Trentham races preview & best bets | March 18, 2023
| What | New Zealand Oaks Day 2023 |
| Where | Wellington Racing Club – Racecourse Rd, Trentham, New Zealand |
| When | Saturday, March 18, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm NZDT |
The 2023 edition of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks is the headline act for the nine-race program out of Tentham. We’ve got a field of 17 runners assembled for this year’s contest over the 2400m. Throw in the Group 1 Levin Classic on an all round competitive meeting and we are set fair for a cracking day of racing out of Trentham.
The track is rated a Soft 5, with the rail in the true position for the meeting commencing at 1pm NZDT.
New Zealand Oaks Top Tip – Val Di Zoldo
Val Di Zoldo should prove hard to beat following her last start victory in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes over 2100m as the second favourite. She raced up on the speed before taking over the lead with 200m to run and held off all challenges to score a neck victory. She only won her maiden race two starts ago but won with ease as the $1.80 favourite. This Tony Pike-trained filly looks to have matured well over the past few months and should have no problem coping with the rise to 2400m. She could not have been more impressive when working on Tuesday over 1600m, sprinting the final 600m in 37.16. She is currently at around $8 with online bookmakers to claim the New Zealand Oaks. Ryan Elliot who won last week’s New Zealand Derby is in the saddle.
New Zealand Oaks
Race 8 – 
#2 Val Di Zoldo (5)
3yo Filly | T: Tony Pike | J: Ryan Elliot (56.5kg)
Levin Classic Top Tip – Romancing The Moon
We are going for the Mark Walker-trained Romancing The Moon in the Levin Classic who looks to carry on her winning ways after she bolted in to win a Listed event last start by five lengths at Wingatui when sent out as the odds-on favourite. Her stable saddled the first four runners home in this event last season and they have a great chance to record another victory. She has been very consistent in thee-year-old fillies feature races all season with her best run coming when she finished second to the smart filly Legarto in the Group 3 Soliloquy Stakes, with last week’s Group 1 winner Prowess finishing third. There is some rain forecast on the day but that won’t worry her.
Levin Classic
Race 6 – 
#14 Romancing The Moon (10)
3yo Filly | T: Mark Wlaker | J: Kozzi Asano (55kg)
Best Bet at Trentham – Islington Lass
Islington Lass looked very smart when scoring a last start victory over 1600m, when having to race thee-wide for most of the trip. She was ridden for the first time by this season’s leading jockey Michael McNab and he is back in the saddle again today. This four year old mare has drawn out wide but the long Trentham straight will suit her style of racing and she should be storming home late.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#9 Islington Lass (10)
4yo Mare | T: Allan Sharrock | J: Michael McNab (54.5kg)
Best Value at Trentham – High Choice
High Choice went the fastest 400m last start when leading early before taking up a trailing position, then fought hard to the line to finish second over 2100m. This four-year-old gelding carried his full weight of 60kg but with apprentice Ciel Butler in the saddle gets a 3kg claiming relief. From the ace draw should get a nice run throughout the trip and look to race clear with 200m to run. He has placed in his last three starts and is well overdue a winning turn.
Best Value
Race 9 – 
#1 High Choice (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Ben Foote | J: Ciel Butler (a3) (60kg)
Saturday quaddie picks for Trentham
Trentham quadrella selections
Saturday, March 18, 2023
- 13-14
- 1
- 1-2-6
- 1-6-8-9
Investment: $24 for 100%