Rockhampton Preview & Best Bets - Friday January 27
New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday January 28
New Zealand Tips 28/01/2023
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for today’s horse racing at Trentham & Riccarton Park Racecourses and gives his best bets.
TRENTHAM
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.5 EXPRESS YOURSELF ($3.70 with Ladbrokes)
The Nikki Hurdle-trained EXPRESS YOURSELF is high flying this preparation and looks well placed here for a third-straight podium finish. Last start, the Shamexpress mare was third-up as she came off her maiden win at Otaki when she beat all but one home in a tougher BM65, here over 1200m. She meets similar company here over the same trip and Craig Grylls sticks with her for his fourth-straight ride on the mare. Fourth-up here, she should be at her peak for this and looks set for another big performance.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.2 ROCABABY ($4 with Palmerbet)
Hawera galloper ROCABABY is second-up here and already back in the winner’s circle, looks set for back-to-back wins today. Last start, the El Roca filly came off an 11-week spell and clobbered them in a Three-Year-Old contest, here over 1200m. Never on the track, she sat three-deep the entire trip but had plenty in the tank and left them in her wake as she crossed the line 2.5 lengths ahead them. Lisa Allpress sticks with her today and already a winner when second-up and now a winner on the track, she looks the one to beat here.
RICCARTON PARK
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.3 PERFECT SCENARIO ($4.40 with bet365)
The Mark Walker-trained PERFECT SCENARIO is fresh off an 11-week break today and looks in the mix here. Last start, the Iffraaj gelding finished fifth (of 18) in the Group 3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, after winning the Prelude the start prior with Joe Kamaruddin in the saddle. The 1600m saw him out, although he fought on strongly that day to beaten just 2.5 lengths on the line. He does his best work when fresh and today welcomes back Kamaruddin for this contest. Already a two-time winner when first-up and placed at Group 2 level, from gate two today, he looks the one to beat.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.3 SECOND THOUGHT ($2.50 with bet365)
The locally-trained SECOND THOUGHT resumes off a 10-week let-up today and ticks the right boxes here. Last start, the Ghibellines mare ended her last campaign by finishing third in a BM82 Hcp, here over 2500m. Stepping up in trip that day, she settled back in the field, spotting the leaders more than 15 lengths mid-race and did well to finish as close as she did (beaten just a length on the line). She drew gate 17 (of 18) last start but fares much better today in gate two. Already a winner when fresh and three from three at the 2000m trip, she will take beating in this contest.
