New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 26/08/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, August 26

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

AWAPUNI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.2  HOT SHOCKOLATE  ($3.30 with BlueBet)

The Bryce Revell-trained HOT SHOCKOLATE has been thereabouts at her past few starts and this contest looks ideal for her today. Last start, the Shocking mare was bridesmaid again as she beat all but one home in a 1200m Hcp at New Plymouth. With Jim Chung aboard, she ran home strongly but couldn’t quite reel in the leader, beaten half a length on the day. Chung sticks with her today and after his 3kg claim the mare carries 54kgs, giving her a 2kg advantage over race-favourite Highlighter. Coming off a short (seven-day) back-up, she will play a leading hand in the outcome today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  JESKO  ($6 with Ladbrokes)

Shaun Fannin saddles-up JESKO here who is in great touch and looks on target for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Atlante gelding brought up hi first win for this campaign when he took out a BM65 Hcp over 2100m at Otaki. Up in grade today, he does drop 2.5kgs for this contest and has Madan Singh sticking with him. Both career wins have come on heavy tracks so the forecast Heavy 10 today looks ideal for him. With a trouble-free run, his first look at Awapuni could be a winning one.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.7  AMOSIA  ($9 with Bet Right)

The Lisa Latta-trained AMOSIA is in top-shelf form of late and ticks enough boxes here to make things interesting at odds today. Last start, the Squamosa mare was rewarded for her consistency when she won a BM65 over 1400m at Riccarton. She steps up in grade here but drops 2kgs for the contest with Chris Dell being legged aboard for his first ride on the mare. She is seeing the Awapuni track for the first time as well where conditions look ideal. All four career wins have come on heavy tracks so she will should feel at home in the mud today. Drawn well in gate six, with a clear run to the line, she can figure here.

TE  RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.3  POSER  ($2.95 with BoomBet)

Kurtis Pertab saddles-up POSER here who is flying high lately and looks set to go on with it today. Last start, the Ocean Park mare was shooting for the hat-trick when she found one better, finishing second in the Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup, here over 2200m. Tegan Newman aboard, she came from mid-field and finished strongly but had to settle for that silver medal, beaten just over a length on the line. Newman sticks with her today Where she is a two-winner at the track and in the smaller field today, she shouldn’t be too far away in running. She looks in the zone here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.1  HIT THE SWITCH  ($4 with Palmerbet)

The Team Vance-trained HIT THE SWITCH has finished bridesmaid in all four runs this preparation and gets his chance today to break that run outs in this contest. Last start, the British-bred six-year-old finished in familiar surroundings when second again in a BM65, here over the mile. Apprentice, Elen Nicholas, has been aboard for the past four starts and will no doubt be looking for a change of luck herself today as she sticks with the gelding. His nine starts at the track have resulted in a victory (last preparation) and four minor placings, indicating he can handle the track. He deserves a change of luck today and with a trouble-free run here, he can turn it all around.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.4  MACFIRE  ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)

Debbie Sweeney saddles-up MACFIRE here who is in outstanding form and looks the pick of the crop in this contest. Last start, the Savile Row gelding came off five-straight top-two finishes and simply added another one to the tally when he gave them a galloping lesson in a Three-Year-Old event, here over 1400m. Crossing from the outside gate (8), he led them into the straight where he was joined and headed but the $1.70 favourite fought back and went on to a comfortable win, crossing the line with 1.5 lengths to spare. This is a little harder but he carries the same weight and has Ngakau Hailey sticking with him (after being in the saddle for his past two runs). If he can reproduce that winning spirit of last start, he should prove hard to crack here.