Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New Zealand · Wednesday 15 April 2026
Our top pick won 3 of 6 races at Matamata. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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The Republican stands out as the most reliable heavy track performer with an outstanding record of 15 starts on heavy going for 1 win, 3 seconds and 4 thirds. His recent second at Pukekohe on Heavy 8 shows he's in good form second up from spell, and his proven ability on heavy tracks makes him the logical choice despite the wide draw.
So Be It brings strong recent form with a narrow second at Te Aroha and has shown ability at the 1600m distance. The inside barrier and weight relief are positives, but the lack of heavy track experience is a significant concern given today's Heavy 8 conditions.
Teams is a lightly-raced 3-year-old showing improvement with a solid fourth last start on Heavy 8. The inside barrier and weight relief are advantages, but limited experience and no wins to date make this a speculative selection based on potential rather than proven ability.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | So Be It | 4 | Stephan Karnicnik | S N Rees | 66kg | $3.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Tampa | 5 | Joshua Parker | K G Harrison | 68kg | $13.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | The Republican | 10 | Bella Oliver | M W Evans | 68kg | $2.90 |
| 4th | 6 | Rex | 6 | Jay Kozaczek | D R Wiles | 68kg | $39.10 |
| 5th | 9 | Teams | 1 | Brandon Holliday | K A Pertab | 67.5kg | $4.10 |
| 6th | 8 | Zee Heights | 3 | Corey Wiles | C R Isdale | 68kg | $19.20 |
| 7th | 3 | Fahali | 2 | Billy Marshall | G & T Shaw | 68kg | $16.90 |
| 8th | 5 | Idris | 11 | Michael Roustoby | D R Wiles | 68kg | $40.40 |
| 9th | 12 | Beauty Warrior | 12 | Hamish Mc Neill | D R Wiles | 65.5kg | $70.50 |
| 10th | 4 | Heza Warrior | 8 | Kylan Wiles | D R Wiles | 68kg | $43.10 |
| Scr | 2 | Sweysmart | 9 | Lemmy Douglas | C W Cole | 68kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Jachimo | 7 | Troy Harris | C W Cole | 67.5kg |
Small Town Girl presents as the most reliable option with a proven heavy track record and recent winning form. Her 2-1-1 record on heavy going is outstanding, including a recent win at Te Aroha. The mare has shown consistency at Matamata with a place from 3 starts and her form pattern suggests she's well-suited to today's conditions despite the class rise.
Justice brings the best heavy track credentials in the field with 4 wins from 19 heavy starts. Being second up from spell typically suits this horse, and his staying background suggests the 1600m won't be an issue. The class rise and poor recent form are concerns, but his heavy track ability makes him a genuine chance.
Beetlegeuse offers value as the only horse with a proven win at 1600m. His recent third at Avondale demonstrates current ability, and the weight drop combined with a favorable barrier should help. However, his poor heavy track record and lack of Matamata experience are concerning factors that prevent higher confidence.
His fourth at Pukekohe last start shows he's competitive at this level, and his heavy track record provides confidence.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Justice | 3 | Kylan Wiles | D R Wiles | 69kg | $2.90 |
| 2nd | 7 | Air Dancer | 4 | Michael Roustoby | C R Isdale | 66kg | $10.10 |
| 3rd | 8 | Did The Trick | 9 | Lemmy Douglas | W Hillis & R Cole | 66kg | $4.90 |
| 4th | 3 | Small Town Girl | 6 | Joshua Parker | R R Manning | 68kg | $3.80 |
| 5th | 6 | Jakama Krystal | 2 | Bella Oliver | P & J Brosnan | 66.5kg | $17.70 |
| 6th | 2 | Uhtred | 7 | Hamish Mc Neill | S L Cameron | 68.5kg | $32.50 |
| 7th | 11 | Renegade Fighter | 1 | Jay Kozaczek | S L Cameron | 66kg | $31.80 |
| 8th | 10 | Poster Boy | 5 | Billy Marshall | A W Wright | 66kg | $12.90 |
| 9th | 9 | Doctor Iris | 11 | Corey Wiles | D R Wiles | 66kg | $16.30 |
| 10th | 5 | Teen Titan | 8 | Brandon Holliday | P & J Brosnan | 67kg | $35.40 |
| Scr | 4 | Beetlegeuse | 10 | Troy Harris | Ms S P Mynott | 67.5kg |
Wanganella stands out as the most consistent performer with three placings from her last four starts, including a narrow second on heavy track at Pukekohe. The wide barrier is a concern but her settling pattern suggests she can overcome it.
