Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New Zealand · Saturday 15 August 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 7 races at New Plymouth Raceway. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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The strongest form line in the race by a clear margin. He backs that with a second at Waverley over 1650m and holds barrier 5, the ideal inside-to-middle draw on this tight turning circuit where handy runners dominate the Heavy.
The reservations are structural rather than form-based: barrier 10 is the worst gate in a race where New Plymouth Heavy statistics strongly favour 1-8, she is untried at 1800m and unraced at the track, and the jockey/trainer combination strikes at only 4%.
The most consistent wet-track performer in the race, with a heavy record of 6 starts producing 3 seconds and a third. Twelve starts without a win caps enthusiasm, but she is very hard to leave out of the placings.
She has the clearest stamina profile in the race with 2060m, 2200m and 3100m experience, all her recent form is on Heavy, and barrier 1 offers the ground-saving run this tight turning circuit rewards on wet ground.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Kit Zakat | 2 | Jim Chung | T R Hina | 55.5kg | $8.70 |
| 2nd | 9 | Fleur De Champ | 1 | Hayley Hassman | J R Wheeler | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 3rd | 5 | Kay''s Ruebe | 4 | Lisa Allpress | J R Wheeler | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 8 | Winter Rose | 10 | Lily Sutherland | K T Myers | 56.5kg | $4.30 |
| 5th | 2 | Flagship | 7 | Amber Riddell | G H Sharrock | 57.5kg | $6.00 |
| 6th | 4 | Tor Ment Tor | 6 | Lemmy Douglas | B D Revell | 56.5kg | $30.70 |
| 7th | 1 | Our Darcy | 5 | Sarah Macnab | R M Connors | 58.5kg | $4.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Azizam | 3 | Chris Dell | Ms J Millar | 56.5kg | $7.70 |
| 9th | 3 | Jamestown | 8 | Courtney Barnes | Ms D C Kennedy | 58.5kg | $27.10 |
| Scr | 6 | Ena Sharples | 9 | Mereana Hudson | S A Sharrock | 56.5kg |
The form case is concrete rather than speculative. He is the only runner in the field with black-and-white evidence of coping with a genuine bog — 2nd on Heavy 10 over 1200m at Tauranga and 3rd on Heavy 10 at this very track — while every rival is either unproven wet or beaten well on it. He returns to that surface off a seven-day back-up, drawn in the ideal 5 gate, with a claiming rider in career-best form.
The most likely improver in the race. Her only run came on a Heavy 10 from barrier 14, where she still finished within five lengths after a wide, ground-losing trip — a better effort than the bare result reads. Her jockey/trainer link strikes at 18% and Myers has a solid record around this circuit.
Evaluated as an unraced/unexposed runner rather than penalised for absent data. Barrier 3 fits the inside-to-middle winning profile.
A pure value play rather than a likely winner. His rider's 18% strike rate at this specific track is far better than her overall recent numbers suggest.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Heavy Is The Crown | 5 | Lemmy Douglas | C J Henderson | 56.5kg | $6.10 |
| 2nd | 1 | Facilitate | 8 | Leah Hemi | Ms K D Nicholson | 58.5kg | $3.40 |
| 3rd | 6 | Burnside Lass | 7 | Sarah Macnab | K T Myers | 56.5kg | $11.40 |
| 4th | 3 | Brilliant Deejay | 1 | Courtney Barnes | R M Connors | 58.5kg | $12.10 |
| 5th | 5 | Jaimee Marie | 4 | Kelly Myers | S & K Alexander | 56.5kg | $6.40 |
| 6th | 10 | Hathaway | 10 | Lily Sutherland | A W Pike | 54kg | $5.80 |
| 7th | 4 | New Regime | 3 | Hayley Hassman | Barry Donoghue | 57.5kg | $4.20 |
| Scr | 7 | Katestrophic | 9 | Amber Riddell | Debbie Sweeney | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Lumos Solem | 2 | Samantha Finnegan | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Sandbar | 6 | M N Eales | 54kg |
The clear form horse. Ayteem won over 1800m at New Plymouth on Heavy 10 last start, defeating Rosetown Princess and Wheelitin, and has a track record of 5: 3-1-0 plus a track-and-distance record of 2: 1-1-0. His heavy record is 4: 2-0-0. Dell has partnered his recent wins.
The safest place proposition. Urenui has been top-three in seven of his last 10 and his heavy record of 16: 2-7-2 shows he handles this ground as well as anything here. He has won at New Plymouth over 2000m carrying exactly 60kg, so the top weight is not a new ask, and barrier 5 fits the inside-to-middle template that dominates on Heavy here. The concern is conversion — he places far more than he wins — which makes him a strong each-way rather than win proposition.
