NZ Derby Day tips, value bets & quaddie picks | Te Rapa
| What | New Zealand Derby Day |
| Where | Te Rapa Racecourse – 12 Sir Tristram Ave, Hamilton, New Zealand |
| When | Saturday, March 4, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:40pm NZDT |
The 2023 edition of the New Zealand Derby is the headline act for Saturday’s 10-race program out of Te Rapa. We’ve got a field of 18 runners assembled for this year’s contest over the 2400m, and it features the star gelding Sharp ‘N’ Smart, who is a hot favourite.
NZ DERBY TIP: SHARP ‘N’ SMART
Sharp ‘N’ Smart should prove far too good for his rivals, and his short odds of around $1.70 reflect that. He won the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes over 2000m last start when drawing the widest in the 11-horse field. He was forced to race wide against his older rivals without cover until the 1400m, then three wide with 1000m to run. With 400m to run he was checked and become unbalanced, but went on to score easily as the $2.90 favourite. He has drawn well and jockey Ryan Elliot should be able to have him well placed throughout the race. Trainer Graeme Rogerson reported that his trackwork on Tuesday was outstanding and he thought that he had improved further since his last-start victory. Following the NZ Derby, Rogerson is travelling the gelding to Australia to tackle the Group 1 Australian Derby and then the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. His last Australian race start was in the Victorian Derby, where he fought hard to the line to finish second after leading for most of the race.
New Zealand Derby
Race 8 – 
#1 Sharp ‘N’ Smart (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Graeme Rogerson | J: Ryan Elliot (57kg)
KINGS PLATE TIP: BONNY LASS
We are going for Bonny Lass to beat the hot-pot Babylon Berlin in the Group 3 Kings Plate over 1200m. She finished seventh last start in the Group Sprint run at this track over 1400m at weight-for-age level. That was a field full of talent, and outside the favourite she will find this lot much easier to compete against – especially dropping back to 1200m. She won a Group 3 race three starts back and, if she can return to that form, should prove hard to beat.
Kings Plate
Race 3 – 
#2 Bonny Lass (7)
4yo Mare | T: G Richardson & R Novall | J: Craig Grylls (54kg)
SUNLINE VASE TIP: SEDAKA
This Savabeel filly could only finish sixth last start in the Group 2 Waikto Guineas when racing on wet ground, which doesn’t suit her style. She was purchased for $125,000 and has shown early promise having scored one victory and three placings which include a second two starts back after getting away poorly in the Group 2 Royal Stakes over 2000m. Based on that placing, she should prove hard to beat. She raced back in the field following that bad start, then raced wide into the home straight and came home strongly over the final 200m. She is currently around $6.50 with online bookmakers.
Sunline Vase
Race 7 – 
#1 Sedaka (17)
3yo Filly | T: Stephen Marsh | J: Sam Spratt (56.5kg)
BEST BET AT TE RAPA: COLLATERAL DAMAGE
We like the way Collateral Damage hit the line to finish last time out after making a slow start from his wide draw. This gelding has drawn wide again today, but the 420m straight will help his chances in the run home. Niranjan Parmar – who won his last ride – is in the saddle, and his 2kg allowance will add to this three-year-old gelding’s winning claims.
Best Bet
Race 10 – 
#8 Collateral Damage (15)
3yo Gelding | T: R James & R Wellwood | J: Niranjan Parmar (58.5kg)
Te Rapa quaddie tips for NZ Derby Day 2023
Te Rapa quadrella selections
Saturday, March 4, 2023
- 1-3-4
- 2-1
- 1-3-7-10
- 2-4-6-8
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