New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday March 25
New Zealand Tips 25/03/2023
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 9: No.1 LIVE DRAMA ($3.90 with Ladbrokes)
The Lance Robinson-trained LIVE DRAMA is back in form and looks well placed here to chalk-up career-win number nine today. Last start, the Ghibellines mare came off an unlucky second in the Listed Timaru Stakes when she finished bridesmaid yet again in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge over the mile at Wingatui. Kavish Chowdhoory sticks with her here as she returns to Riccarton where she is a four-time winner. The mile trip appears to suit her and she gets the gun-run here from gate one. She maps to settle behind the early pace (on the fence) and with a trouble-free run home, she should prove hard to hold out.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.1 THE BUFFER ($4 with Palmerbet)
In search of the hat-trick here, THE BUFFER is in career-best form of late and looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Reliable Man gelding was fresh off an eight-week let-up when he led from barrier to box in an Open Hcp, here over 1400m. He jumped from the outside gate that day and carrying 60kgs, still got the job done. He is already a two-time winner when second-up and is a winner at the track as well. After the claim, he carries less weight here and should prove hard to run down again.
TAURANGA
BEST BET 🏆
RAce 7: No.3 PERFECT SCENARIO ($5.50 with TAB)
The Mark Walker-trained PERFECT SCENARIO is in great touch this time in and looks ideally placed here to take the trophy home today. Two starts back, the Iffraaj gelding gave his rivals a belting when he crossed the line more than three lengths ahead of them in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge over the mile at Wingatui. Then last start he finished a gallant fourth in the harder Group 1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic behind the smart Levante at Otaki over the same trip. He will find this a lot easier as Ryan Elliot is reunited with him for this assignment. At his peak after three runs back and already a winner here, he will take beating today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.3 UDERZO ($3.70 with Unibet)
The O’Sullivan & Scott-trained UDERZO has missed just one podium finish in his seven career-starts to date and looks to improve on that record here. Last start, the Vadamos gelding made it three-straight minor placings when he finished third in a BM75 over the mile at Te Rapa. Jumping from the outside gate (12), he was trapped three-wide most of the way and did well to finish on the podium at all. He has the same problem here, drawing the widest gate but with a little more luck can cross early and find some cover. Rock-hard fit after five starts in, he can give this contest a real shake.