New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 20/01/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, January 20

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

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.4  CAMPIONESSA  ($3.60 with BoomBet)

The Walker & Bergerson-trained CAMPIONESSA has begun to build a picket fence on her resume and looks well placed here to add another plank to it today. Last start, the Contributer mare brought-up the hat-trick when she took out the Group 1 Zabeel Classic over 2000m at Pukekohe Park. She settled in the box-seat soon after barrier rise and had the jump on them from there/ Soon after straightening, she struck trouble but found her clear to take over but then had to fight off a late challenge from No Compromise who’s 59kgs proved the difference in the end. Today, he still has to concede ‘Nessa’ the same 2kgs for this contest who gets the gun-run from gate one in the 14-strong field. Matthew Cameron returns for the ride today after steering her to victory in the Group 2 Auckland Breeders’ Stakes three starts back. Now a Group 1 winner, and a four-time winner over the 1600m trip, she is on target to replicate her recent efforts here and make it four-straight today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  GRAIL SEEKER  ($4 with bet365)

The Lance O’Sullivan Team saddle-up GRAIL SEEKER here who is in great touch after five career-starts and looms as a serious player in this black-type event today. Last start, the Iffraaj filly drew wide and settled back in the field. Securing a rails run on the turn, Joe Doyle weaved his way through to find the front, but she was overpowered by the two favourites in the race and had to settle for third prize in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic over the mile at Pukekohe Park. Doyle sticks with her here and at her peak today, she can give this a real shake.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.5  FANCY LIKE LASS  ($4.80 with Bet Right)

The Hastings-based FANCY LIKE LASS has had six starts this preparation and found the podium on five occasions, putting her in the ball park here for another top-three finish today. Last start, the Hellbent mare made her track debut right here and wasted no time to stamp her name on it as she beat home a BM75 field over 1100m. That made it four-straight top-two finishes with Kate Hercock on board for the last three of them. After early scratchings, she draws three off the fence today and has Hercock sticking with her for this assignment. In outstanding form this time in, she looks good value in this contest.

GORE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.4  LOCHNABERRY  ($4.05 with BoomBet)

The Lisa Vaughan-trained LOCHNABERRY is in great touch this time in boasting two wins from her four starts and down in grade today, looks a major contender for the big prize here. Last start, the Jakkalberry mare came off back-to-back victories when she stepped-up to a BM86 contest and wasn’t disgraced when finishing fourth in the 11-strong field over 2200m at Ascot. Bailey Rogerson has been aboard for all four starts this campaign and steers the ship again today. After the claim, she lines up here on the limit and is already a winner at the track and distance. With a trouble-free run today, she looks hard to beat here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.1  HAKADECREE  ($5 with Neds) 

At $5 the field, the Guineas looks a real open affair this year where we see the Terry Kennedy-trained HAKADECREE as having done enough to date to warrant top selection for the major prize today. Last start, the War Decree gelding had his third career race start and brought up win number two as he ploughed through the Heavy 10 conditions and came from near last on the turn, to arrive in time to claim victory in the Open company event over 1200m at Wingatui. The big three-year-old bay galloper finished strongly that day and the step-up in distance today looks ideal for him, based on his last-start finish. Rock-hard fit for this, Joe Kamaruddin will be shooting for back-to-back victories with the three-year-old and with a trouble-free run today, he can get the job done.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 11:  No.4  ATOMIC  ($7.50 with Bet Right)

Terry Kennedy saddles-up ATOMIC here who is on a seven-day back-up and high flying after two starts back. Last start, the Sooboog mare settled worse than mid-field with Joe Kamaruddin in the saddle. Turning for home, she had a wall of horses in front of her but the run came at the right time and she took the split and arrived in time to grab first prize in the BM65 event over 1400m at Wingatui. She is yet to win away from Wingatui after 22 starts but making her debut at Gore today could see all that change. Kamaruddin sticks with her for this assignment where she maps to settle back in the field from gate 14 but a clear run to the line could see her put in a déjà vu performance here and go back-to-back today.