New Zealand Preview July 29 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips

New Zealand Tips 29/07/2023

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

OTAKI

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.1  ITZA CHARMDEEL  ($3.30 with Ladbrokes)

The Cambridge-based ITZA CHARMDEEL took just two starts to show he has what it takes to win at this level and looks right in the mix here today. Last start, the Charm Spirit gelding came off an unplaced debut run at Ruakaka when he clobbered his rivals in a Two-Year-Old Maiden over 1230m on a heavy track at Arawa Park. Settling last after jumping from the outside gate (11), he circled the field approaching the turn and straightened-up as the widest runner. He covered more territory than the early explorers but still kept finding plenty, going on to win almost four lengths on the line. An effort like that (as a juvenile) can’t go ignored and a repeat of that performance will see him extremely hard to beat today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.3  MY ZOI  ($3.65 with BoomBet)

Wanganui galloper MY ZOI is third-up today and is in search of back-to-back wins. Last start, the Zed mare was second-up and off a four-week let-up when she took out a BM75 Hcp over 1200m on a very heavy track at Awapuni. Travelling three-wide the entire trip, she turned for home under pressure and looked gone for all money when she found another gear (from somewhere) and got going again to finish over the top of them in the end. Lisa Allpress returns for today’s assignment (having ridden the mare to victory four starts back). She has been slapped with a hefty 5kg weight increase here but based on her last effort, she looks capable of handling the extra lead in the saddlebag. She relished the conditions at Awapuni so she looks very much at home today. She lines up here as one of the main contenders for the major prize.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.3  BEE ENCHANTED  ($7.50 with bet365)

Lisa Latta saddles-up BEE ENCHANTED here who is third-up today and looking for back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the Per Incanto gelding broke through for his maiden win on the synthetic track at Awapuni. With Jonathan Riddell aboard, he led from barrier to box, giving nothing else a chance as he crossed the line more than a length in front of them. Riddell has ridden him in all three starts to date and has the job again today. Drawn even better here in gate six, he maps to lead again and fitter for two runs in, he looks a genuine winning chance at odds today.

TE  RAPA

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.4  POSER  ($3.40 with bet365)

Shooting for the hat-trick today, the Matamata-based POSER ticks all the boxes here and will take beating. Last start, the Ocean Park mare made it back-to-back wins when she got home in a tight finish in BM75 company, here over 2100m. Lumping 60.5kgs on a heavy track in the rain, she drew the car park in gate 11 (of 12), and still got there on the line. The five-year-old is two from three at the track and Tegan Newman has steered the mare to victory five times from her six rides to date. Drawn much better today in gate five, she relishes the wet conditions and dropping 5kgs for this contest, she looks a serious contender for the winner’s cheque.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.5  TURN THE ACE  ($3.40 with Ladbrokes)

Andrew Forsman saddles-up TURN THE ACE here who is three starts into this campaign and looks ready to bounce back to the winner’s circle today. Last start, the Turn Me Loose gelding came off a second-up win on this track when he finished unplaced in a BM75 over 1400m at Tauranga. Carrying top weight that day, he was trapped three and four deep to the turn where he fanned even wider, and that was the end of his winning chances, beaten almost four lengths on the line. Today, Michael McNab takes over as the pilot as the four-year-old steps up in grade but drops 4kgs in the process. He was a winner when fourth-up last preparation and is a three-time winner at Te Rapa. Nicely drawn in gate four today, he maps to settle just behind the pace (with cover) and all going well, he should be fighting out the finish here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.5  C’EST MOI  ($4.25 with BoomBet)

The Stephen Marsh-trained C’EST MOI has shown plenty of promise in her five starts to date and third-up today, looks set for another bold showing. Last start, the Vadamos mare came off a good win in a BM65 at Pukekohe Park when she stepped-up in grade and wasn’t disgraced, finishing third in the 1200m event at Ruakaka. Ashvin Goindasamy was aboard for both those runs and remains in the saddle for today’s contest. Fitter for those two runs, she draws well here in gate five and has found the podium three times on wet tracks so conditions today look ideal. Well weighted at 54.5kgs, she can give this a real shake.