Hold Me Tight represents speculative value with Samantha Collett taking the ride, suggesting stable confidence in improvement. The Telperion filly's debut 8th wasn't disgraced and the step up to 1600m on heavy track could unlock improvement.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Wanganella | 11 | Craig Grylls | Andrew Forsman | 55.5kg | $1.30 |
| 2nd | 3 | Greek Anthology | 4 | Masahiro Hashizume | S L Crawford | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 12 | Pretty As Sin | 8 | Hayley Hassman | G Richardson & R Norvall | 53.5kg | $10.60 |
| 4th | 5 | The Hot Ticket | 5 | Corentin Berge | Emma Faber | 57.5kg | $19.00 |
| 5th | 14 | Hold Me Tight | 6 | Samantha Collett | K A Pertab | 55.5kg | $14.20 |
| 6th | 15 | Kwocksun | 9 | Tony Allan | N H O''dowd | 57.5kg | $37.40 |
| Scr | 1 | King Patch | 4 | S L Crawford | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Chaplin | 12 | Ms P Gerard | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Satono Star | 8 | K A Pertab | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Moonbeams | 2 | Michael Mc Nab | Andrew Forsman | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | More Bliss | 10 | Joe Doyle | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Laura | 7 | Matthew Cartwright | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Retro | 3 | Tayla Mitchell | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 54.5kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Scaredoheights | 12 | Hayley Hassman | Peter & Shaun Mckay | 53.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | G''day Goldie | 13 | Andrew Forsman | 55.5kg | ||
| Scr | 16 | Teams | 15 | K A Pertab | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 17 | Jachimo | 1 | C W Cole | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 18 | Beauty Warrior | 3 | D R Wiles | 55.5kg |
While her debut was poor, the lack of form data means potential remains unknown.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13 | She''s A Boss | 2 | Craig Grylls | W Hillis & R Cole | 57kg | $4.00 |
| 2nd | 1 | Bonnie Gem | 11 | Ashlee Strawbridge | Debbie Sweeney | 54.5kg | $2.40 |
| 3rd | 8 | Overtaking | 8 | Masahiro Hashizume | K A Pertab | 57kg | $2.20 |
| 4th | 2 | Le Rhubarb | 10 | Tayla Mitchell | M H Brooks | 56.5kg | $14.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Flyhalf | 12 | Samantha Collett | C W Cole | 57kg | |
| Scr | 4 | Marzenie | 6 | G Richardson & R Norvall | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Petite Rocher | 14 | Michael Mc Nab | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 57kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Too Darn Sweet | 7 | Ms S P Mynott | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Magic Dreams | 1 | Warren Kennedy | Barbara Kennedy | 57kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Tzarina''s Crown | 4 | Joe Doyle | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 57kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Camila | 13 | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Aixoise | 9 | K A Pertab | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Brutal Reality | 5 | C R Isdale | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Angels Halo | 15 | Hollie Wynyard | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Etupirka | 3 | S R Autridge | 57kg |
Unbeaten 3yo filly with exceptional consistency, placing in 3 of 4 career starts including two seconds at 1200m. Despite being winless, her form pattern shows steady improvement and the inside barrier on a heavy track provides tactical advantage. Quality jockey booking suggests stable confidence.
Experienced galloper dropping significantly in class with strong credentials at 1200m. His heavy track win and distance expertise provide solid foundations, though first-up record is concerning. The class drop should offset fitness concerns in this weaker field.
Second-up mare with fitness advantage having placed at recent Matamata start. Her heavy track credentials and favorable barrier position provide hope, though overall form suggests she's more a place chance than winning prospect in this competitive field.
