WA Trotting Media Guild Friday's Thoughts 1st June

31 May 2018 | Wayne Currall
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It says a lot about the competitive nature of harness racing at Gloucester Park when the experts clash over their best bets for a meeting.

Such is the case at headquarters on Friday night when members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have locked horns on their selections in the ninth race on the card.

Last season’s leading tipster Stuart Lowe and The West Australian’s Ernie Manning have declared WA Oaks runner-up Detroit Lily as their star bet on an intriguing 10-event program.

But this season’s leading tipster Matt Young disagrees with his colleagues.

TABradio’s Young has made She Could Be Good his best bet for the night.

One of the two horses - both shooting for hat-tricks - should be victorious on the night, but which one?

Lowe believes Detroit Lily’s class will get her home.

“My best is Detroit Lily, who has been an easy winner in fast time at her last two Pinjarra starts,” he said. “She’s a class filly who should be able to overcome an awkward draw here and win.”

Manning also is in the Detroit Lily camp.

“Detroit Lily possesses the class to overcome a second-row draw and beat older rivals,” he said. “The WA Oaks runner-up has recorded four wins and two seconds in her past six starts. She blossomed after a Narrogin victory was the only win in her first five starts following arrival from New Zealand last summer.”

However, Young disagrees with Lowe and Manning and points to the engagement of leading driver Gary Hall Jr as a major positive for She Could Be Good’s prospects.

“She Could Be Good has drawn beautifully and has excelled in the Kristian Hawkins stable,” he said. “She should lead and Junior will drive a canny race to keep main danger Detroit Lily on his back.”

Thankfully for punters, the remaining members are in agreement over their star bets or have found their best bets in different races.

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and longshot maestro Pat Harding believe punters can get the night off to a flyer by supporting Luis Alberto in the opening event.

Havercroft said punters should give the costly Luis Alberto another chance.

“I’m prepared to give Luis Alberto another chance after being a beaten $1.30 favourite two starts ago from the same barrier and conditions,” he said. “Forget his last run when sitting parked outside of the leader over 2536m.”

And Harding is of a similar frame of mind.

“Luis Alberto from barrier one should get an excellent run,” he said. “Although he’s likely to be favourite, he should give punters an excellent start to the night after his unlucky fifth last week.”

GP on-course announcer Ken Casellas is a fan of Skippy Rascal.

“Veteran pacer Skippy Rascal should appreciate a considerable drop in class and looks to have excellent prospects in the seventh event on Friday night,” he said. “He will be driven for the first time in his 149-start career by Jocelyn Young and the Callan Suvaljko-trained eight-year-old is my best bet on a challenging program. He has been unplaced at his past seven starts, but from barrier four Young should have him in a prominent position throughout the 2130m event.”

Guild president Wayne Currall was impressed with Better Scoot’s return to racing a fortnight ago.

“Better Scoot showed enough at his first run back from a seven-month spell when a gallant third behind Lord Willoughby to suggest he can break back into the winners’ list in the stand,” he said. “If Ryan Warwick can step him safely from the tapes and take up the running then he’ll prove mighty hard to gun down.”

 

VALUE BETS

Stuart: The value bet is Skippy Rascal, who drops in class here with a concession driver aboard. Form better than it reads and with a relatively good draw should have each-way claims.

Ernie: Bronze Seeker is a veteran who has not won in his past 12 starts, but gate one should bring him right into calculations. He had difficulty getting clear before finishing ninth last Friday night.

Matt: Soho Leviathan comes up with a decent draw, can speed across and lead and be cheeky in front at each-way odds.

Ryan: The Spinster drops in class on her last outing when she made some late ground chasing home Major Reality. Could run into the money with the right run.

Pat: Back To The Beach, for Ross Olivieri and Shannon Suvaljko, should bring home the bacon. From barrier one he won’t be great odds, but he should lead all the way and give punters an excellent finish to the night.

Ken: For value, I suggest the Barry Howlett-trained Fanci A Dance from barrier three in the final event. This will be his first appearance for six months, but I am predicting a bold first-up showing from the five-year-old who boasts a winning record of 28 per cent.

Wayne: Fernleigh Rebel hasn’t won for some time, but with Junior in the bike and a great trailing draw behind likely leader and stablemate Mattjestic Star, he looks a great each-way chance.

To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.

Good Punting

 

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