WHILE we inch closer towards Australia's spring racing season and all of the big, international names, cash and headlines it attracts, our neighbours over the ditch in New Zealand big racing events on the card with the Winter Cup and the spring triple crown.

New Zealand form stacks up well right across the globe and the Kiwi stars often make the trip for a tilt at Australian spring racing events.

CupsBetting takes a look at the Winter Cup on August 6, which features a big field of mud-larks hoping to grab a feature before winter ends.

Also available for Australian punters to bet on is the spring triple crown futures markets. Held at Hawkes Bay, the triple crown features the Makfi Challenge Stakes, Windsor Park Plate and the Livamol Classic. All three races are available at Sportsbet.com.au and we have the best futures bets sorted out.

Winter Cup market and tips

Platinum Command – $5 @ Crownbet.com.au
North And South – $7
Illuminati – $7
Taurus – $8
Lochan Ora – $8
Leeds – $12
Justlikeyasister – $15
Timy Tyler – $17
Miss Three Stars – $17
Gwynethanne – $21
Silhouette Noire – $21
Underthemoonlight – $26
Amun Ra – $36
Bishopbriggs – $36
Darci Mac – $41
Farce – $41
Maybe Miami – $41
Our Gazza – $51
Kindaleica – $51
Irish Excuse – $51
Absolut Excelencia – $51

Winter racing can throw in some interesting results, but look no further than the top five market hopes in this.

Three of the top five betting chances raced last Saturday and that form should carry through to the Winter Cup in two weeks time. North And South ran on stoutly at Taranaki in behind Longchamp and that form will be the best guide for this.

It's a horse which revels in the heavy conditions and the $7 at Sportsbet looks like good value.

Illuminati was a winner at Ruakaka on Saturday and it does have solid form on the board, but our only worry is the heavy track. It goes best at Ruakaka which is a sand-slit track and conditions at Riccarton will likely be bad.

At the top of the market is the Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Command which scored easily down the outside last start and Latta has a good record in the Winter Cup. It loves running on rain-affected tracks and the $5 represents good value and it will likely start shorter on the day.

Include Taurus in your selections at $8 after an impressive placing on Saturday.

New Zealand spring triple crown betting

The Makfi Challenge Stakes is the first leg on August 23 and it gives punters a good guide to the following two legs.

Kawi is the current favourite after winning it last year, but there are a host of top-quality chances which includes the popular Hasselhoof and the Australian-performed Valley Girl and Xtravagant.

It is still unknown whether champion three-year-old Xtravagant will contest the opening leg, but punters are getting a good price of $12 if it does.

Top Makfi betting hopes:

Kawi – $5.50
Ryan Mark – $7
Hasselhoof – $7
Stolen Dance – $9
Valley Girl – $12
Southern Icon – $12
Capella – $12
Xtravagant – $12

Punters shouldn't really go wrong with these eight selections. Kawi deserves to be the favourite as it targets the triple crown every year. $5.50 is about the best price you will get and we think it will start at around $3 on the day.

Ryan Mark is a solid each way chance after going close last year. The John Morell-trained runner likes to be on the speed which helps at Hawkes Bay and it will likely enter the Makfi in a fresh up state.

Hasselhoof didn't put its best hoof forward in Australia, but that might have come too soon for it. The Logan/Gibbs-trained star went unbeaten in New Zealand and although it might be looking for more distance, it's not without a chance in the Makfi. $7 is a respectable price and it will surely have a big following if it lines up.

The odds for the Windsor Park Plate are very similar. Kawi is $5.50, Hasselhoof at $6 and Stolen Dance at $8. Capella is also on the $8 line at Sportsbet which is good value after it showed plenty of promise in Australia.

The most enterprising market is for the final leg – the Livamol Classic on October 1. The market currently has Hasselhoof on the first line of betting and Kawi at $12 which is incredible value.

Livamol Classic betting:

Hasselhoof – $7
Stolen Dance – $8
Valley Girl – $8
Capella – $10
Kawi – $12
Mime – $14
Benzini – $16
Chenille – $16
Humidor – $18
Our Vergara – $18
Willie Cazals – $18
Rasa Lila – $18
Fanatic – $21
What's The Story – $26
Xtravagant – $26

Kawi wasn't able to win the Livamol Classic last year after being well backed, but that doesn't mean it should be $12 this time around. It has the ability to win at this level and we are expecting that price to drop.

The smokey in the race is Humidor at $18. It has plenty of talent, but hasn't learnt how to put it all together. It should have matured nicely throughout the winter and it will see out the distance, making the $18 at Sportsbet a good futures bet.