Caulfield Tips & Preview 21/10/2023 | Save the Best for Last
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 21/10/2023
New Zealand Tips for Saturday, October 21
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 7: No.1 CROCETTI ($1.75 with Ladbrokes)
Walker & Tata saddle-up the unbeaten CROCETTI here who has a picket fence next to his name and a lot will have to go wrong for that to change today. Last start, the Zacinto gelding made it four-straight as he took out a Three-Year-Old set weights event, here over 1200m. He ploughed through the heavy conditions to put almost two lengths on them over the line. Warren Kennedy has been on board from the outset and is the pilot again today. Ideally drawn in gate three, he looks the best of the day.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.9 MARY LOUISE ($4.05 with BoomBet)
Unbeaten when first-up, the Robbie Patterson-trained MARY LOUISE has the runs on the board that suggest she will take beating in this contest. Last start, the five-year-old finished off a two-start campaign when she beat all but one home in Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup over 1550m at Awapuni back in May. She finished second in a recent trial where she wasn’t pushed by Lisa Allpress. Three from three on fresh legs, Craig Grylls has his fourth ride on the mare today and also boasting a track and distance win, she looks the goods.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9: No.5 STRATHTAY ($4 with Palmerbet)
The O’Sullivan & Scott stable saddle-up STRATHTAY here who looks poised to bring up the hat-trick today. Two starts back, he broke his maiden duck impressively winning by 2.5 lengths over the mile, then franked that effort by taking out a BM65 in similar fashion, also over the 1600m trip. Both wins were on this track with Joe Doyle in the saddle. He is up in grade again but does get weight relief. Doyle remains aboard and with a trouble-free run, the four-year-old can make it three-straight here.
TRENTHAM
BEST BET 🏆
Race 4: No.3 TAVATTACK ($5.50 with Unibet)
The Allan Shorrock-trained TAVATTACK resumes here off a lengthy six-month absence but boasting a solid fresh record, looks well placed in this contest to be considered a real threat. Last preparation, the Tavistock gelding had five starts for two wins and three minor placings, stamping himself as a true consistent competitor. Two starts back, he won in Listed company then finished third in the Group 3 Manco Easter Hcp over the mile at Pukekohe Park. Lisa Allpress steered him home to win a recent trial where he was under a tight hold all the way, crossing the line almost two lengths ahead of them. He is a winner when first-up and a three-time winner on this track. He takes a 4kg claim into this contest and looks set to thrown the challenge today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 8: No.1 BELARDO BOY ($5 with bet365)
The Lisa Latta-trained BELARDO BOY ticks all the boxes here and currently in career-best form, will take beating in this contest. Last start, the Belardo gelding rang-up career-win number eight when he took out the Group 3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile over the mile at Awapuni. He is unbeaten in three starts over the 1600m trip and is a two-time winner at this track. Jonathan Riddell is reunited with the five-year-old after ten previous rides on the gelding. He’ll do no early work from gate three today and with three wins from his past five starts, he looks set here for another top-shelf performance.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 6: No.2 UAREASTAR ($9.10 with BoomBet)
Fraser Auret saddles-up UAREASTAR here who is third-up and should now be ready to produce her best. Last start, the Jakkalberry mare showed plenty of improvement when she finished fifth in the Egmont Cup over 2100m at Hawera. Lisa Allpress has the reins today (having steered the mare to two podium finishes from as many rides). She should strip even fitter today and already a two-time winner when third-up, she can give this a real shake at odds today.
