Scone Preview & Best Bets – 22/09/2023
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 23/09/2023
New Zealand Tips for Saturday, September 23
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Awapuni and Tauranga Racecourses and gives his best bets.
AWAPUNI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.5 LADIES MAN ($4.50 with Neds)
Allan Sharrock saddles-up LADIES MAN here who is third-up and looks the testing material in this black-type affair. Last start, the Zed gelding took on Open company where he beat all but one home over 1400m at New Plymouth. Michael Mc Nab was aboard that day in a race that was too short for the six-year-old. The extra trip here suits nicely as McNab sticks with him for this assignment. Placed at his only start here and has two podium finishes from as many previous third-up appearances, he looks heavily in the mix for victory here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2: No.6 O’RIORDAN ($6.60 with BoomBet)
The Otaki-based galloper O’RIORDAN is third-up here and looks ready to win. Last start, the Proisir mare was a little rusty when second-up, finishing unplaced in a strong BM75 over 1200m at Hawera. Settling three lengths last, she was never close enough to finish on the podium that day but made up good ground in the run home to finish ahead of a couple over the line. She will strip even fitter here and the extra trip will be a blessing for her and enhance her chances greatly. Michael Mc Nab’s only ride on her ended in victory (three starts back at New Plymouth) as he returns to steer the ship for this assignment. She maps to settle mid-field and with a trouble-free run here, she can give this a shake at odds.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 5: No.4 WENEEDASHOCK ($9 with Ladbrokes)
The Howie Mathews-trained WENEEDASHOCK is unbeaten this time in and although taking on stronger company here, he still looks in the mix at each-way odds. Last start, the son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, made it back-to-back wins on the synthetic track, here over 1700m. Chris Dell has the reins here as he steps-up in grade. He won his maiden over the 2200m journey so the extra distance here should suit him. In career-best form this preparation, he can go on with it here. An each-way ticket looks the go in this contest.
TAURANGA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 4: No.5 BELLE OF THE BALL ($2.65 with BoomBet)
Second-up here, the Savabeel mare, BELLE OF THE BALL boasts an impressive strike rate and fitter after one run back, looks a serious player in the contest. Last start, she was slowly away and settled back in the field before running home strongly to finish just behind the placegetters in a BM75 over 1400m at Hastings, beaten less than a length on the line. She draws to do no early work here from gate three as Warren Kennedy takes the reins for the first time. The five-year-old made her debut on this track 18 months ago and hasn’t seen it since. Already a winner when second-up, a trouble-free run here should see her in the firing-line at the right end of the race.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2: No.4 PUKETIRO ($3.45 with BoomBet)
The Matamata-based PUKETIRO resumes off a lengthy 23-week break and after a very successful first campaign, looks set to continue her progress in this contest. Last start, the Savabeel mare ended her last preparation by going back-to-back, when she clobbered her rivals in a Three-Year-Old set weights event over 1200m at Te Rapa. She settled mid-field to the turn, then took control soon after and went on to put more than three lengths on them over the line. Opie Bosson steered her to victory two starts back and returns here for this assignment. Already a winner when first-up (winning her maiden on debut), she will take beating in this event.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 7: No.4 C’EST MOI ($4.85 with BoomBet)
The Stephen Marsh-trained C’EST MOI makes her Tauranga debut here and in great touch this time in, looks a genuine threat in this contest. Last start, the Vadamos mare was ridden a treat by Tegan Newman as she box-seated to the turn. After securing a rails run, Newman asked her another effort and she obliged. Taking over inside the last 150m, she dominated in the run home, crossing the line almost two lengths clear in the end in a BM75 event. She draws the one gate again here and should manage a similar run from there. The five-year-old meets similar company here and if she can secure clean air in the run home, she will prove hard to hold out.
