New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 23/03/2024

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, March 23

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

RICCARTON

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.6  MYSTIC PARK

Team Pitman saddle-up MYSTIC PARK here who is high-flying this time in and looks the best of the day. Last start, the Ocean Park gelding brought up career win number four (from eight starts to date) when he destroyed a BM75, here over 1400m. With Tina Comignaghi aboard for her third ride on the galloper, she rode him a treat, settling him mid-field on the fence, In the run home, she eased him out and passed the leaders in the blink of an eye and raced away (under a hold) to win by four lengths on the line. The step-up in grade today should pose as no problem with this as he just keeps on improving. Surely just bad luck beats him here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.1  DAZZLING MISS

The Terri Rae-trained DAZZLING MISS has found the podium five times this preparation and looks well placed here under set weights to ring up another top-three finish today. Last start, the Proisir mare made it back-to-back runner-up prizes when she beat all but one home, here in Open company over 1400m. She steps-up to the mile trip today where she dominates, boasting five wins and three minor placings from her nine starts over the distance to date. Lisa Allpress returns to the saddle today after steering the mare to victory previously. Already placed in Group 3 company, she looks right in the mix in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 9:  No.6  CARAVELLA 

The Walker & Bergerson-trained CARAVELLA has only missed a podium finish once in six starts this preparation and looks ideally placed here for back-to-back wins today. Last start, the American-bred mare bounced back from a failure at Te Rapa when she fought off the challenges to win a BM75, here over 1200m. Parked right behind the speed, she took control inside the final 300m, then held out a late challenge from her stablemate (Stella Splendida) to take home the major prize. They clash again today but this mare has drawn ideally in gate two and looks to run a similar race here. Now a track and distance winner, she can go on with it in this contest.

TAURANGA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.6  VALLARTA

The Lance Noble-trained VALLARTA is high-flying this time in and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Per Incanto filly finally broke through for first win when she hung on in a tight finish, taking out the 1200m Maiden at Taupo. Her five starts (this preparation) have seen her finish top-two on four occasions so she knows what its all about now. Nicely drawn in gate four today, she maps to settle just behind the speed and a clear run to the line should see her hard to hold out in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.9  HAT TRICK

The Tony Pike-trained HAT TRICK is (ironically) shooting for the hat-trick today and looks every chance of pulling it off in this contest. Last start, the son of Fastnet Rock ran them off their legs, leading all the way over 1400m at Ellerslie. Setting the pace, Michael McNab slowed them up mid-race and was left alone to the turn. He had plenty in reserve as they set sail for home and the 12-strong field never looked like running him down. He is up in grade today but drops in weight as McNab sticks with him. He has the outside gate (10) to deal with but his early gate speed should see him cross and settle on the speed. The well-bred galloper can make it three-straight today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.7  RUDYARD 

Another from the Tony Pike stable lines-up here with RUDYARD looking a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Charm Spirit gelding’s run of six-straight podium finishes came to an end when he finished a close-up fourth in a BM85 over 1400m at Ellerslie. Held up on the fence, he had nowhere to go in the run home with Sam Weatherley having to ease him back and cross heels to find clean air. Although no chance of winning from there, he still ran home strongly, taking ground off them over the final 100m. Carry 60kgs that day, he conceded the winner (Adam I Am) 5.5kgs in that event. Michael McNab returns for the ride today (having steered the four-year-old to victory previously) and the wide gate (barrier 8) might be a blessing, as he maps to settle mid-field, off the fence. He will appreciate the rise in trip here as he is already a two-time winner over the mile. In career-best form this campaign, he can figure here today.