New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 23/12/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, December 23

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.7  ACCIDENTAL TOURIST  ($3.80 with Ladbrokes)

Another from the Walker & Bergerson stable is ACCIDENTAL TOURIST who fourth-up here and looks ready to rock. Last start, the Telperion gelding put in his best effort this time in when he finished a close-up third in Open company over the mile at Otaki. Drawn nicely in gate two today, Vinnie Colgan returns for his third ride on the galloper, in search of his first win with him. Fitter for three runs back, he should be at his peak today with the mile trip looking ideal for him now, finishing on the podium in all three previous mile contests. Avoiding any trouble here, he looks a major contender in this event.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.7  ARJAY’S FLIGHT  ($3 with Palmerbet)

The Mark Brosnan-trained ARJAY’S FLIGHT is four starts into this campaign and should now be ready to win. Last start, the Highly Recommended gelding was sent out as favourite but could only manage third place in a BM65, here over 2100m. He is up in grade here but drops 3kgs for it and has Jasmine Fawcett sticking with him for this assignment. Drawn to do no early work in gate one, the scene looks set for him to bring up career win number two today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.5  FREEZE FRAME  ($4 with bet365)

The Walker & Bergerson-trained FREEZE FRAME is second-up today and ticks enough boxes to be more than just an even chance of winning today. Last start, the Vadamos gelding resumed off a lengthy 21-week absence when despite drawing the outside gate (10), he came from well back to arrive in time and collect the winner’s purse in a BM75, here over 1100m with Sam Weatherley aboard. He draws far better today in gate two and has Weatherley sticking with him as well. Already a winner when second-up and now a winner at the track, a lot would have to go wrong to see him go down here.

TRENTHAM

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.6  THE HOTTIE  ($2.70 with Bet Right)

Robbie Patterson saddles-up THE HOTTIE here who is second-up today and looks poised for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the Swiss Ace mare resumed off a lengthy nine-month break when showing no signs of fatigue, clobbered them in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1400m. Settling mid-field, she finished with a flourish and put 2.5 lengths on them over the line. Same track, same trip and similar opposition and with Craig Grylls aboard today, she ticks enough boxes to suggest she will take beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.10  ROMANCING THE MOON  ($5 with Neds)

The Walker & Bergerson camp saddle-up ROMANCING THE MOON here who is four starts into this campaign and will be at her peak for this black-type contest. Last start, the El Roca mare made it consecutive minor placings in black-type company when she took home third prize in the Group 3 J Swap Sprint over 1400m at Te Rapa. Kozzi Asano was having his fifth consecutive ride on the mare that day and remains with her for this assignment. From gate seven today, she maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. She is a winner at the track and won when fifth-up last campaign. With an even share of luck in running here, she can stake a serious claim for the major prize today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.4  BELLUCCI  ($6 with BoomBet)

The Peter Didham-trained BELLUCCI is high flying after two starts this preparation and looks all set for another victory here. Last start, the Per Incanto mare came off an impressive first-up win at Tauherenikau when she stepped-up to BM75 company and did well to beat all but one home that day over 1200m at Wanganui. Michael McNab returns for his second ride on the six-year-old who gets the gun-run from gate one and will be doing no work early from there as she maps to settle mid-field with cover. With a little luck on straightening, if she finds clean air in the run home, she should prove hard to hold out here.