Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New Zealand · Sunday 12 July 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 6 races at Tauranga. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Socotra profiles best on form and setup: inside draw, light weight, and a fourth-up lift to 2100m that fits her Tarzino stamina. Two back she was a sound Soft 7 1600m fifth from a wide barrier, and last start is forgivable from gate 18 on Heavy 10. Tauranga’s Soft data favours inside alleys, and she should map handy enough in a small field. She’s yet to place, but the combination of draw, weight and distance progression makes her the most likely winner.
She’s fit, the Soft 6 should aid her pattern, and a small field removes a lot of bad luck.
The Tarzino/Grylls/Logan profile carries upside, and the small field helps, but he must improve significantly to justify favouritism. Respect the stable and breeding, yet form and map suggest he’s a place chance rather than the standout.
A genuine roughie with an angle: The Symbol stretches to 2100m off a 42‑day freshen, and the pedigree gives some hope he stays and handles Soft ground better.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | King Cabal | 3 | Lynsey Satherley | G & T Shaw | 58.5kg | $3.90 |
| 2nd | 7 | Heavenly Lady | 2 | Sam McNab | S & E Clotworthy | 54.5kg | $2.80 |
| 3rd | 3 | The Symbol | 6 | Ethan Jones | M B Garrett | 58.5kg | $22.50 |
| 4th | 2 | Asvakan | 5 | Craig Grylls | Ms D Logan | 58.5kg | $3.60 |
| 5th | 6 | Socotra | 1 | Tom Wigram | Ms D Logan | 52.5kg | $4.50 |
| 6th | 4 | Whoshe's Boy | 4 | Sienna Brown | D S Wilson | 54.5kg | $24.50 |
| Scr | 5 | Dido Belle | 5 | S L Crawford | 56.5kg |
He ran a solid second on debut at 1400m on Heavy and now draws barrier 1, a key advantage at Tauranga on Soft with the rail out. While first-up after a break and still untested specifically on Soft, his Heavy run suggests he handles give. With a senior rider and a small field for an economical trip, he sets the standard despite limited data.
Promising mare who posted a sound debut on Soft 7 despite starting from barrier 20, suggesting she has more to offer. The rise to 1400m, a kinder barrier (3), and a light weight set up well at Tauranga where inside draws help.
Returned with an encouraging 3rd here on Heavy over 1200m and should improve second-up. The move to 1400m suits his profile and barrier 2 is perfect given Tauranga’s inside advantage on Soft. Overall record is light and he’s yet to prove himself on a Soft 6 specifically, but his recent track run and map give him a solid place chance in a thin maiden.
A perennial maiden but not hopeless. Soft/Heavy exposure is a positive and a small field plays to his grinding style. Despite a poor overall strike, today’s map and conditions are more favourable.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | She's A Surprise | 3 | Tom Wigram | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 52.5kg | $4.40 |
| 2nd | 1 | Hip Flask | 1 | Joe Doyle | C R Mccarroll | 58.5kg | $3.20 |
| 3rd | 4 | Wave Ruler | 4 | Erin M Leighton | R S Manning | 58.5kg | $6.10 |
| 4th | 2 | Casa Rubick | 2 | Hayley Hassman | Tim & Margaret Carter | 56.5kg | $2.80 |
| 5th | 3 | Stralsund | 6 | Craig Grylls | Ms D Logan | 58.5kg | $7.90 |
| 6th | 5 | Mahina | 5 | Sienna Brown | I L George | 54.5kg | $57.80 |
Third-up and ready after a strong second on Heavy 9, she now draws barrier 3 at Tauranga where inside gates rate best on Soft. The Ribchester filly should appreciate stretching to 1400m and Grylls is a notable positive. While her Soft record is thin and she’s yet to win, her recent trajectory, map, and small field give her a tactical edge. Most likely winner on balance of form.
Ultra-consistent filly with multiple 1400m placings and a suitable inside-mid draw. However, she remains a maiden after 12 attempts and her last two rain-affected runs were plain.
Honest mare racing well this winter with a recent 1400m second on Heavy 9 and solid efforts around Tauranga. She has valuable course experience and is fit. The key queries are a Soft 6 where she’s yet to place and a slightly wider draw against the track’s inside bias. Genuine winning hope in a thin maiden but some vulnerabilities keep her behind the top pick.
Lightly raced filly returning to her most effective set-up: Tauranga 1400m, where she posted a close fourth in May. Forgive the Heavy 10 mile; the drop back in trip on Soft 6 should be more suitable and the draw is fine in a small field.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Gracetheace | 6 | Erin M Leighton | G K Opie | 57.5kg | $2.90 |
| 2nd | 4 | Whatz Done Is Done | 3 | Craig Grylls | W Hillis & R Cole | 57.5kg | $3.20 |
| 3rd | 2 | Miss Parker | 4 | Michael Mc Nab | Ms K A Hoskin | 57.5kg | $4.80 |
| 4th | 3 | Starlight Rose | 7 | Sam McNab | J C Pender | 55.5kg | $7.90 |
| 5th | 5 | Muchacha | 5 | Masahiro Hashizume | T W Cole | 57.5kg | $13.50 |
| 6th | 8 | Sally Gee | 1 | Jasmine Fawcett | E P Green | 54.5kg | $13.10 |
| 7th | 7 | Impressive Belle | 2 | Tom Wigram | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 53.5kg | $20.80 |
| Scr | 6 | Adornment | 4 | Samantha Collett | K A Pertab | 57.5kg |
No exposed form, but the Richardson & Norvall stable plus gate 1 on a Soft6 at Tauranga is a compelling maiden setup. With inside bias tendencies and winter volatility, an educated proxy approach keeps this debutant firmly in the mix. The lack of public form is not a negative here; rather, the inside draw and strong yard create upside. Kept behind the two with race fitness but a genuine winning hope.
