The biggest night of pacing in Western Australia has arrived.
The Group 1 WA TABtouch Pacing Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night has brought together a class field of 12 pacers with little champ Chicago Bull attempting to become a dual winner of WA’s biggest race.
The $450,000 feature highlights an action-packed card of 10 events and members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have earmarked quite a few specials for the meeting.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and Guild president Wayne Currall believe “Bully” can repeat his feature-cup double of 2017 when he won the Fremantle Cup and the WA Pacing Cup.
“Chicago Bull was valiant in defeat last week, having sat outside of Perfect Major who had all of the favours,” Havercroft said. “The poster horse of WA pacing will start a short favourite but his class and form this campaign justifies his odds-on quote.”
And Currall agrees with his younger colleague.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going ... and Chicago Bull is not only tough, he’s brilliant as well,” Currall said. “Very rarely have we seen a smaller pacer with as much ability as the Gary Hall-trained champ. This will be no walk in the park for ‘Bully’ from his awkward draw in gate seven, but he’s got a heart as big as himself. I find it extremely hard to tip against Chicago Bull - he’s under the odds for mine, but he’s the one they all have to beat.”
TABradio’s Hayden King is keen on Cant Refuse in race three.
“Cant Refuse comes up with the pole and looks mightily hard to beat,” King said. “He trialed up strongly on Sunday at Byford to compensate for the lost run last Friday. He should be fit enough to lead and win.”
But that’s not how King’s colleague at TABradio Matt Young sees the race. He’s very bullish about the chances of Rosies Ideal in the same event.
“Rosies Ideal was three and four-wide in a quick lead time last Friday, before breezing and running a very brave second to Whozideawasthis,” Young said. “On Friday she has the perfect trailing draw and I expect her to let things unfold before going to the breeze and winning the race. I’m very confident.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart believes punters can get off to a flyer with Diego in the opening event.
“Diego looks a pretty smart horse after his win here on Tuesday,” Wishart said. “Gets the draw advantage on his main rival and looks set to make it three in a row.”
Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas has made Gran Chico his best bet on the program.
“Gran Chico has resumed after a spell in wonderful form and I’m making him my best bet to keep up the good work by winning on Friday night,” Casellas said. “Shannon Suvaljko will drive the Mike Reed-trained four-year-old, the only runner on the back line who should carry too many guns for his rivals, including the brilliant but injury-plagued Sir Galahad and the frontrunning Roman Art.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding believes punters are in for a hard night.
“Looks like another tough night at GP this Friday,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with Liam Neil drawing the No. 1 barrier. With Gary Hall Jr aboard and a good getaway, he should lead from start to finish and give some joy to punters.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning believes Chiaroscuro can bounce back to winning form.
“Chiaroscuro gets his chance to break an 18-start losing sequence when he tackles the Parliamentarians Cup,” Manning said. “The pacer has been freshened since he led and finished third three weeks ago and Colin Brown replaces the suspended Emily Suvaljko as his driver. Chiaroscuro has won 15 races, including 11 at Gloucester Park.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Disco Under Fire won twice in stands last month and has drawn the inside gate for this assignment. He is going well enough to hold them out and salute.
WAYNE: Almost knocked the longshot king off his perch last week when 40/1 outsider Henwood Bay went down by a half-head. Sticking with the Errol Ashcroft team and making Euphoric Moment my best value in the first race. Should get out to a good each-way quote and can surprise, especially if the speed is on.
HAYDEN: Stroke Of Luck is drawn fairly and could be flying under the radar, but flying he is. He could have been regarded as somewhat unlucky in recent weeks to not have forced his way into the Pacing Cup field, but victory here will be a worthy consolation. He will be extremely hard to hold out with even luck.
MATT: Bracken Sky was superb first-up in free-for-all company last week. Jocelyn Young just needs an ounce of luck in the last 400m and she could make them pay late.
WARREN: It was a fill-up last week with the best value saluting at $21 (Shadow Roll) and I think we can give it a shake again this week with Bracken Sky. Ran well in a hot race last start and this draw is perfect for him behind the likely leader. Think the market will miss him and he is a great each-way bet.
KEN: For value, I suggest Rosies Ideal, who will start from the back line in the Bringing Home The Bacon Pace. The Shane Young-trained Rosies Ideal produced an outstanding effort when second to Whozideawasthis last week.
PAT: My value bet comes up in race 10, the last of the night, with No. 7 Sugar Street. Chris Voak has a habit of bobbing up with a winner in the final race and I think this is another ideal opportunity for him to put a smile on punters’ faces.
ERNIE: Thats Perfect, making his WA debut after a Melbourne victory four starts ago, impressed when winning a Byford trial last Sunday. He is a brother to WA Pacing Cup runner Perfect Major, a winner at seven of his past nine starts. Thats Perfect has won 14 races.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
