Sunshine Coast Preview & Best Bets - Friday January 20
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday January 21
New Zealand Tips 21/01/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Pukekohe & Gore Racecourses and gives his best bets.
PUKEKOHE
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.2 MAVEN BELLE ($2.40 with bet365)
The Mark Walker-trained MAVEN BELLE is second-up here and ticks every box known to mankind that suggests she is our best of the day. Last start, the classy Burgundy filly was fresh off a 10-month absence and showing no signs of fatigue, clobbered her rivals in a Three-Year-Old Hcp, here over 1200m. It was an impressive return to the track as she settled second last to the turn, then on straightening, she was the widest runner but it made no difference as she took over in a heartbeat and that was that. Opie Bosson eased her over the final 50m as she crossed the line more than two lengths ahead of them. That was an outstanding trial for this contest and surely just bad luck can beat her here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.11 SYNCHRONIZE ($5.50 with Palmerbet)
Another from the Mark Walker stable is SYNCHRONIZE who is second-up here and at the weights looks a genuine contender for the main prize in the is contest. Last start, the Savabeel mare was resuming from a lengthy 17-week spell when she lined-up in the Listed Hallmark Stud Hcp and on fresh legs, gave her rivals a galloping lesson. Ridden by Craig Zackey for the first time, he showed plenty of patience as the mare settled near last 12 lengths form the leader. In the run home, she was hampered while trying to get clear, then once in the open, Zackey said go and that she did. She crossed the line more than two lengths clear, with plenty in reserve. Now a track and distance winner, and unbeaten second-up, she looks on target for back-to-back wins here.
GORE
BEST BET 🏆
Race 2: No.8 GLOBAL BEAUTY ($8 with Palmerbet)
The Timaru-based GLOBAL BEAUTY is unbeaten this time in and third-up here, looks right in the mix and a serious chance to bring up the hat-trick in this contest. Last start, the Highly Recommended mare settled mid-field and overpowered them in the run home when she took out a BM75 Hcp over 1400m at Kurow. This came after a first-up win, here in a BM60 Hcp where she won by 1.5 lengths, with plenty to spare. Brandon May has steered the mare to all three career wins to date and sticks with her in this event. Winning form is good form and she looks great value here to make it three-straight.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 9: No.5 ELSIE MAY ($12 with TAB)
Team Anderton saddle-up ELSIE MAY here who is second-up and looks a genuine each-way chance to take the trophy home. Last start, the British-bred filly was fresh off a 12-week spell when she took out a BM65, here over the 1335m trip. The four front-runners set a blistering pace (and paid for it dearly) as they weakened out of it soon after straightening. Elsie May was ridden a treat that day by Kylie Williams who remained patient throughout and saw the filly home across the line. Williams retains the ride for the Guineas where the three-year-old is drawn ideally in gate two and maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. This is a big step up in grade for her, as it is for most of them, and now a track and distance winner, she can give this a real shake at (currently) double-figure odds.
