Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New Zealand · Thursday 21 August 2025
Our top pick won 4 of 7 races at Riccarton Park Synthetic. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Celtic Bling presents the strongest winning chance with consistent recent form including a third at this track last start. The mare has shown ability with multiple placings and gets the services of champion jockey Opie Bosson. Her track experience and recent form progression make her the standout selection despite being winless.
Lochmara Bay showed excellent form when second at this track in June and has proven ability at the distance. The mare gets an ideal barrier draw and has specific experience at track and trip. The 43-day break is a concern but her track form suggests she can be competitive again.
Shakabrah showed marked improvement when second at this track last start and benefits from a significant class drop. The gelding has specific track experience and gets his regular jockey. The top weight and wide barrier are concerns but the class drop provides a genuine winning opportunity.
Lucky Ferrando represents excellent value despite being first up from a long spell. The gelding has contested Listed races and drops significantly in class while carrying the minimum weight. His inexperience and first-up status are concerns, but the class drop and light weight make him a worthwhile value play.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Celtic Bling | 8 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 56.5kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 5 | Lochmara Bay | 3 | Brandon May | D M Walsh | 56.5kg | $5.70 |
| 3rd | 1 | Shakabrah | 4 | T R Moseley | Krystal Williams | 58.5kg | $8.20 |
| 4th | 8 | Lucky Ferrando | 2 | Jack Taplin | J & K Parsons | 53kg | $4.20 |
| 5th | 7 | She''s Sinatra | 10 | K Bakker | L M Robinson | 53.5kg | $25.60 |
| 6th | 2 | Reserved | 9 | B M Murray | M & M Pitman | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Our Sallyann | 5 | Floor Moerman | M & M Pitman | 52.5kg | $14.80 |
| 8th | 3 | Entrench | 6 | A K Riddell | Ainsley Mcleod | 56.5kg | $51.80 |
| 9th | 10 | Andina | 1 | Billy Jacobson | J & K Parsons | 54kg | $18.20 |
| Scr | 9 | Miss Bouquet | 7 | Abdul Najib | D B Frye | 51kg |
Alminette presents as the standout selection having won her last start at this exact track and distance. Her synthetic track record shows 1 win from 8 starts with 5 placings, demonstrating clear venue suitability. The strong improving form trend with consistent top-3 finishes makes her hard to beat despite the weight burden.
Sorcha brings excellent synthetic credentials with 3 wins from 12 starts at this surface. The 43-day break is a minor concern but her synthetic form is too strong to ignore.
Hey Now's track and distance record of 4 wins from 7 starts is exceptional and cannot be ignored. Despite a poor last start, he won at this venue two starts back and has proven synthetic form.
Tap 'n' Go offers value based on his recent win at this track and perfect 1 from 1 record at this distance. The significant class drop and lightweight of 53.5kg with apprentice claim provides clear advantages.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | War Court | 3 | Billy Jacobson | B D Court | 57.5kg | $5.70 |
| 2nd | 6 | On File | 5 | K Mudhoo | J & K Parsons | 55kg | $15.40 |
| 3rd | 4 | Tap ''n'' Go | 6 | Floor Moerman | Ms N M White | 53.5kg | $14.40 |
| 4th | 1 | Alminette | 1 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 59kg | $2.50 |
| 5th | 2 | Sorcha | 4 | Courtney Barnes | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 58kg | $3.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Hey Now | 2 | T R Moseley | Sharon Robertson & Alan Reeves | 57.5kg | $8.10 |
| 7th | 7 | Megalomaniac | 7 | Jack Taplin | M E Forde | 51kg | $25.10 |
Tumuch presents as the standout selection with a perfect record at this track and distance (3 wins from 3 starts). His synthetic track form is exceptional (3 wins from 4 starts) and recent consistency is strong. Despite the class rise and top weight, his proven ability at this venue makes him the horse to beat.
Stonybreck brings strong synthetic credentials (6 wins from 13 starts) and the booking of Opie Bosson suggests stable confidence. The inside barrier is advantageous and recent form is solid. However, first-time track experience and the class rise present challenges in what appears a competitive field.
