Saturday 11th February 2023
Another purler for us!!
Was it nice to buy back the farm? Pearl of Alsace is a star in the making, whether you plumped for the win (10 units) or took some cover with the 5 units ew, you were rewarded with a scintillating ride as she reeled them in down the straight for a fourth consecutive win at $4.20/$1.60 as our bet of the day! More to come I feel from this brilliant mare, and my CD spy keeps his job for another week!!
Found ourselves a little disappointed with the ride on Tara Jasmine, who’s all-round stats suggested she was a shoo-in for this… I know she relies on a big finish, but flopping her out the back from the stalls in a 1100m race is not ideal, and she flew late when it was all over to finish third. Not a happy camper…
We flagged Royal Fox as a 3 unit ew bet with Dean Yendall back onboard, and they produced a similar run to Tara, although with far more merit as a $2.20 third.
Girl Mania (4 units ew) provided the final payout of the day, also running third at $2.90 the place…
An ice round number from the book today, with no less than 30 tips for you, let’s dive in to the NZ picks first, Aussie to follow…
Saturday’s NZ picks…
HABANA
Te Rapa, 1
There’s been nothing wrong with his recent form, and despite dropping in grade here after winning his last two, he’s a $7 shot, and worth backing EW at that price… Great stats and the in-form Kennedy sticks.
BET: 5 units ew
ESS VEE ARE
Te Rapa, 5
Went in the book in November after getting trapped badly, then came out and won for us here two weeks later. Ran a fast-finishing third here last time, as is another one with super stats for this. Oh, and Opie jumps onboard, which makes him extra hard to beat… $3.40 fav
BET: 10 unit win
GNASHER
Riccarton, 3
Showed some early speed on resuming in December, and wasn’t too far off in the end for the new barn. Been some early money for him and he’s in to $8.50 now.
BET: 3 units ew
VINDICATOR
Riccarton, 4
Shocking ride by this jockey last time out, when he was left with far too much to do before flying home to finish third by a long neck or so. Any decent ride over the additional 200m should see him win this as $3.30 fav.
BET: 10 unit win
AMBERECHO
Riccarton, 6
Hope there’s not a pattern here, but same jockey (K Williams) did nothing on this hotpot last week, hit sixth and stayed there despite great stats… Expect better today, we hope, at $3.30
BET: 6 unit win
Saturday’s Aussie picks, with commentary on all horses…
PLATFORM
Sandown, 1
Been consistent this prep, down in grade but up in distance here, so maybe an EW shot in this at $10.
BET: 2 units ew
BARBER
Sandown, 3
Fell out of the gates at Rosehill last November and produced an amazing burst to get up and win. Has trialled twice to tune up for this and gets Ms Kah up top. $2.90 fav in a race in two with Brave Halo.
BET: 8 unit win
DE SONIC BOOM, EXPLORING
Sandown, 4
DSB was huge on debut here two weeks back, winning from dead last as a $13 shot. Must rate at least an EW bet at a similar price here today. Exploring was heavily backed in on debut on New Year’s Day and duly obliged, then ran a close fourth two weeks back. EW shot at $19.
BET: DSB 3 units ew, EX 2 units ew, include both in exotics…
CYTHERA
Sandown, 5
Noted a year ago on debut with a gritty win when well backed, then ran third in a G3 before heading to the paddock for almost a year. Gets M Zahra and won a trial a month ago, if she’s ready she’s a live EW chance at $15…
BET: 3 units ew
I’M THUNDERSTRUCK, AEGON
Sandown, 7
Looks tailor-made for IT under J Kah, second fav at $4.20, can back him EW in this. Ex-Kiwi Aegon has good first-up stats and has performed well at this level, rarely far away, chance at $26.
BET: IT 5 units ew, Aegon 3 units ew, exotics
SMOKIN’ ROMANS, MANKAYAN
Sandown, 8
SR won two for us at great odds under E Brown, then ran two sevenths under J Kah… Brown’s back onboard for this after a 3 month break and rates a chance at $18. Relative on-pacer, so the drop back to the mile suits. Mankayan has a great first-up record and has only missed the frame three times in the past 17 runs, so is also a great EW shot at $13.
BET: Can back both 3 units ew, include in exotics…
DON CORLEONE, REMEDIES
Randwick, 1
DC was backed in heavily on debut and was produced beautifully to power home for the win. Can go on with it, and the punters agree as $1.50 fav. Remedies
BET: 8 unit win
KING RATEL
Randwick, 4
So consistent this prep, and though up in grade, he looks a cert to make the frame at $5.
BET: 5 units ew
TITANIUM POWER
Randwick, 5
Another consistent animal, front-runner back to 1200m though up in grade and will be hard to catch as $4 fav.
BET: 8 unit win
BELLATRIX BLACK
Randwick, 9
Kiwi mare on debut in Aussie after 11 months away. Has trialled well for her return, and is she’s ready, can provide some value in this at the $23 mark…
BET: 2 units ew
DESTINATION
Randwick, 10
Rarely far off, and a good second at this grade last time out under Schofield. He sticks, and is a $19 shot in this.
BET: 2 units ew
EFFORTKAT
Morphettville, 1
Latest form solid, this may be a test though, $19 shot.
BET: 2 units ew
JET JITSU
Morphettville, 2
Plenty of returns from this consistent gelding, $3.10 fav in this, must go in.
BET: 10 unit win
EN FRANCAIS
Morphettville, 8
Never missed the frame in eight runs and tucked them away on resumption three weeks ago. $3.20 fav, wins…
BET: 10 unit win
MORE SUGAR, WHEELS
Morphettville, 9
Fancy both these to figure here at $6.50 and $4.80 respectively, both shown good form this prep.
BET: Can back both 3 units ew, include in exotics
PALENCIA
Townsville, 2
Resumes today, showed good form before the break, has form first up, chance at $4.40 in this small field.
BET: 5 unit win
CUDDLES
Orange, 6
Not shown much this prep, EW only…
BET: 2 unit ew
MANDALORIAN
Ditto for him…
BET: 2 units ew
TADWEER
Ascot, 9
Proving a touch frustrating this prep with a series of placings, so it’s EW today for him at $6.
BET: 5 units ew