Recent heavy track winner offering value despite first-up concerns. His excellent heavy track record and proven ability at this distance make him a live chance if he can overcome the fitness question.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Lae Zee | 2 | Hyeontaek Oh | S N Rees | 52kg | $12.30 |
| 2nd | 1 | Cast Of Diamonds | 7 | Lynsey Satherley | W R Sherwin | 60kg | $14.70 |
| 3rd | 9 | Laser Beam | 6 | Ashlee Strawbridge | C A Amrein | 51kg | $17.80 |
| 4th | 7 | Too Darn Sweet | 1 | Samantha Collett | Ms S P Mynott | 54.5kg | $1.60 |
| 5th | 3 | Bad Education | 8 | Sam McNab | Josh King & Maija Vance | 57.5kg | $8.30 |
| 6th | 8 | Our Jasmine | 3 | Tayla Mitchell | S T Wenn | 53kg | $16.40 |
| 7th | 6 | Runninwiththedevil | 4 | Craig Grylls | W Hillis & R Cole | 56kg | $13.10 |
| 8th | 2 | Shivoo | 9 | Bridget Grylls | D R Wiles | 60kg | $9.30 |
| Scr | 5 | Silkdegrees | 5 | Elen Nicholas | P A Stevens | 55kg |
Stay Frosty stands out with remarkable consistency, placing in all four career starts including a recent heavy track third. Despite being winless, the consistent placings and proven heavy track form make this the most reliable selection.
The filly showed better form last start at this track, and the Autridge/Hashizume combination has proven effective.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Stay Frosty | 2 | Joe Nishizuka | G Richardson & R Norvall | 55.5kg | $1.70 |
| 2nd | 6 | Purosangue | 10 | Matthew Cartwright | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 58kg | $4.90 |
| 3rd | 14 | Etupirka | 16 | Masahiro Hashizume | S R Autridge | 56kg | $17.30 |
| 4th | 8 | Dare You | 15 | Hyeontaek Oh | S N Rees | 52.5kg | $23.60 |
| 5th | 7 | Belardo Baz | 14 | Craig Grylls | W Hillis & R Cole | 58kg | $9.80 |
| 6th | 2 | Cowboy | 13 | Samantha Collett | Josh King & Maija Vance | 58.5kg | $8.20 |
| 7th | 5 | Bold And Brave | 11 | Courtney Barnes | W Hillis & R Cole | 58kg | $21.10 |
| 8th | 3 | Hey Burg | 7 | Hayley Hassman | B K Pinny | 56.5kg | $35.50 |
| Scr | 4 | Wave Ruler | 4 | Erin M Leighton | R S Manning | 58kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Petite Rocher | 8 | Michael Mc Nab | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 56kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Too Darn Sweet | 1 | Ms S P Mynott | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Overtaking | 12 | K A Pertab | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Tzarina''s Crown | 3 | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Camila | 5 | Joe Doyle | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 56kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Aixoise | 12 | Matthew Cameron | K A Pertab | 56kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Le Rhubarb | 9 | M H Brooks | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 17 | Brutal Reality | 6 | C R Isdale | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 18 | Laser Beam | 11 | C A Amrein | 58.5kg |
Most consistent performer in the field with three placings from four starts. Proven at the distance and handles rain-affected conditions. Strong jockey booking and favourable barrier position make this the logical choice despite maiden status.
Best heavy track credentials in the field with recent form on Heavy 10 conditions. The second placing at Te Aroha last start on identical conditions provides strong confidence for today's Heavy 10 track.
Lightweight and inside barrier provide tactical advantages, though lack of any form reference makes this a speculative play only.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Incredible Patch | 2 | Masahiro Hashizume | S L Crawford | 58kg | $2.90 |
| 2nd | 1 | Hip Flask | 6 | Elen Nicholas | C R Mccarroll | 57.5kg | $5.20 |
| 3rd | 8 | Lady Charlton | 9 | Jack Taplin | P & J Brosnan | 53.5kg | $15.90 |
| 4th | 3 | Hell Island | 7 | Corentin Berge | C J Wood | 58kg | $5.60 |
| 5th | 12 | Nature''s Beauty | 3 | Hyeontaek Oh | C K Ormsby | 52kg | $7.10 |
| 6th | 9 | Toothless | 5 | Matthew Cameron | Peter & Shaun Mckay | 56kg | $3.60 |
| Scr | 4 | Don''t Tell The Mrs | 13 | Andrew Forsman | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Alman D''oro | 8 | Hayley Hassman | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 56kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Artful Dodger | 7 | Joe Doyle | C R Mccarroll | 58kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Dare You | 12 | S N Rees | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | She Means Business | 4 | Michael Mc Nab | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 56kg | |
| Scr | 11 | The Ritz | 10 | Joe Doyle | L O''sullivan & A Scott | 56kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Pine Leaf | 1 | Andrew Forsman | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Reliability | 14 | Samantha Collett | C W Cole | 56kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Le Rhubarb | 11 | M H Brooks | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 16 | Hey Burg | 5 | Joe Nishizuka | B K Pinny | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Laser Beam | 8 | C A Amrein | 58.5kg |
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