New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – Saturday October 29
New Zealand Tips 29/10/2022
Our form expert provides New Zealand tips for tomorrow’s horse racing at Awapuni and Matamata and gives his best bets.
AWAPUNI
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.6 PROVIDENCEPROVIDES ($2.30 with Palmerbet)
Second-up here, the Tony Pike-trained PROVIDENCEPROVIDES looks well placed in this company and if she takes her place in this field (also nominated for a start in race eight at Matamata), she should prove hard to hold out. Last start, the Real Impact mare was fresh off a six-month absence when she beat all but one home in a BM75 over 1300m on the synthetic track at Cambridge. Only her lack of condition (and conceding 6kgs to the winner) beat her that day as she went down by a mere head on the line. Dropping 6.5kgs here, Kozzi Asano returns for his sixth ride on the mare (having ridden to victory previously) and from a dream draw here (gate 2) maps to get the gun-run right behind the speed. Already a winner when second-up, she will take beating in this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.6 AROMATIC ($5 with Neds)
The Mark Walker-trained AROMATIC is now four starts into this preparation and should be ready to win. Last start, the Sacred Falls mare travelled nicely, tucked in behind the early pace but then paid the penalty for staying there too long. On the turn, she was boxed-in and had nowhere to go. Finally getting clear, she ran home strongly but too late to grab first prize, having to settle for the runner-up cheque in the end. Joe Kamaruddin returns for the ride here and he too will be out to break a drought, having finished second, no less than four times on the mare from his seven previous rides. She has to deal with the outside fence here (13), but it may be a blessing in disguise as she should avoid the dramas of her last start disappointment. Already a winner here, she is worth another chance.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 3: No.5 JACKAROO ($5.50 with Unibet)
The Kevin Gray-trained JACKAROO has managed two wins this preparation and on a six-day back-up here, looks well placed to score again. Last start, the Jakkalberry gelding came off a nail-biting win at Hawera and almost did it again but had to settle for second prize in a BM75 Hcp over 2200m at Trentham. He meets similar company here over the same trip and is drawn to do no early work from gate one. Mereana Hudson sticks with him here (having ridden him at his past two starts) and in career-best form this preparation, he can go on with it now.
MATAMATA
BEST BET 🏆
Race 10: No.7 FAY KHAN IT ($3 with Palmerbet)
Having her third race start here, the locally-trained FAY KHAN IT put in a bold effort second-up and looks every chance of taking this out. Last start, the Mongolian Khan mare looked gone on the home turn, but to her credit, she kept finding something and whilst never a winning chance, she finished strongly to grab third prize in the 16-strong contest. She can only improve on that and remaining on her home track, she looks a big chance here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.10 FASHION SHOOT ($5 with BlueBet)
Mark Walker saddles-up FASHION SHOOT here who has returned in white-hot form and looks a genuine winning chance in this event. Last start, the Savabeel mare came off a good win at Te Rapa when she finished strongly but arrived too late and had to settle for second prize in a BM75 Hcp, here over 1200m. She drew wide that day (12 of 14) and settled back in the field, making the task just a little hard to overcome. The five-year-old just needs a little luck here in the big field and with a clear run to the line, she can secure her first home-track win.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 9: No.12 ON THE PROWL ($13 with Unibet)
A true model of consistency, the Ralf Manning-trained ON THE PROWL has strung together eight-straight podium finishes (including back-to-back wins in there) and provided she can overcome her wide draw here, she looks a big chance of adding another one to list (at odds) in this contest. Last start, the Contributer mare was shooting for the hat-trick but missed by half a length when taking home the silver medal in a BM75, here over the mile trip. She handled the step-up in grade well last start and after the claim here, will carry just 2kgs more against similar company. Tayla Mitchell was aboard for the mare’s last two runs and has the job again in this contest. With a touch of luck in running, she can give this a real shake and is well worth an each-way ticket here.