Delmonico arrives in excellent form with recent wins and strong track familiarity (2 wins from 7 starts). The 8kg weight drop from 59kg to 51kg with Ayush Mudhoo's claim provides a significant advantage. Recent synthetic form is strong, making him a genuine chance despite the class rise.
Recent third at this track shows competitive form, and synthetic surface experience is relevant.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Tumuch | 5 | Jack Taplin | J & K Parsons | 59kg | $2.10 |
| 2nd | 2 | Stonybreck | 2 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 56kg | $2.40 |
| 3rd | 3 | Charbano | 3 | Ms K Williams | M & M Pitman | 54kg | $17.50 |
| 4th | 4 | Sprocket Rocket | 1 | T R Moseley | M P Mccann | 54kg | $8.80 |
| 5th | 5 | Delmonico | 4 | Ayush Mudhoo | Andrew Carston | 51kg | $7.20 |
Proserve presents as the standout selection with an outstanding track and distance record. His recent win at this venue demonstrates current form, while his synthetic track statistics (2 wins from 6 starts) and distance record (3 wins from 12 starts) provide strong confidence. The significant class drop from previous races gives him a clear advantage over this field.
Sincere offers strong each-way value with solid synthetic track credentials and recent consistent form. His 3 wins from 12 starts on synthetic surfaces and recent second placing indicate he's well-suited to these conditions. The 43-day gap is a concern, but his synthetic track record and class drop make him a genuine winning chance.
Hey Mickey brings excellent distance credentials with 5 wins from 41 starts at 2200m and recent winning form. His synthetic track experience and staying ability make him well-suited to this race.
The significant weight advantage (50kg vs field average 55kg+) and synthetic track win provide hope for another improvement. While the class rise is substantial, his lightly-raced profile and recent confidence-building win make him an attractive value proposition.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Proserve | 2 | B M Murray | M & M Pitman | 60.5kg | $5.10 |
| 2nd | 4 | Hey Mickey | 5 | K Mudhoo | J & K Parsons | 55kg | $8.10 |
| 3rd | 6 | Analyst | 7 | Bridget Grylls | R E Didham | 54kg | $7.30 |
| 4th | 7 | Wal | 4 | Floor Moerman | Ainsley Mcleod | 50kg | $7.20 |
| 5th | 5 | Franni Caccini | 8 | M K Hudson | Kenny Moore | 54kg | $5.40 |
| 6th | 2 | Sincere | 1 | Brandon May | Andrew Carston | 56kg | $3.60 |
| 7th | 3 | Waihora Mist | 3 | K Bakker | L M Robinson | 52kg | $19.70 |
| 8th | 8 | Faytina | 6 | Courtney Barnes | Ms V Mackle | 54kg | $11.60 |
Gemma Flitz stands out as the dominant track specialist with an exceptional 4 wins from 5 starts at this exact track and distance. Her synthetic surface record of 4 wins from 7 starts is outstanding, and she comes off two wins in her last three starts including a last-start victory. The class rise is a concern, but her track dominance and current form make her the standout selection.
Miss Brittany brings solid credentials with a recent win at this exact track and distance two starts back. Her synthetic track record shows she handles the surface well, and the significant weight drop to 53.5kg with apprentice Kauri provides a key advantage. The inside barrier is a concern, but her proven ability at this venue makes her a strong each-way chance.
La Bella Nera has proven she can compete at Open level with a strong second at this track and distance in May. Her synthetic surface record is solid with 1 win from 6 starts, and she has the class to be competitive.
His first-up record of 1 win from 4 starts is solid, and the significant weight drop to 51kg with Mudhoo's claim provides a major advantage. The good barrier draw and proven class make him an attractive value proposition despite the distance and track concerns.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Gemma Flitz | 5 | A K Riddell | L R Beckett | 58kg | $1.80 |
| 2nd | 6 | Dimaggio | 3 | Ayush Mudhoo | N R Mitchell | 51kg | $5.90 |
| 3rd | 7 | Delphillius | 6 | K Bakker | L M Robinson | 51kg | $11.40 |
| 4th | 4 | Miss Brittany | 1 | L Kauri | J & K Parsons | 53.5kg | $7.30 |
| 5th | 2 | La Bella Nera | 2 | Jack Taplin | J & K Parsons | 57kg | $6.10 |
| 6th | 5 | Justanace | 4 | B M Murray | M & M Pitman | 55kg | $18.90 |
| 7th | 3 | Zoulander | 7 | Floor Moerman | M & M Pitman | 55kg | $23.80 |
Graeme John presents the strongest winning chance based on his recent synthetic form showing two close seconds. His track record shows consistent placing ability, and the significant weight drop from 57.5kg to 54.5kg enhances his prospects. Despite the poor barrier draw, his class and current form trajectory make him the standout selection.
