Some nice horse flesh on show at Gloucester Park on Friday night with star three-year-old Patrickthepiranha and the unbeaten two-year-old filly Double Expresso set to strut their stuff.
The majority of the WA Trotting Media Guild members believe both horses can keep their winning runs going.
Multiple winner of the Guild’s tipping competition Stuart Lowe and the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian Ryan Havercroft are big fans of Patrickthepiranha.
“My best bet is the brilliant Patrickthepiranha, who has won eight of his last nine starts,” Lowe did. “The pole draw should allow him to lead all the way here.”
And Havercroft agrees.
“Patrickthepiranha returned to winning form in the Sales Classic last week and has drawn to repeat the dose in The Western Gateway this Friday,” Havercroft said. “His conqueror from two starts ago, Shockwave, is not contesting this week’s feature and he looks hard to go past.”
RWWA’s racing communications co-ordinator Tim Walker believes Double Expresso will keep her unbeaten record intact.
“Double Expresso picks herself,” Walker said. “Small field, is the class horse and why would you want to drop off after last start. Should win.”
Guild president Wayne Currall and longshot guru Pat Harding are in the Lady De La Renta camp.
“This mare has been crying out for a gate,” Currall said. “She has drawn gate two over the sprint trip and with 11 wins from 30 starts could prove too classy for this lot.”
Harding is even more enthusiastic.
“My best bet of the night comes up in race six in Lady de la Renta,” Harding said. “I tipped her as a value bet last week and she ran second and paid $3 for the place. This week I think she can go one better. With just the short 1730 metre distance, I think Kim Prentice can bounce her to the front and lead all the way.”
But the recently married Matt Young from TABradio has different thoughts.
“Rocknroll Baby has the perfect draw and gets the chance to go the trip,” Young said. “The former trotter has been luckless of late. She’s my best bet for the night.”
Budding racecaller Hayden King is keen on Clarenden Hustler from the pole.
“Clarenden Hustler is ideally drawn considering his early brilliance,” King said. “His recent form has been excellent for the most part and should be hard to beat.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has made Dracarys his star bet.
“Dracarys looked back to her best when winning at Bunbury last start and she shapes as a leading contender for the WA Oaks in May,” Manning said. “The filly, who joined Justin Prentice’s stable after winning in New Zealand, showed quality in victories at her first five WA appearances. She was having her fourth start after a spell when leading and outclassing Bunbury rivals last Saturday week.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas has sacked Liberty Rose, who let him down again last week, and has made the consistent Handsandwheels his best.
“Handsandwheels is a superb frontrunner, but he will be seen in a different role on Friday night when he starts from barrier two on the back line,” Casellas said. “However, he is also an extremely smart sit-sprinter and he’s my best bet this week when I expect him to unwind a powerful finishing burst.”
VALUE BETS
Stuart: My value bet is Mister Bushido, who was a smart winner here three starts ago. He has been luckless at two runs since, but with the pole draw should get every chance to win.
Ryan: Mistersandman has been running handy races from awkward draws. Drawn in barrier eight, he is bound to be at a liberal each-way quote and will be running on.
Tim: Always Arjay was enormous at Narrogin last week. Can get a nice run behind the speed here and absolutely deserves a FFA win.
Wayne: Mr Mojito flew home to finish fourth behind The Bucket List last week. From gate two, champion reinsman Chris Lewis should have him handily placed and he’s each-way all day for me.
Pat: My value bet comes up in race eight with No.2 Waltzingwithsierra. Over the short distance I think Shannon Suvaljko will steer her home to victory.
Matt: Luis Alberto has drawn to get a soft run, just needs luck over the short course to be dangerous late.
Hayden: Always Arjay has a great trailing draw on what will be a good speed. He will be very hard to hold out late.
Ernie: Madame Meilland, who faces strong opposition when racing first-up, has won five races and run six places in 13 Gloucester Park starts. The former Melbourne mare won three Victorian races before her transfer to WA.
Ken: For value, I suggest The Art Form, a back-line runner in race three. A last-start all-the-way winner, he is also highly capable of producing a spirited final-lap spurt.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting!
