The best of Saturday’s racing action from New Zealand comes from Ellerslie, where the feature race of the day is the Manco Easter Handicap.
As we try and pick out some winners, we have already run our eye through the card and picked out some of our best horse racing tips. As well as our exclusive tips we have highlighted three races which look to be the most competitive of the day. Whether you want to back a short priced favourite, or a horse at longer odds, read on as we have every angle covered.
Odds provided by Picklebet.
Saturday Racing Tips - Ellerslie 19/04/25

Ellerslie 19/04/25
Manco Easter Handicap – (1600m)
Selections:
You Say D’orsay – 8.00
Sacred Satono – 9.50
Doctor Askar – 15.00
BEST BET – Sacred Satono
In what is one of the most competitive races of Saturday, Sacred Satono looks a contender to land the Manco Easter Handicap. Boasting a 57% place strike rate throughout his career, he usually gives his running and finished above You Say D’orsay the last time the two horses met two weeks ago. Although he has gone up in the weights, he can’t be discounted.
THE DANGER – You Say D’orsay
You Say D’orsay was a runner up when he last ran against Sacred Satono but is now weighted better to get the better of him this time around. With seven wins in thirty starts, he knows how to win races of this calibre, and will be a huge contender once more.
VALUE BET – Doctor Askar
Doctor Askar is taking a huge hike in class in this contest, but he is heading into the race fresh off the back of a four timer and he will hope to win a fifth successive contest. Although a leap of faith is required he looks to be one of the best value angles in the race.
Trelawny Stud Championship Stakes - (2100m)
Selections:
Kiwi Skyhawk – 3.20
Zormella – 3.30
Atmospheric – 8.00
BEST BET – Zormella
Zormella looks like one of the best bets of Saturday’s card. Having just had the four runs in her career, she is one of the least exposed horses in the field but looks like one of the most talented. Having won last time out, she arrives bang in form and will hope to land the biggest race of her career here.
THE DANGER – Kiwi Skyhawk
The undoubted danger is Kiwi Skyhawk. Having run over twice as many races as Zormella she has plenty of experience and was able to capture a victory when last seen. She should arrive full of confidence and is likely to jump off as the favourite.
VALUE BET – Atmospheric
The top two in the market look like they will be hard to beat, but if you want to take them on, it could be worth chancing Atmospheric. Having won two of his first six races, this represents a hike up in class but with a win last time, he could play the spoiler here.
Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m)
Selections:
Storm Front – 3.20
Too Sweet – 5.00
Little Black Dress – 5.00
Lady Iris – 9.00
BEST BET – Storm Front
Storm Front is likely to jump off in the Skycity Star Way Stakes as the favourite but will require leap of faith having been off the track for six months. A convincing winner on debut, there are hopes that this strapping two year old could be special and his connections will hope he can confirm his class on his reappearance.
THE DANGER – Too Sweet
If Storm Front requires too much of a leap of faith, the alternative play could be Too Sweet. The most experienced horse in the lineup, she has two wins from her five runs and has earned the most prize money in the lineup. Likely to give her running, she looks a real contender.
VALUE BET – Lady Iris
Lady Iris looks like an exciting prospect. She has had the one start which resulted in victory abut takes a step up in class here. Clearly capable of a big showing, it will be interesting to see how she handles this assignment.
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Containing a brilliant and easy to use app, you can view all of Saturday’s racing at the click of a button. With commentary on each and every horse declared for Saturday’s card, you can get a real sense of where the value in each race lies.
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Join us every Saturday and Wednesday for our exclusive racing tips.
Each week we will provide the very best free horse racing tips that have been compiled by our experts.
Making sure that you don’t miss any of New Zealand’s biggest races, we will let you know what horses to watch out for and what horses could be capable of winning at a big price.
Providing information about the track and who are the notable jockeys to follow, our experts will provide you with all the information you need to know.
We will also cover any bonus bet or other promotions that are running that day and even have recommendations for other bets like multi tips, and our daily quaddie.
For a more in-depth explanation of horse racing bet types and tips for placing, visit our tips and information page.
Jockey Of The Day – George Rooke
George Rooke has ridden over two hundred professional winners and has established himself as one of New Zealand’s most premier jockeys. Throughout Saturday’s card he looks to have several interesting rides and could add to his haul.
George Rooke rides:
R1 – 5 – Up The Anti – 7.50
R3 – 3 – Rocababy – 9.50
R4 – 8 – Lady Iris – 9.00
R5 – 12 – Pharoah’s Dream – 12.00
R7 – 10- Zormella – 3.30
R8 – 14 – Mosinvader – 11.00
R10 – 3 – Cyber Patch – 10.00
Multi Tips For – Ellerslie
There are a few short priced favourites through Ellerslie’s card on Saturday and this treble could be worth a second look.
Multi:
R7 – 10 – Zormella – WIN – 3.30
R3 – 1 – Glamour Tycoon – WIN – 3.30
R4 – 1 – Storm Front – WIN – 3.20
Total Odds = 34.48
$10 Stake = $348!
Odds provided by Bet365 sign up for a new account here to get started.
Exotic Tips For Ellerslie
If you don’t like the look of our treble, then fear not as our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of bets that you can place. If you want to find out more explore it today.
Racecourse Trifecta Tip
For example:
1st: 1, 4, 9, 15
2nd: 1, 4, 9, 15
3rd: 1, 4, 9, 15
$50 stake = 208% flexi
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