Jack Attack offers strong each-way value with his consistent recent form including a close second here last start. His track record shows he can win at this venue, and barrier 3 provides tactical advantages. While his win rate is modest, his place consistency makes him a reliable selection for the minor placings.
His track familiarity and recent confidence boost are positives, but the weight and class rise present major challenges.
While stepping up in class, her track record and barrier position align with the track bias favouring middle barriers.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Thats Charming | 2 | Brandon May | Andrew Carston | 54kg | $13.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Graeme John | 1 | Jack Taplin | D M Walsh | 54.5kg | $2.10 |
| 3rd | 1 | Jack Attack | 3 | Floor Moerman | R D Holmes | 55kg | $4.90 |
| 4th | 3 | Second Chance | 6 | Bridget Grylls | Anna Furlong | 57.5kg | $4.50 |
| 5th | 6 | Golden Harvest | 7 | Abdul Najib | M & M Pitman | 52.5kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Here I Am | 8 | Ms K Williams | M & M Pitman | 54.5kg | $10.20 |
| 7th | 2 | Jetstream | 4 | B M Murray | M & M Pitman | 58.5kg | $16.10 |
| 8th | 5 | Hit The Switch | 5 | Courtney Barnes | J C Blackadder | 57kg | $33.30 |
Purple Prose looks the standout after his impressive maiden win last start at this track and distance. The 4-year-old gelding has shown consistent improvement and his synthetic track record of 1 win from 5 starts is solid. Opie Bosson's booking adds confidence, and despite the class rise, his recent form suggests he can handle this level.
San Marco showed excellent form when a narrow second last start and looks well-placed second up from a spell. His synthetic track experience is valuable, and the 3kg claiming apprentice provides a significant weight advantage. The class rise is a concern, but his recent form suggests he's ready for this level.
Sir Sigaro brings strong current form after winning his maiden last start and has shown good consistency on synthetic tracks. The step up in class is significant, but his recent form suggests he's improving and the good barrier draw should help. His synthetic track record gives confidence.
His track and distance record is outstanding with 2 wins from 8 starts, and his recent fourth was competitive. The top weight and wide barrier are concerns, but the class drop makes him a strong value proposition.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | San Marco | 5 | Ayush Mudhoo | Andrew Carston | 56.5kg | $6.60 |
| 2nd | 8 | Givealittle | 13 | Jack Taplin | M E Forde | 53kg | $11.20 |
| 3rd | 9 | Persona | 8 | Bridget Grylls | D B Frye | 56kg | $29.10 |
| 4th | 13 | Head First | 7 | A K Riddell | T J Yesberg | 52kg | $23.20 |
| 5th | 7 | Epilogue | 10 | L Kauri | J & K Parsons | 53kg | $19.60 |
| 6th | 12 | Da Vinci Girl | 12 | Abdul Najib | M & M Pitman | 51kg | $32.40 |
| 7th | 6 | Sonnet | 11 | K Bakker | L M Robinson | 53.5kg | $8.70 |
| 8th | 3 | Purple Prose | 1 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 58.5kg | $2.80 |
| 9th | 10 | Red Star Bella | 3 | T R Moseley | L G Didham | 56kg | $13.80 |
| 10th | 1 | In Awe | 9 | Courtney Barnes | L M Robinson | 60kg | $12.80 |
| 11th | 4 | Sir Sigaro | 6 | Billy Jacobson | Ms S L Wynne | 58.5kg | $9.20 |
| 12th | 5 | Go Your Own Way | 4 | Brandon May | N R Mitchell | 58kg | $17.60 |
| Scr | 11 | Mininjagirl | 2 | Lee Callaway | L Callaway | 55kg |
Before the races, not after
Our top three picks and a value pick for every race, with assessed prices, speed maps and the analysis behind them. Free for 7 days.