She brings the best recent race performance in the field, closing into third on Heavy10 and now stretching to 1300m, which should suit her Almanzor profile. The inside-to-mid draw is a positive at Tauranga on Soft and the rider is going well. In a thin maiden, she offers the most convincing blend of current form and suitability.
A modest profile to date, but there’s second-up upside, a big weight pull, and a prime inside gate with the rail out 10m on Soft6 — conditions that can favour economical runs.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Brass Monkey | 3 | Michael Mc Nab | Taui Johnson | 57.5kg | $1.40 |
| 2nd | 2 | Linton Flyer | 5 | Masahiro Hashizume | G K Opie | 57.5kg | $27.80 |
| 3rd | 5 | Spirit Of Ardsley | 1 | Hayley Hassman | G Richardson & R Norvall | 52.5kg | $5.10 |
| 4th | 6 | Roc Goddess | 4 | Joe Nishizuka | Nick Kneebone | 49.5kg | $4.80 |
| 5th | 4 | Gherkin | 2 | Tom Wigram | Ms K A Hoskin | 51.5kg | $15.40 |
| Scr | 3 | Kalgarry Ally | 5 | Lynsey Satherley | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 55.5kg |
She gets every map advantage from gate 1 and carries no weight. Best used as a place/anchor rather than the primary win play.
Return Message is proven at the trip and on Soft and was competitive in this grade two back on heavy ground. From barrier 6 she can park midfield with cover and produce late. The prior big defeat is a knock, but the softer surface today likely suits more than recent heavy runs.
Catoca brings superior recent class and profiles to control a likely slow-run 1200m from barrier 3. The switch off synthetic is the query, but her early speed and a strong rider should let her dictate, a key advantage at Tauranga where inside draws rate well.
Super Dailo was plain first-up but tends to improve second-up and now drops in class with just 53kg. From barrier 5 he can settle close enough in a race lacking genuine speed. He’s the value play for exotics or a small each-way, hoping the second-up lift and map offset the going query.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Smart Tip | 2 | Sienna Brown | S Ralph | 54kg | $7.30 |
| 2nd | 5 | Return Message | 5 | Hayley Hassman | S Ralph | 55.5kg | $5.20 |
| 3rd | 1 | Soaring Pengshan | 3 | Masahiro Hashizume | S L Crawford | 59kg | $3.80 |
| 4th | 7 | Super Dailo | 4 | Tom Wigram | Ceton Pool | 53kg | $8.40 |
| 5th | 6 | Ridgeview Vicky | 1 | Joe Nishizuka | G K Opie | 54kg | $2.10 |
| Scr | 2 | Catoca | 3 | Craig Grylls | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Luminance | 4 | Samantha Collett | K A Pertab | 58kg |
Class relief and a prime draw make Chahoo the most likely winner. He stuck on well at Matamata over 1600m despite a horror gate and now lands barrier 3 at a track that rewards inside alleys on Soft ground. He maps to settle handy in a likely slow-run race, which should accentuate his turn of foot. The 59.5kg impost and lack of a mile win are minor queries, but the overall setup is strongly in his favour.
From gate 1 she should box-seat in a slowly run race and get every chance. A safer place-type profile who can land in the finish if the rail is the place to be.
An on-pace style suits the predicted slow tempo, and the drop to R60 brings him right into calculations. His Soft 7 mile run two back was competitive and he owns a recent Soft-track win at 1400m. Barrier 8 and the top weight are niggles, and the 1600m record is lean, but the race shape can mitigate those. A solid exotics and place hope if he controls the speed.
Forgive the sharp first-up 1200m miss; he’s a stayer who improves with distance. Back to Tauranga, where he won on Soft 6, and down in grade, he draws to settle midfield and build into it.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Chahoo | 3 | Joe Doyle | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 59.5kg | $8.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Dun Talkin' | 4 | Tom Wigram | Cat Burden | 52kg | $2.60 |
| 3rd | 1 | Golden Jacket | 5 | Joe Nishizuka | J C Pender | 57kg | $13.80 |
| 4th | 4 | Mister Pucci | 7 | Masahiro Hashizume | G K Opie | 58.5kg | $7.30 |
| 5th | 3 | Did The Trick | 8 | Erin M Leighton | W Hillis & R Cole | 59.5kg | $4.80 |
| 6th | 6 | With Grace | 1 | Michael Mc Nab | Ms K A Hoskin | 57kg | $6.10 |
| 7th | 8 | Little Darling | 2 | Ethan Jones | G K Opie | 55.5kg | $42.70 |
| 8th | 5 | Canavese | 6 | Craig Grylls | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 58kg | $11.00 |
| Scr | 9 | Jamestown | 9 | Hayley Hassman | Ms D C Kennedy | 52.5kg |
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.