New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 25/11/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, November 25

Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Pukekohe and Wanganui Racecourses and gives his best bets.

PUKEKOHE 

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.1  BABYLON BERLIN  ($1.85 with Ladbrokes)

The Team Foote-trained BABYLON BERLIN is second-up here and looks every chance of going back-to-back in this black-type contest. Last start, the All Too Hard mare resumed from an eight-month lay-off and made every post a winner when she finished best to take out the Listed Legacy Sprint over 1200m at Te Rapa. She covered thrip in a slick 1:09.8 which was impressive on fresh legs. Boasting a strong record when second-up, she has Opie Bosson in the saddle here and will take a smart one to deny her victory in this event.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.2  AROMATIC  ($4.60 with bet365)

Yet to greet the judge this time in, the Walker & Bergerson-trained AROMATIC is four-starts back now and should be ready to fire here. Last start, the Sacred Falls mare showed a ton of improvement when she beat all but Aquacade home in the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) on this track. He finished 1.5 lengths behind the Lance Noble-trained galloper that day but looks set for revenge in this contest. She meets the topweight 3.5kgs better here as Opie Bosson returns for the ride, having steered her to two wins and as many placings from his five previous rides on the grey mare. At her peak here, she has the opportunity to turn the tables on Aquacade.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.2  DIOMEDES  ($10.20 with BoomBet)

The Kurtis Pertab-trained DIOMEDES is in great touch of late and stakes strong claims here for a victory in this contest. Last start, the Echoes Of Heaven gelding was second-up when he recorded career-win number three in a BM75 Hcp over the mile trip at Te Aroha. Taking over on the turn, he held them all at bay on a Heavy 9 that day. Ryan Elliot returns, boasting two wins and three minor money finishes from seven previous rides and already a winner when third-up and a winner at the track and distance, he looks well placed here for back-to-back wins at good odds.

WANGANUI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.5  SCELTA DI ELENA  ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)

The Chris Turner-trained SCELTA DI ELENA is third-up here and looks well placed to bring up career-win number three in this contest. Last start, the Alamosa gelding came off an impressive first-up win at Waverley when he was caught too far back when finishing a close-up fourth in a BM65, here over 1360m. Madan Singh was the pilot that day and having ridden the four-year-old to both career wins to date, retains the ride for this assignment. Already a winner when third-up, he draws to do no early work from gate two and with a trouble-free run here, he can take this one out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.4  MEGLIO DI FALCREST  ($10.20 with BoomBet)

Ashley Meadows saddles-up MEGLIO DI FALCREST here who is second-up and boasts strong claims for victory in this event. Last start, the Better Than Ready mare was fresh off a six-month absence when she beat all but one home in a BM75 over 1200m at New Plymouth. Beaten just a neck that day, she strips fitter here where she is a two-time winner at the track and distance and boasts two previous wins when second-up as well. After the claim, she carries 3kgs less than last start which should see her figure in the finish at great odds.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.6  ILLUSION OF PARIS  ($10.20 with BoomBet)

The Shane Brown-trained ILLUSION OF PARIS is now three starts into this preparation and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories. Last start, the Pure Champion mare found her mojo at Tauherenikau when she took out a BM75 Hcp over 2050m. With regular rider Kate Hercock aboard, she led from barrier rise but surrendered the lead passing the 1200m mark and was happy to be box-seating from that point. Looking gone near the turn, she found another effort and in the run home, finished too strong for them, with plenty in reserve over the line. Already a winner at the track, she won fourth-up last preparation and has Hercock sticking with the six-year-old for her 15th ride on the grey mare. Drawn nicely in gate six, she can give this a real shake at great odds.