New Zealand Tips for Saturday, March 30

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

ELLERSLIE

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.6  PEARL OF ALSACE

Second-up today, PEARL OF ALSACE brings a glowing resume to the table here and looks the testing material in the big race of the day. Last start, the Tavistock mare came off a 12-week break when she arrived in time to grab victory in Open company over 1600m as she saw the Ellerslie track for the first time. Ridden a treat by Michael McNab, she settled in the one, one and on straightening, ranged up alongside the leader where they fought it out in the run home, with the five-year-old mare prevailing across the line. That was the perfect dress rehearsal for this contest as McNab remains aboard for the assignment. Unbeaten in two second-up appearances and now a winner at the track and distance, she looks the one to beat today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.2  C’EST MOI

The Stephen Marsh-trained C’EST MOI is second-up today and looks well placed here to ring-up career-win number four in this contest. Last start, the Vadamos mare resumed off a 21-week break when she finished third in a BM75, here over 1300m with Craig Grylls aboard for the first time. Drawn the outside gate (11), she settled last and on the turn was the widest runner. Grylls wound her up and she turned some heads as she finished strongly to be beaten just half a length on the line. Fitter for that run, Grylls sticks with her today and better drawn here in gate six, she can give this a real shake.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.5  LOVEAROADIE

The Matamata-based LOVEAROADIE sees Ellerslie for the first time today and second-up looks set to make an instant impression at odds. Last start, the Savile Row mare returned to the track after six months in the paddock where she wasn’t disgraced, finishing third in a BM65 over 1200m on her home track. Ace Lawson-Carroll was aboard that day and had the four-year-old box-seating on settling. In the run home, she was checked at a critical spot and lost momentum, only to get going again and arrived in time to grab that third prize, beaten half a length on the line. Drawn out today, she maps to settle in the first half-dozen with cover but one off the fence. With a trouble-free run today, she looks in the mix and well worth an each-way ticket here.

RIVERTON

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.3  CHOUX MACHER

The Kelly Shearing-trained CHOUX MACHER is second-up today and will be out to go one better in tis contest. Last start, the Jimmy Choux gelding was having his first start for the Shearing stable and after a 20-week absence, did well to take home second prize in a BM75 over 1200m at Gore. Never on the track, he travelled three-deep to the turn where he drifted even wider and was nosed-out by a swooper on the line. Kendra Bakker was aboard that day and along with her 4kg claim, sticks with him today. Down in grade here, he is already a track and distance winner and fitter for that first-up run, looks a real chance for victory today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.1  EMANON 

Lionel Dobbs saddles-up the ever-consistent EMANON here who is out to bring up her tenth-straight podium finish today. Last start, the Burgundy mare brought up her ninth runner-up trophy when she beat all but one home in Open company over 1200m at Ashburton. Abdul Najib was aboard for his fifth ride on the mare that day and he is yet to miss a top-three finish in five rides date, as he again sticks with her for this assignment. After the claim, the five-year-old carries 3kgs under the set weights limit here, 4kgs less than her last start. She is already a three-time winner over the 1400m and in career-best form of late, she looks a real player here and will take beating.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.6  CHERRYVILLE 

The Team Anderton-trained CHERRYVILLE is in career-best form this time in and looks well placed here for another bold showing at odds today. Last start, the Ghibellines gelding made it back-to-back wins when he finished too strong for them in a BM65 over the mile at Wingatui. Corey Campbell has steered the four-year-old to both recent victories and steers the ship again today. He draws the middle of the field today and maps to settle near mid-field with cover. All going well and he finds clean air when it counts, the hat-trick could be on the cards today and an each-way ticket looks the way to go in this contest.