The WA Trotting Media Guild Cup (2536m) and the Group 3 The Warwick Pace (2130m) headline a stellar 11-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Shockwave, after drawing the pole, seems to have a mortgage on the cup but the Warwick Pace is an open affair, despite the presence of Victorian three-year-old Soho Hamilton, who is taking on older horses.
Members of the Guild have agreed and disagreed on a couple of races when selecting their best bets for the meeting.
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart and longshot king Pat Harding believe Our Alfie Romeo can win.
“My best bet comes up in race nine with No. 8 Our Alfie Romeo,” Wishart said. “She’s a classy mare who looks well placed here despite the wide draw. Should be too good.“
And Harding agrees.
“Looks like another good night coming up for the Bond camp this Friday night,” Harding said. “However, I do think there might be some value in some of the races, but it still could be a tough night for punters and tipsters alike. My best bet comes up with the Bond-trained Our Alfie Romeo. She has been so consistent in her recent races and even though she has drawn the outside barrier, I think she will prevail in the small field.“
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is keen on Kiwi Bloke in the stand.
“Kiwi Bloke returns to standing-start conditions where he has been ultra-consistent of late,” Havercroft said. “The son of Courage Under Fire hasn’t missed the placings at his last five tries from behind the strands and his main rival this week, The Buckeye Bullet, gives away a 20-metre advantage under handicap conditions.”
However, veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas holds a different view.
“Four-year-old The Buckeye Bullet has a 55 per cent winning average and I’m making him my best bet on Friday night when he has the speed and strength to overcome the 20-metre handicap in the 2503m stand,” Casellas said. “The New Zealand-bred gelding has resumed after a spell in fine fettle with two wins and a fighting second when not enjoying any luck when outsprinted late by Just Wing It at Pinjarra on Monday.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning is keen on My Carbon Copy.
“The Gary Hall-trained My Carbon Copy will appreciate a sharp class drop after running third behind star stablemate Chicago Bull in last Friday night’s $50,000 Navy Cup,” Manning said. “Four-year-old My Carbon Copy set the pace and won impressively two weeks ago. The gelding is a brother to $1.2 million stake-earner My Hard Copy and he appears to have inherited plenty of the family’s abilty.”
TABradio’s Matt Young has made El Jacko his best for the night.
“El Jacko was a slashing run first-up in free-for-all company, powering home as an eye-catcher,” Young said. “He drops considerably in grade and in the small field can sit anywhere in the run and round them up to win. I’m very keen.“
Guild president Wayne Currall believes he’s found some value in his star bet.
“On a terrific program of harness racing, I’ve opted for Jack William as my best for the evening,” Currall said. “The Nathan Turvey-trained pacer goes well for young Emily Suvaljko, as was shown last Friday when the horse did a sterling job to stick on for second after racing in the breeze outside eventual winner A Boy Named Rosie. Jack William will have to do it tough again, but he’s got the strength to cover this field.”
VALUE BETS
WARREN: The Verandah gets a nice draw here and will settle on speed. Think the market will underestimate his chances.
PAT: My value bet comes up in race three with No. 2 Henwood Bay. He hasn’t had much luck in recent races but barrier two gives him a great opportunity and he should be at good value.
RYAN: Chiaroscuro will have the sit on Shockwave’s back in the Media Guild Cup. If Shockwave opens the field up like he did in the James Brennan Memorial, then Colin Brown should have Chiaroscuro well placed to take advantage.
KEN: For value, I suggest Askmeilltellya in race seven in which she will need to overcome the disadvantage of a wide draw at barrier eight. She is racing keenly and possesses a strong finishing burst.
ERNIE: El Jacko has won only once in his past 17 starts, but looked set for a propsperous campaign when he ran a first-up sixth from gate eight in last week’s Navy Cup. He has won 23 races, including 14 at Gloucester Park.
MATT: Destined To Rule is in great form, he just needs to find a position from gate three to play a big part in the second race.
WAYNE: Disco Under Fire can run a cheeky race at each-way odds in the stand. Gary Hall Jr will be looking to tuck the horse in behind likely leader Kiwi Bloke. From an ideal trailing position he could finish well when the sprint goes on.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
