Punters who followed last week’s value tips from members of the WA Trotting Media Guild would have been laughing all the way to the bank.
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley was spruiking Say It Now, saying it could surprise at odds - and the horse duly saluted at the juicy odds of $22.80.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft threw out Sea Cider as a good place chance in the opening event. He confidently predicted she would get a lovely run behind leader Red Hot Roxy and that’s exactly what happened. Sea Cider finished third at $71 and paid $3.80 for the place.
TABradio’s Matt Young said Blissntheblack was drawn to get a soft run and could work out late and win at each-way odds. His crystal ball is working just fine Blissntheblack came from behind the leader to win at the attractive odds of $15.80.
Guild president Wayne Currall warned punters that Golden State could upstage his more fancied stablemate Bechers Brook ($1.90) and get the chocolates. Golden State duly saluted at $5.
This week’s star bets from Guild members are varied and, at times, at odds with each other.
Everyone believes champion WA pacer Chicago Bull will complete a winning hat-trick in the $50,000 Governors Cup, but he’ll be at unbackable odds.
Last season’s leading tipster, Stuart Lowe, and Currall are fans of Madame Meilland in the Lewis Mares Final.
Lowe spoke for him and his colleague when he declared the Ross Olivieri-mare was ready to break a frustrating run of minor placings.
“My best bet is Madame Meilland who won impressively here in January,” Lowe said. “She’s been placed at three of her four subsequent runs and is ideally drawn in gate one and looks very hard to beat.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning is at odds with his colleagues and believes Gotta Go Gabbana can land the prize in Madame Meilland’s race.
“Gotta Go Gabbana, who has faced the breeze and won Gloucester Park 2130m races at her past three starts, gets the chance to make it four straight victories,” Manning said. “The four-year-old, a winner of six races in her last 13 appearances, is further boosting a great strike rate for trainer Annie Belton.”
Longshot maestro Pat Harding is a fan of comeback pacer Zennart and has made him the best for the night.
“Looking forward to another excellent night of pacing at GP with the Halls set to dominate the meeting,” Harding said. “Hall Sr is in line for four winners, but I think the best will come in the fourth with Zennart. With Lauren Jones aboard I think he can make it three wins in a row.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas is a fan of recent winner Major Catastrophe and has made him his star bet.
“Nine-year-old Major Catastrophe is big and tough - and he’s racing in the best form of his career,” Casellas said. “He has earned $365,238 for his breeder-owner-trainer David Young and he’s my star bet on Friday night. He will start from the 10m mark, with Dean Miller in the sulky, and will relish the 2503m journey.”
Young is keen on squaregaiter Ton Tine in the last.
“Ton Tine has exploded into amazing form and Chris Lewis to drive should see this horse win from anywhere on Friday night.” Young said.
Brindley said the pressure was on this week to find winners.
“There’s one sure winner ... one good bet and that’s Chicago Bull,” Brindley said. “However, there’s no value in backing him at $1.10.”
Havercroft has labelled the former Kiwi mare Detroit Lily as his best for the night.
“Detroit Lily has a win and a second from two New Zealand starts and makes her local debut on Friday,” Havercroft said. “A recent Byford trial win suggests she will be forward enough to give a bold showing for trainer Skye Bond.”
VALUE BETS
Lowe: My value bet is Red Salute, whose form is better than it reads. Draw brings him in with each-way claims.
Wayne: Soho Eastwood should get a lovely run just off the speed and represents each-way value in the fourth event.
Ernie: Our Jaccka Mara has won only once in his past 38 starts, but he should not be left out of calculations from gate one. He ran fifth, after being inconvenienced, last start.
Pat: Gotta Go Gabbana could be the one to follow. With Chris Voak aboard, this Annie Belton-trained mare was impressive last week and should make it four in a row.
Ken: Sheer Rocknroll, who will start from the outside barrier, is racing first-up, but has the class to overcome her wide draw.
Matt: Amelias Courage keeps drawing poorly, but her form isn't too bad. I think she could run a better race on Friday.
Bill: My each-way picks are Springsteen in race two and Sheer Rocknroll in the third.
Ryan: Springsteen led easily from barrier two when second to Talktomeurmattjesty in December. Drawn the inside here and with blinkers added, he looks capable of holding the lead and the 1730m trip is in his favour.
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good Punting.
