New Zealand Tips 26/11/2022

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

TE RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.1  MATTER OF HONOUR  ($2.50 with bet365)

The Tony Pike-trained MATTER OF HONOUR is unbeaten this preparation and looks the one to beat again in this contest. Last start, the Pride Of Dubai gelding brought up the hat-trick when he proved too strong for them in a Three-Year-Old (set weights) event over 1400m at Awapuni. With Michael McNab aboard, he carried 58kgs to win by more than a length on the line, with plenty in reserve. McNab sticks with him today as he drops in weight and steps-up a little in distance which (based on his last effort) shouldn’t be a concern. He is a big striding type who will be at his peak today with three starts behind him this time in and he looks the best of the day.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.7  BRANDO  ($5 with Unibet)

Mark Walker saddles-up BRANDO here who is three starts into this preparation and now looks ready to win. Last start, the Savabeel gelding came off two needed runs when he got his act together and beat all but one home in an Open company event over 1400m at Tauranga, where he conceded 5kgs in weight to the winner. This is a little tougher, however he is joined by Michael McNab for the first time and has placed several times in black-type races, including two from two in Group 1 company. His podium strike-rate currently stands at 67% and three starts here have resulted in two victories. He comes in well with the markets today and looks a strong winning chance here.

WANGANUI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.11  LA FLORA BELLE  ($6 with bet365)

Down in the weights today, the Mark Walker-trained LA FLORA BELLE has peaked at the right time and will surely make her presence felt in this contest. Coming off a win over the mile at New Plymouth, the Iffraaj mare then took home second prize in the Waipukurau Cup (1600m) beaten a neck on the line. Never closer than four off the fence in running, she fanned even wider on the turn and despite covering more ground than Bourke & Wills, conceding weight to the eventual winner (Lily Laguna), she fought like a tiger before being shaded on the line. Lisa Allpress rode her that day but is engaged to ride Platinum Invador here, leaving this saddle vacant for Joe Kamaruddin to slide on in for his fourth ride on the mare. She steps-up to the Cox Plate trip today but gets the gun-run from gate one and maps to be box-seating on settling. Coming in on the limit here (with just 53kgs to carry), she looks at her best after five starts this time in and her Wanganui debut could very well be a winning one today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.6  FABLUE  ($6 with Unibet)

The Bryce Newman-trained FABLUE is third-up today and her latest effort suggests she will take beating here. Last start, she came off a much-needed first-up run (finishing unplaced) when she faced a BM65 field at Hastings over 1600m. Carrying 58kgs, she jumped well and sat outside the leader to the turn. On straightening, she took over and despite several contenders making their moves, the four-year-old mare was holding them all at bay and went on to win by more than a length on the line. She steps-up in grade today and is reunited with Kate Hercock who steered the mare to her maiden victory on this track four starts back. Down 3kgs on that last-start win, she looks a real threat here today.