New Zealand racing free tips, odds and form, Saturday July 8
BETTING on New Zealand racing is a great way to start your Saturday on the punt and there are some quality betting fields on offer at two venues this week.
Awapuni and Ruakaka are good winter venues in New Zealand, especially Ruakaka with its sand-slit surface and both tracks should provide an even surface this Saturday July 8.
We have found our best tips across New Zealand with the latest betting markets and form.
Australian and New Zealand punters can bet on Kiwi racing at Bet365.com which opens their international markets early.
Awapuni Race 1 – Nuclear Fusion
Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are on fire at the moment and this two-year-old filly looks a good chance to break maiden grades.
The daughter of Power has had three race day starts for two placings and it has been finishing off its races very well behind some nice types. It was slow from the barriers last start at Otaki before charging home late and a similar pattern should see it going close again.
Senior rider Johnathan Parkes takes over from apprentice Ryan Elliot which will help and he rides Awapuni well.
It’s only a matter of time before Nuclear Fusion gets its first win on the board and punters will be backing it with Bet365.com.
Awapuni Race 6 – Dolcetto
There is plenty of hype surrounding Dolcetto and it has been warranted to date.
The Sylvia Kay-trained four-year-old is the stable star after winning its last two starts in impressive fashion and the wins have come with some amount of arrogance.
Both came on heavy tracks which look ideal and conditions this Saturday at Awapuni is forecast for a heavy surface. That will help the Per Incanto gelding which defeated the Australian-performed Manhattan Street by a half-length last start at Trentham.
It likes to settle back in the field and produce around the outside of runners, which is ideal this time of the year in New Zealand. The inside parts of the tracks are often unused and jockey Sam Collett should go wide from barrier seven.
This is its toughest test to date by far, but punters should be able to get a better price than the $3 it has paid at its last two starts.
Awapuni Race 8 – Hard To Be Humble
Hard To Be Humble has won only one of its 14 starts, but the consistent mare has also placed on seven occasions.
The Janelle Miller-trained five-year-old scored that win two starts back at Hawera when beating the talented Big Ben by a nose and it followed that run up with a narrow second placing.
Its last start second placing at Trentham was better than advertised as it came from well back on the turn and went to within a half-length on Hare Bawl. It drops in grade for this after contesting rating 75 grade last start and the wet track suits best.
It has had seven starts on a heavy track for one win and five placings, so conditions suits and it should be paying a nice each way price at Sportsbet.com.au.
Ruakaka Race 4 – Contessa Vanessa
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Contessa Vanessa graduates from midweek grades after winning its last two starts with ease.
The Rogerson-trained two-year-old is looking for the three-peat with New Zealand’s jockeys’ premiership leader Chris Johnson in the saddle and we’re expecting it to be the acid test again.
The daughter of Bullbars scored by 2.8 lengths at Avondale on June 9 before going to Pukekohe and winning by 2.5 lengths. The two wins have been classy and the only worry is about the firmer track, but it has form at Ruakaka.
It finished third here on debut behind Global Thinking before finishing fourth behind Karaka Million 2YO champion Melody Belle.
That’s great form in a race where there isn’t much exposed form and it’s worth a bet at CrownBet.com.au.
Ruakaka Race 8 – Myrcella
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Myrcella is seeking three straight wins after winning impressively at Pukekohe and Ellerslie.
The mare by Makfi won by 3.3 lengths at Pukekohe when breaking maiden grades and it made easy work of rating 65 opposition last start when winning by 2.3 lengths at Ellerslie.
That win signalled its ability to run against good quality opposition and it gets into this race well with a weight of 55.5kg and Mark Du Plessis in the saddle.
There are some nice types in this, but stick with the in-form runner which appears to be going places.