free run today, should be there at the finish.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.7  SHEZ SUPER  ($5.50 with Bet Right)

The Gavin Sharrock-trained SHEZ SUPER has found the podium in three of her past four starts and looks poised to bring up another one in this contest. Last start, the Makfi mare came off a win at Awapuni when she finished third, here in a BM75 over the mile with Ciel Butler in the saddle. Both career wins have came over the mile where she also boasts five minor placings at the distance as well. Butler sticks with her today and from gate six, she maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. She drops in grade here and after the claim, comes in well at the weights with just 54.5kgs to carry. At her peak after five starts back, she looks in the mix.

RUAKAKA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.2  CROCETTI  ($2.10 with bet365)

The Byerley Park-based CROCETTI is unbeaten in two starts and second-up today will take beating again. Last start, the Zacinto gelding resumed of a lengthy 24-week break when he led all the way to take out a Three-Year-Old set weights event, here over 1100m. He crossed from gate seven (of eight) to lead the charge and then destroyed his rivals as he crossed the line 4.5 lengths ahead of them. Warren Kennedy was aboard that day and sticks with the galloper for this assignment. Carrying the same weight today (57kgs), he can only strip fitter and will take catching again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.1  CHEVRON  ($2.35 with BoomBet)

Chris Gibbs saddles-up a couple here as we run with CHEVRON who looks the most likely to salute today. Last start, the El Roca gelding made it consecutive bridesmaid finishes when he beat all but one home in a BM82, here over today’s distance. He fought every inch of the way that day, beaten a neck on the line after four of them fought it out all the way down the straight. He drops in grade today and after the claim by Jessica Allen, he carries just half a kilo more than last start. He is a real track and distance specialist, boasting two wins and four minor placings from seven starts over the 2100m here. Four starts back, he should be at his peak for this and looks a genuine winning chance today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.6  ON THE WALL  ($3.70 with Bet Right)

The Chris Gibbs-trained ON THE WALL has come back in winning form and looks set to go on with it today. Last start, the Sweynesse gelding resumed off a lengthy 33-week absence but showed no signs of fatigue as he clobbered his rivals when breaking through for his maiden win, here over 1200m. Running it out in 1:10.2 on a soft track, the four-year-old took control on straightening and went on to cross the line more than two lengths ahead of the 12-strong field. Opie Bosson was aboard that day and has control again for this assignment. Drawn well in gate six, he maps to settle in the first half-dozen and with a trouble-free run here, he looks a worthy contender for the main prize today.