The $50,000 The West Australian Nights Of Thunder Final (1730m) highlights a stellar 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And impressive heat winner Ideal Agent looks primed to make it a hat-trick of victories after drawing perfectly in gate two.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and Guild president Wayne Currall have made Ideal Agent their best bet for the evening.
“New Zealand import Ideal Agent has emerged as a potential topliner since resuming and he was brilliant when rating 1:51.9 to win a Nights Of Thunder heat last week,” Manning said. “It is hard to see him beaten in the final, considering he was the fastest qualifier and confirmed form he showed in a 22m win at his previous start. The five-year-old won Kiwi races before joining Greg and Skye Bond’s stable last winter. He opened his WA account with a winning hat-trick in October, but has been even better since a short break.”
And Currall agrees.
“Ideal Agent has shown he can do it tough - as he did last week - and still be strong at the finish,” Currall said. “He’ll be very short but should be posting an all-the-way victory. Punters can confidently use him as a banker for all-ups and in the first leg of the main quaddie.”
TABradio’s Matt Young and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft are keen on the chances of Medieval Man in race two.
“Medieval Man was very strong last start after doing all the work,” Young said. “This looks his race to work to the front and roll his way into the winners’ list.”
Havercroft is of a similar mind.
“Medieval Man was entitled to fold up after a torrid run last Friday but stuck on tenaciously to run third behind Shadow Roll,” Havercroft said. “This week Thereugo will lead early then look for a sit and Medieval Man is the one Lindsay Harper would want to be behind.”
But longshot guru Pat Harding disagrees with his younger colleagues, tipping Carrera Mach to cause the upset.
“After a tough opening to the first meeting at GP for the year it looks as though this week could be just as tough for punters and tipsters alike,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with Carrera Mach. I thought he was a bit unlucky last week but has a bit of form and I am sure he can bounce back this week with Chris Voak aboard.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas has opted for Miss Mucho as his star bet.
“Miss Mucho is racing first-up and she is somewhat awkwardly drawn at barrier five in the Perth Now Pace on Friday night,” Casellas said. “But I’m happy to make her my best bet because of her sparkling natural pace and her versatility.”
However, TABradio’s Hayden King sees a different scenario playing out in race six.
“Sheez Our Hope has an electric burst of speed and this is a major class drop,” King said. “Forget her last run - she just needs some cover to use her run at the right time and she will be too fast.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Former star juvenile Double Expresso has been freshened and should not be underrated. A victory last month showed her followers a glimpse of talent which enabled her to record 12 wins as a two and three-year-old, before needing a long spell to recover from soundness issues. The five-year-old will be suited in fillies and mares company.
WAYNE: Motu Premier might not have the class of some of his rivals in the FFA, but he does have the draw to run a cheeky race. If Chris Voak can hold the front from the pole he could prove mighty hard to run down.
MATT: Make Your Mark could charge out and lead. And, if she led, she’ll give the classy fillies something to chase.
RYAN: Wonderful To Fly compiled an outstanding two-year-old season and though resuming here, does appear to have a class edge.
PAT: My double comes up in race seven with another Chris Voak drive in Hotfoot It. Had some great wins before a spell and is well drawn here.
KEN: For value I suggest Carrera Mach in race two in which he is awkwardly drawn at barrier No. 6. His past couple of efforts have indicated that he has his hoof on the till.
HAYDEN: Angel In White broke the clock on Sunday at Byford. She was the fastest trial of the day by five seconds, leading throughout to score a dominant success and emphasising her capabilities from the front. She will be a demon to catch from gate one on Friday.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
