Punters can get off to a flyer at Gloucester Park on Friday night if they jump onboard favourite and polemarker My Carbon Copy.
That’s the opinion of two members of the WA Trotting Media Guild, who have labelled the Gary Hall-trained four-year-old gelding as their best bet on an exciting 10-event card.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes My Carbon Copy can bring his winning country form to the city.
“My Carbon Copy was unextended in accounting for his rivals last Friday at Albany and is drawn to lead again when contesting the opening race this week,” Havercroft said. “Has been ultra-consistent since arriving in the State, missing the first two placings only once in nine local starts.”
And longshot guru Pat Harding, who found Be Seventeen last week at the juicy odds of $34, is singing from the same hymn sheet as Havercroft.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be another tough night at GP this week,” Harding said. “However, I do think punters can begin the evening on a winning note with My Carbon Copy, No. 1 in race one. With four wins from five starts and the ideal barrier, I think Gary Hall Jr can lead from start to finish on this horse and give punters some joy.”
Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas is keen on Mighty Santana in race three.
“Mighty Santana has endured tough runs at several recent outings and the Greg and Skye Bond-trained five-year-old has bright prospects of improving his good winning percentage of 29 by proving the master of his rivals on Friday night,” Casellas said. “With a better barrier (five) than his chief opponent Theo Aviator (seven), he’s my best bet.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has made the consistent squaregaiter Mr Sundon his best for the night.
“Class trotter Mr Sundon, a sharp improver since arriving from Melbourne to join Ross Olivieri’s stable late last year, should not be troubled by a 30m handicap,” Manning said. “A winner at five of seven WA starts, he has been most impressive in Pinjarra victories at his past two appearances. He set the pace when scoring by more than 20m on February 3 and then ran on for another easy success last week.”
TABradio’s form analyst Hayden King is convinced that another Mister - Mister Bushido - will bounce back to winning form.
“Mister Bushido is in hot form without winning and gets his chance to lead and win from the pole on Friday,” King said. “He will take no end of beating.”
Radio Great Southern’s form expert Warren Wishart has tipped another polemarker, Handsandwheels, to post an all-the-way victory in the $50,000 RWWA Cup.
“Handsandwheels is looking to make it three features in a row and has the perfect draw to do such,” Wishart said. “Should lead and win again.”
TABradio’s racecaller Matt Young is predicting an upset in the $40,000 Caduceus Club Classic, where the unbeaten colt Franco Ecuador is expected to be sent out a short-priced favourite.
“Al Guerrero has drawn to speed to the top and his form is first class over the middle distance,” Young said. “I think he can take the biggest scalp of his short career.”
Guild president Wayne Currall believes Hoiho can bring up a hat-trick of wins in the fourth.
“Hoiho has drawn the pole and is poised to get the run of the race behind likely leader Dominate The Dojo,” Currall said. “Bunbury trainer-reinsman Kaiden Hayter has the seven-year-old gelding racing in career-best form and he looks a great chance to score again - he’s each-way all day.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Evergreen 13-year-old Maximum Demand is racing well and drawn behind the likely favourite and leader in Mister Bushido. Will get carted into the race and should be there in the finish.
PAT: My value bet comes up in race 10. I think this is a very open race with quite a few chances, but I have opted for No. 6 Jilliby Jake. With Maddison Brown aboard, I think over the long journey she can have him well placed to pounce and win.
KEN: For value, I suggest Itsnotova, from barrier two in the opening event. The David Thompson-trained gelding was most impressive last Friday night when he was 11th at the bell before flying home with a sparkling late burst to be third behind Soho Thunderstruck and The Last Drop.
ERNIE: Itsnotova has not won in his past 10 starts, but he looks close to breaking through. He fought on to run fifth after facing the breeze three weeks ago and last Friday night came from back in the field to finish third.
HAYDEN: R J Bopper is drawn poorly in the last, but if the speed is on he can come over the top with his powerful finishing burst.
WARREN: Fake News is racing in superb form. She is back to mares grade and although drawn out wide can run a race. Indicative price of $4.50 is each-way value.
MATT: Tenno Sho has a big chance of running to the top and giving Mr Sundon something to chase. He represents each-way value.
WAYNE: I don’t think Tradie can beat likely favourite Mighty Santana, but he could add some value to the exotics. It’s the first time he’s drawn a gate in a long time and he can place at big odds.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
