The Group 3 Howard Porter Memorial (2130m) highlights an action-packed 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are confident they have landed on some best bets - albeit with a couple of clashes - that will give punters plenty to cheer about during the course of the evening.
TABradio’s Matt Young, fresh off tipping Hengheng - an all-the-way winner at the attractive odds of $8.50 as his best bet last week, is keen on the chances of Roman Art in race four on Friday night. And so too is The West Australian’s Ernie Manning.
“Roman Art has a beautiful draw and should be at peak fitness,” Young said. “He has options and is very versatile.”
Manning agrees with Young.
“Gate one will be a major asset for Roman Art, who has received two second-line draws and a barrier-nine obstacle when unplaced in three starts this month,” Manning said. “The Victor Bryers-trained five-year-old showed a lot of ability when he notched eight wins in a sequence of 12 starts last year. He looks set for a return to the winners’ list when driven by top young reinswoman Emily Suvaljko.
But longshot guru Pat Harding has different ideas to his colleagues.
“Looking forward to an interesting night at GP,” Harding said. “Still pretty tough going for punters and tipsters alike.
My best bet comes up in the fourth with No. 8 Star Of Diamonds. She’s been very consistent without winning and there is not a great deal of form in this race, so I am expecting that Chris Voak can steer her home.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes Born To Boogie can continue on her winning ways in the sixth.
“Born To Boogie has run top-two in her first seven WA starts and is drawn to continue that record,” Havercroft said. “She led and won twice from barrier one at Gloucester Park last campaign and seems to thrive off two-week gaps between runs.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas, relaxed and ready to fire after a week’s holiday, is keen on Manning in race eight.
“Manning has been unplaced at his past five starts, but that is no deterrent for me to name him as my best bet at Gloucester Park on Friday night,” Casellas said. “The Justin Prentice-trained four-year-old is certain to appreciate a considerable drop in class as well as a favourable draw at barrier two in the Garrard’s Freecall Pace and I’m confident he will lead and get the job done.”
However, that’s not how TABradio’s Hayden King sees the race panning out.
“Tyler Brett can zoom down the outside early and lead this line-up on Friday,” King confidently predicts. “He has a distinguishable class edge on his rivals and this is his big chance to return to winning ways.”
Media Guild president Wayne Currall has made Hurricane Harley his best for the night.
“Hurricane Harley showed plenty of ability when he zoomed home to win the Mount Eden Sprint in 1:53.3 a fortnight ago,” Currall said. “The son of super sire Bettors Delight has a better than 50 per cent winning strike rate and should be further improved from his last start. Get on and get in the queue.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Jesse Allwood will get a nice run and over the longer trip he’ll be saved up and finish off well. He’s an each-way play.
ERNIE: Melbourne import Mirragon should not be underrated when resuming after a five-month break from racing. The Debra Lewis-trained four-year-old was most impressive when winning Gloucester Park events at three of four starts last April. Ahead of his arrival in WA, he won four Melton races.
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No. 3 Whatabro. He had a win two starts back and while there's a bit of competition in this seven-horse field, I think the Michael Brennan/Michael Grantham combination can prevail.
RYAN: Al Guerrero should come out fast from gate four and is a notorious frontrunner. An each-way play for mine.
KEN: For value, I suggest Queeninthecorner from barrier one in race one. A strong-finishing winner on debut at Bunbury early in the month, she is also a smart frontrunner who has excellent prospects of leading and fighting out the finish.
HAYDEN: I'm going to multi Alta Cinderella in R2, Alta Rhett in R3, Finvarra in R7 and Tyler Brett in R8. All four were bred locally, so let's hope it's a big night for WA produce.
WAYNE: I’m going down the same path as Hayden, albeit not as ambitious as the young man. I’ll be playing an all-up win on In The Spotlight, into Hurricane Harley, into Finvarra and finishing with the exciting Jumpingjackmac in the last. Go you good things.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