The pure wet-tracker of the race — all five of his career wins have come on Heavy, from a record of 13: 5-1-0, including an Open success at Otaki on Heavy 9 in April. Barrier 1 is a genuine asset on a tight turning circuit where inside-to-middle gates dominate, and Allpress is a significant riding upgrade. Against him is the 41-day break, which sits outside the freshness profile of typical winners here, and no prior form at New Plymouth. Place claims are solid.
The runner most disadvantaged by circumstance last time. Her heavy record of 24: 3-6-6 and Group 2/Group 3 exposure give her the class credentials.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Ayteem | 7 | Chris Dell | Ms J Millar | 58kg | $1.70 |
| 2nd | 4 | What A Charma | 4 | Sarah Macnab | Mark Irwin | 58kg | $19.30 |
| 3rd | 3 | Mont Ventoux | 2 | Hayley Hassman | R P Liefting | 57kg | $30.70 |
| 4th | 6 | Rosetown Princess | 3 | Leah Hemi | D B Hollinshead | 56.5kg | $7.50 |
| 5th | 7 | Wheelitin | 6 | Jim Chung | A M Clement | 55kg | $7.50 |
| 6th | 1 | Urenui | 5 | Kavish Chowdhoory | Ms D M Harris | 60kg | $10.70 |
| 7th | 5 | Donnybrook | 1 | Lisa Allpress | M P Breslin | 57kg | $6.30 |
The class drop is the story. Her Heavy record of 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 thirds is comfortably the best wet profile here, she has won over this track and distance, and her distance record of 4:2-0-1 marks her as a genuine stayer. Myers is a proven fit for Sharrock. Barrier 9 is the only real reservation.
The most wet-proven runner in the race and a New Plymouth specialist with 2 wins and 3 placings from 7 track starts. He ran second over this exact course and distance on Heavy 10 in stronger Bench. 75 grade, and was a close third here two runs back. The Te Rapa flop can be forgiven on a quick backup to his home track. Barrier 11 and 58.5kg are the negatives, and he places more than he wins, so an each-way approach is the sensible play.
The progressive type in the race. He draws the favoured gate three and has a rider who knows him. The obvious reservation is the trip - he has never gone beyond a mile - and 59kg in a Heavy 8 over 2000m is asking a lot of a lightly raced four-year-old.
His Heavy record reads 9 starts for 2 wins and a second, he draws the strongest gate band at the venue, and Douglas is riding in career-best touch. Genuine value.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Hi Yo Fox Rox | 13 | Hayley Hassman | Kim Reid | 58kg | $3.90 |
| 2nd | 6 | Kyanite Man | 3 | Leah Hemi | K T Myers | 59kg | $9.30 |
| 3rd | 2 | Indian Gold | 11 | Amber Riddell | S A Sharrock | 58.5kg | $6.40 |
| 4th | 4 | The Finnster | 12 | Chris Dell | C A Bambry | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
| 5th | 8 | Dresse'' Par Joli | 9 | Kelly Myers | S A Sharrock | 58kg | $14.90 |
| 6th | 3 | So Call Me | 7 | Lily Sutherland | K T Myers | 59.5kg | $26.80 |
| 7th | 13 | Keen On Bubbles | 10 | Sarah Macnab | J R Wheeler | 54.5kg | $23.10 |
| 8th | 11 | Timemakesthewine | 5 | Kavish Chowdhoory | Ms J Millar | 57kg | $10.60 |
| 9th | 12 | Black Betty | 4 | Lisa Allpress | J R Wheeler | 55.5kg | $14.10 |
| 10th | 1 | Bruno | 8 | Lemmy Douglas | Trudy & Vaughan Keegan | 60kg | $20.90 |
| 11th | 14 | Takes Time | 2 | Crystal Lindsay | Ms S Rainford | 54.5kg | $102.10 |
| 12th | 10 | Dojakata | 1 | Courtney Barnes | T R Hina | 57kg | $20.30 |
| 13th | 7 | Red Ned | 6 | Jim Chung | J R Wheeler | 58.5kg | $34.80 |
| Scr | 9 | Piper''s Son | 12 | Mereana Hudson | A J Dravitzki | 58kg |
The most improving profile in the race and the only runner combining proven 1600m wet form with a featherweight impost.
She has already won a BM75 over 1600m on Heavy from a wide gate, so barrier 9 is not fatal.
