Justin Evans: Just Ask Me...for my New Plymouth picks
Justin Evans • September 13th, 2024 9:29 AM
Justin Evans previews the eight race card at New Plymouth's Saturday meeting.
Race 1:
Quite an open race to start the day and with the way this track last played looking to fish for some value with a few on pace runners who may be advantaged. Who’s Complainin is a local galloper back in good form and a brave last start 5th in the stronger Inter Provincial sets him up well for this. Has the blinkers going on and with talented local apprentice Elle Sole in the saddle he can run a race at nice odds. Loch Katrine continues to be a model of consistency, loves wet ground and tries hard. She may run at Te Rapa on Sunday however. Opera Belle is a former Australian galloper who hasn't been far away in her 2 NZ starts and will really appreciate jumping up in trip, she was a wet track 2000m winner in Victoria and is another with the blinkers going on. Tisse is a nice horse who has run well in all 5 starts and has had time to get over his last start 2nd here on that very testing track. Has more wins in him and probably going further than most of these, can win. Kawhia, Teak & Ballroom Blitz are other chances in a race with a multitude of hopes.
Selections: 3-7-14-1
Race 2:
A market dominated by an in form northern visitor and a classy local galloper. Going with the latter, Justaskme who is looking to repeat his emphatic last start win here. Same track, same distance, same weight and there’s a very good chance it will be the same result. There’s a strong argument he should be favourite. Diamond Jak is in great form and although it’s been mainly at Te Rapa at slightly longer trips there’s no reason he shouldn’t run really well again for his rider Jasmine Fawcett who he is building a strong association with. Sacred Pearl is knocking on the door and deserves one for consistency, she was good here behind Justaskme without all favours then it took Verry Flash to roll her late at Wanganui. She loves heavy tracks and she’ll be competitive again with only 52 kilos on her back. Aljay can never be ruled out, ran 3rd in this race last year after two almost identical performances at Riccarton as he had this year.
Selections: 1-5-4-2
Race 3:
Ziggy Stardust showed promise as a 2yo when placed in 2 of 3 with a 3rd to the smart Super Photon and came from last to run 2nd in the Champagne Stakes at Riccarton. Looked in good order with a cosy trial a month ago. Top stable, top jockey and on form she’s top pick. Brilliant Battle showed enough as a 2yo and should be better for that first prep and is from a stable that has them ready. Impressive Belle turning into a professional placegetter, has pace and can put herself right in the race again but always seems to find one better. La Roch Percee is on debut for Ralph Manning and there’s been a bit to like about her two trials. Has missed away in both trials which could be a worry but looks to have ability and her dam has produced a number of winners. Worth a look
Selections: 8-7-2-9
Race 4:
Another crash and dash over the 990m and the two fav’s look the strongest hopes in the race. Debit is a lightly raced mare with good ability who hasn’t raced since winning her maiden impressively 15 months ago. Has had two strong front running trial wins both in the quickest time of the day, albeit they were 2 months ago. If she’s ready to go, she’ll go close. Bella Timing is busting to win a race, three 2nds from her last 4 starts and got rolled late here last start after being labelled urgent a long way from home. She’ll be suited to the drop in trip and is a strong chance to get an overdue win. Could easily have her on top. Herbert ran a big one at this trip first up at this meeting last year and going on his sharp recent trial he looks ready to do so again. Vibration has plenty of raw ability but still very much a work in progress, has missed the kick in both starts and won’t want to be doing that here but has good ability.
Selections: 7-3-4-9
Race 5:
What a cracking field! Some real quality here with a mix of strong winter performers and classy gallopers who will be playing a part in some of our spring and summer features. Mustang Valley is a dual G1 winner who is one of our very best wet track gallopers in the land. She was a commanding winner of this race last year when 2nd up after running in the Foxbridge. Follows the same pattern this year and she’s going to take some beating on her favourite heavy footing as she heads towards defending her crown in the G1 Arrowfield at the Bay. Hi Yo Sass Bomb is a very good local mare coming off a brilliant first up win at Wanganui, loves wet ground and although meeting some classy opposition she’ll be more than competitive. One Bold Cat looks in for another fruitful prep after a stroing resumption running home well to get 3rd at Wanganui. He’s going to be better over further and will be targeting cup races but he’s a smart horse with a super home track record. Spencer keeps racing well and with the claim he gets in at a super light weight. Best roughie in the race could be Gospodin who found the Foxbridge too hard last start but had been racing well before that and gets the blinkers on for the first time.
Selections: 1-7-3-8
Race 6:
Indian Gold gets the nod here for Allan Sharrock after a good last start 2nd coming from last on a very testing track. He’s from a nice family and should only continue to improve and the 4 kilos he gets off his back from promising apprentice Rihaan Goyaram helps his cause. Violetsrblue keeps putting in nice runs and her last two starts have had plenty of merit. Footloose was advantaged by sitting outside the leader in a very slowly run race at Hawera but with not much pace on paper in this race either he can run well again. Outer Focus gives the Sharrock stable a strong hand in the race, has had 2 placings from 3 starts this prep and had excuses in the other. It was a tough effort from him here last start. Right in it.
Selections: 1-8-3-2
Race 7:
It’s the road to the Jericho and it will be survival of the fittest in what could be a real slog over 3210m on a heavy track and there’s plenty in here with claims. King Khan is the horse with two mile form after running 3rd in this race last year, that’s got to be a big tick, he’s dropping back from Ohcp racing, loves heavy ground and is ridden by 3 time NZ cup winning rider Kelly Myers, so she knows how to ride a two mile race! He's a nice each-way play. Hill Of Kings could be the smoky, has shown ability and has been targeting a crack at The Jericho for sometime. He will appreciate the rise in trip, from a stable that knows how to get them fit and has had a recent jumping trial to have him ready for this. He’s a potential leader and could be there for a long time. Quid has been mixing flat and jumping racing and is yet to run a bad racThere will be no queries with fitness or stamina. Irrigate is in the form of her life with two very strong staying efforts to grab back to back wins and could well make it three here. Astradeel, In A Pickle and Amarillo Slim are all live hopes in a competitive race.
Selections: 2-11-6-9
Race 8:
A lot to like about the chances of Queen Of Spades here who looks ready to win after her good 2nd up run at Otaki. On her day she’s a good mare who has beaten better fields than this, she loves heavy ground, loves 1600m and can be very hard to get past if left alone in front. If that happens here she could take some beating. Harmonious is racing very well and was just beaten by the in form Drop Of Something at Wanganui. Only needs to hold her form to be right in this. Asgard is a big strong galloper with a bright future who was impressive winning first up at Te Rapa. Badgeringdawitness scored first up from a spell at Hawera with local apprentice Elle Sole again taking the reins here. He was beaten a half head in this same race at last years meeting and can be right in the hunt again.
Selections: 1-4-7-5
Best Bet:
Race 5 No 1 Mustang Valley
Next Best:
Race 2 No 1 Justaskme
Value:
Race 7 No 2 King Khan
Photograph at the top of the page:
Justin Evans' "Next Best" bet of the day is locally trained Justaskme for Allan Sharrock
Photo Credit: Racing Images
Justin Evans' "Next Best" bet of the day is locally trained Justaskme for Allan Sharrock
Photo Credit: Racing Images
