It would be remiss of me not to congratulate our long-serving colleague of the WA Trotting Media Guild Ken Casellas on the brilliant win of his horse Simply Shaz last Friday night in the Group 1 Westral Mares Classic.
Unfortunately, Ken was on holidays and didn’t enjoy the moment on course, but I’m sure he would have been tuned in to see his mare post the biggest win of her career.
Well played Mr Casellas, who is a patient man judging by his best bet in the last race at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Three-year-old Lusaka meets older and more experienced rivals in the final event on Friday night when he will be making his first appearance (off 10m) in a stand and clashes with stablemate and standing-start specialist Carana, who has won nine times in stands,” Casellas said. “But I’m making the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Lusaka my best bet because of his excellent form in much stronger company. He impressed when he began from the outside barrier in a mobile event last Friday night and finished strongly, out five wide from last at the 300m to finish fourth behind Hillview Bondi.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding also has made a Bond-trained horse his best for the evening.
“Disappointing to see only nine races at GP but a tough meeting nevertheless,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Infinite Sign from barrier three. Did have a win three starts ago and I think is well placed here to win again.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Ima Fivestar General in the third.
“The Robbie Williams-trained and driven Ima Fivestar General has been racing in stronger class than he meets on Friday night,” Currall said. “Throw in the fact that he’s come up with the pole draw and he loves to lead - it all adds up to an all-the-way victory. He’s ready to salute.”
However, that’s not how TABrtadio’s Matt Young sees the race unfolding.
“Machnificent finds a really solid race with good genuine tempo and a chance to be close enough,” Young said. “He got a taste for victory last time out and I think he can go on with the job here.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, believes Floewriter is primed for victory.“
“Floewriter has enough gate speed to utilise the inside draw in the 4YO Classic Consolation,” Havercroft said. “The son of Sportswriter only narrowly missed when flashing down the outside to be runner-up to Rockmyster a fortnight ago. Third-up for this assignment and should be closer to peak fitness.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has settled on Rumour Has It as his star bet.
“Lightly-raced Rumour Has It has not started for 10 months, but should be hard to beat with a barrier one advantage,” Manning said. “The mare produces her best while fresh, as shown by her Gloucester Park win and two places last January when resuming after an earlier 10-month absence from racing. Trained by Debra Lewis, the five-year-old has displayed quality since beginning to race. She recorded two wins at headquarters in her first four appearances.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: For value I suggest Zephyra, who has the class to overcome the outside barrier in race seven at her first outing for six weeks.
PAT: My double comes up in race nine with the Bond-trained Lusaka from barrier 10. Very consistent and should record a good win.
WAYNE: Soho Santorini looks a good each-way play in the opening event on the card. He’s drawn to get a cheap run behind likely leader Bee Jays Boy. The last time he drew this gate he finished a gallant second behind Swingband.
MATT: Wonderful To Fly will finally be driven as a sniper, and if there is any over-the-top tempo in the race she can sweep home and give the boys a fright in the 4YO Classic.
RYAN: I believe Hoppys Way can upset the fancied visitor My Ultimate Ronnie in the main event. Great each-way prospects.
ERNIE: The Ryan Bell-trained Tiger Royal should not be underrated, though he has won only twice in his past 16 starts and is on a seven-race losing run. The gelding impressed when winning three events in a sequence of five starts early this year and he later scored two Gloucester Park victories at consecutive starts. Placings at headquarters on the past two Friday nights have indicated he is primed to win again.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