She gets in at the 53kg minimum, draws barrier 3, arrives off a Heavy 10 win three weeks ago and has three of her wins plus five placings from sixteen Heavy starts. Jim Chung is 2 from 2 on her and riding at 25%.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Amira D''argento | 9 | Abinith Simon | Taui Johnson | 55kg | $7.70 |
| 2nd | 3 | Dubai''s Potiki | 2 | Lily Sutherland | C A Bambry | 57.5kg | $3.00 |
| 3rd | 5 | Rua Rocks | 6 | Crystal Lindsay | C J Henderson | 54.5kg | $13.00 |
| 4th | 8 | Final Reason | 5 | Hayley Hassman | R P Liefting | 53.5kg | $5.10 |
| 5th | 9 | Rosesrred | 3 | Jim Chung | Ms T Bliss | 53kg | $13.20 |
| 6th | 2 | Principled | 4 | Kelly Myers | P S Richards | 59kg | $5.80 |
| 7th | 6 | Scarlet Temple | 1 | Amber Riddell | Debbie Sweeney | 55.5kg | $8.10 |
| 8th | 7 | Chester Boy | 8 | Lisa Allpress | J R Wheeler | 56kg | $11.40 |
| Scr | 4 | Overrated | 7 | M B Garrett | 57.5kg |
The most complete profile for these exact conditions. Her record at New Plymouth over 1200m is 3 starts for 2 wins and a second, including a Heavy 10 win here on 18 July. At 54kg from gate 4 she gets a significant weight and draw advantage over the topweights. The jockey's blank record here is the one real reservation, not enough to stop her.
Clearly the classiest runner here and the most wet-proven, with four wins and seven placings from thirteen Heavy starts and a Group 3 placing on Heavy 9. Barrier 5 and the trip suit. Sound each-way, poor value to win.
Barrier 1 saves ground on a tight turning track where being handy pays. The concern is weight: he wins carrying 54-56.5kg and today shoulders 58kg on a Heavy 8. That is enough to place him third rather than higher, but the form floor is high.
Today he draws gate 2 and drops slightly in grade.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Honey Badger | 5 | Lily Sutherland | A W Pike | 56.5kg | $4.10 |
| 2nd | 3 | Farravallo | 6 | Lisa Allpress | R J Bergerson | 59kg | $14.20 |
| 3rd | 1 | Chajaba | 2 | Lemmy Douglas | Ms T Egan | 58kg | $9.40 |
| 4th | 4 | Tolstoy | 1 | Kelly Myers | Ms I Kelly | 58kg | $6.50 |
| 5th | 2 | Tavis Court | 3 | Crystal Lindsay | A M Clement | 56.5kg | $17.30 |
| 6th | 6 | Bella Timing | 4 | Hayley Hassman | S A Sharrock | 54kg | $2.20 |
| 7th | 7 | Caitlyns Wish | 7 | Cooper Stumbles | S R Autridge | 51kg | $9.20 |
The most complete form profile in the race. Illustrious has two wins from three starts at 1400m and has been beaten a combined two lengths across his last two heavy-track runs, both against BM65 company, and both from ludicrously wide gates. Barrier 11 is the only genuine reservation and his record from wide draws largely neutralises it.
A pure heavy-track horse arriving at exactly the right time. My Ferrari smashed a BM65 field over 1400m on Heavy 10 at Trentham, then was run down late by Joan's Joker at Otaki over the same trip. The weight swing today is substantial, receiving 4.5kg from that winner after conceding 2.5kg last start, and he races off the minimum.
Librero brings the best raw wet-track statistics in the field and has already won over this course and distance on Heavy going. The Sharrock-Chowdhoory combination is in excellent touch and barrier 7 is ideal. Consistency is the query, which is why he is an each-way rather than a win proposition.
On Heavy going Joan's Joker has won three of four, and at 1400m he is two from two, with both those wins coming on Heavy 10 in BM65 grade. He beat two of today's main rivals over this trip a fortnight ago and draws well in gate 6.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | My Ferrari | 9 | Hyeontaek Oh | G D Innes | 55.5kg | $5.90 |
| 2nd | 5 | Came True | 2 | Jim Chung | C A Bambry | 58kg | $5.60 |
| 3rd | 1 | Illustrious | 11 | Lemmy Douglas | Robbie Patterson | 58kg | $4.40 |
| 4th | 3 | Whiskey N'' Rye | 5 | Lily Sutherland | K T Myers | 60kg | $9.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Charm Zafarm | 1 | Hayley Hassman | T R Hina | 57kg | $8.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Ryders Legacy | 3 | Kelly Myers | S A Sharrock | 58.5kg | $16.20 |
| 7th | 10 | Peppery | 8 | Sarah Macnab | Ms I Kelly | 57.5kg | $22.50 |
| 8th | 8 | Aliyana Belle | 4 | Mereana Hudson | A M Clement | 57.5kg | $10.80 |
| 9th | 9 | Librero | 7 | Kavish Chowdhoory | S A Sharrock | 57.5kg | $12.80 |
| 10th | 2 | Joan''s Joker | 6 | Leah Hemi | G R Vile | 60kg | $9.30 |
| Scr | 11 | Rosesrred | 10 | Ms T Bliss | 57.5kg |
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