New Zealand Preview & Best Bets – 30/12/2023

New Zealand Tips for Saturday, December 30

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

KUROW

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.5  IFFIDIDIT  ($3.60 with Bet Right)

The Kennedy & Furlong-trained IFFIDIDIT has found the podium seven times from his eight career starts and he looks poised to keep that trend going today. Last start, the Iffraaj gelding came off a good win over the mile at Riccarton when he stepped-up in grade and faced a BM75 contest over the same track and trip. On a seven-day back-up, he did a mighty job to figure in the finish, coming home with third prize, beaten less than a length on the line. Kavish Chowdhoory rode him an absolute treat that day and pilots the ship again for this assignment. He drops back 200m here which may suit better as he was a little one-paced over the final 100m last start. Ideally drawn in gate three today, he maps to settle two or three pairs back and will have the last crack at them in the run home. He looks the goods in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.5  MADAME GISELLE  ($5 with bet365)

The Kennedy & Furlong Team saddle-up MADAME GISELLE here who is third-up today and should be ready to strike. Last start, the Time Test mare showed a ton of improvement when she beat all but home in a BM65 Hcp over 1400m at Cromwell. Finishing strongly that day, she looked the winner but was nosed out by Poverty Bay who also put in a big finish. Meeting similar company today and over the 1400m again, she will strip even fitter here as Lee Callaway sticks with her for the assignment. Ideally drawn in gate three, she maps to settle better than mid-field and with a trouble-free run home, she can give this a shake today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.3  TADITA  ($11 with Bet Right)

The Steven Woodsford-trained TADITA is second-up today and down in grade here, looks a solid chance for victory. Last start, the Tivaci mare resumed off a 14-week spell and in need of the run, finished mid-field in a BM75 over 1200m at Ascot Park. She travelled wide most of the way and was only beaten 3.5 lengths in the end. Akshay Balloo was aboard that day and has the reins again for this assignment. Placed twice when second-up previously and a two-time winner at the trip, she will strip fitter for that first-up effort and looks a good each-way investment here.

TAUPO

BEST BET 🏆

Race 2:  No.6  TANGANYIKA  ($2.65 with BlueBet)

The O’Sullivan & Scott-trained TANGANYIKA has shown plenty of promise in his two career starts to date and looks a shoe-in here with a trouble-free run today. On debut, he was sent out a $9 chance but got the job done, winning his maiden, here over 1200m. Then last start, he stepped to a BM65 contest and wasn’t disgraced when taking home third prize over the longer 1400m trip at Te Rapa. Coming back to where it all began today, he should find this contest a little easier and will strip even fitter with two runs under his belt. Opie Bosson takes the reins today and coming back in distance, the three-year-old looks the one to beat here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.7  STELLA SPLENDIDA  ($2.15 with Bet Right)

The Walker & Bergerson Team saddle-up STELLA SPLENDIDA here who is third-up and ticks all the boxes that say she is the horse to beat in this contest. Last start, the Zoustar mare was full of running when second-up, she clobbered her rivals in a BM75 over 1200m at New Plymouth. She sat outside the leader until they straightened when showing a good turn of foot, she took over and under hands and heels, went on to win by almost two lengths over the line. Opie Bosson returns for today’s assignment and although she carries an extra 2kgs here, she is a winner at the track and trip and is definitely a major contender for the winner’s cheque.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.7  NOM DE PLUME  ($3.30 with Bet Right)

To the feature race of the day and the Robbie Patterson-trained NOM DE PLUME has had a good lead-up for this event and third-up today, looks in the mix for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the El Roca mare was second-up at Trentham when she beat home a BM75 field over the mile. Settling last of the 11 runners, the five-year-old was spotting the leaders eight lengths. Approaching the turn, in the driving rain she was the widest of all (nearer the outside fence) when she produced a whirlwind finish to grab them all and go on to win by a length on the line. Already a winner when third-up, Craig Grylls returns for today’s assignment (having ridden her to victory twice previously), and drawn to do no early work from gate three, she can settle back again and put in another big finish here. She looks the ticket today.