Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have come up with a mixed bag of best bets for Friday’s big night of APG Sales Classic Finals at Gloucester Park.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas are the only members to agree on a best bet - they are both keen on Kiwi Bloke making it a hat-trick of wins in the stand.
“New Zealand import Kiwi Bloke looks set to complete a standing-start winning hat-trick despite his 20m handicap,” Manning said. “The Ross Olivieri-trained gelding impressed when successful from stands at Gloucester Park on January 29 and February 12. He led in those wins and is likely to again be driven forward. Owned by Merv Butterworth, the seven-year-old has a tally of eight wins and 10 places from 28 appearances in standing-start races.”
And Casellas agrees.
“Standing-start specialist Kiwi Bloke will start off the 20-metre mark in race nine on Friday night, and though he has relished his frontrunning role when winning in fine style at his past two outings I’m confident that his sit-sprinting ability will warrant my decision to mark him down as my best bet this week,” Casellas said.
TABradio’s Matt Young likes Just For Love in the 3YO Fillies Sales Classic (2130m).
“Just For Love has tremendous gate speed and should burn off her rivals in the Sales Classic,” Young said. “A flashing second in last week’s Group 2, she can add one to her resume here.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes punters can confidently put their hard-earned on Mighty Ronaldo in race four.
“Mighty Ronaldo has the draw to defeat the in-form Lavra Joe in the 3YO APG Colts & Geldings Sales Classic,” Havercroft said. “He was forced to sit outside Lavra Joe when resuming last week and is drawn to reverse his fortunes this week.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart says punters can start the night off on the right note by supporting Texas Tiger in the opening event.
“Texas Tiger has created a huge impression since arriving in WA,” Wishart said. “Scintillating win on Monday at Pinjarra when running record time and he should win again.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has opted for plenty of value with his best bet on the program.
“Some very short-priced favourites likely to be evident this Friday night and pretty tough to find some value,” Harding said.
“My best bet of the night comes in race eight with No. 5 Naval Aviator. He is coming off a last-start win and I think Aldo Cortopassi can steer him to back-to-back victories at a good price.”
Media Guild president Wayne Currall agrees with Harding’s assessment of the program, but sees some hope for punters with an all-up investment.
“Like Warren and Matt, I think Texas Tiger and Mighty Ronaldo are good things but you’ll struggle to get any value there,” Currall said. “However, if you couple those two up with Mirragon in race seven then you’ll most likely get a decent return on your outlay.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Carrera Mach is likely to be overlooked by many punters after drawing gate 12, but he is in peak form and appears capable of overcoming the obstacle. The gelding won and ran three seconds at consecutive starts in Gloucester Park races before he covered extra ground and finished sixth last Friday night.
KEN: For value, I suggest Quick Stride in race two for the powerful Ross Olivieri-Chris Lewis combination. Quick Stride charged home like a runaway express train when a last-start fifth, and I’m tipping he will repeat the dose this week with another whirlwind finishing burst.
MATT: Quick Stride was eye-catching last start. This is a suitable race and if he gets a look at them late they’ll know he’s around.
RYAN: Brookies Jet looks value at the indicative price of $16. Scored an all-the-way victory from this draw last week.
WARREN: For a horse placed in a Golden Slipper, Give Us A Wave is way over the odds. Fitter and much better drawn, he will know he’s in a race but he is classy enough to figure. Well worth an each-way bet and an anchor in novelty bets.
PAT: My value bet comes in race nine with No. 3 Perlee Gates. Hasn't had a great deal of luck in recent races, but I think he can reverse that with a nice win at good odds.
WAYNE: Treacherous Tiger has run two handy races in her short career. She’s awkwardly drawn in the 2YO APG final, but if leading driver Chris Voak can find a position in running she can surprise at odds.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
