An exciting 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night is sure to have punters anticipating a great night of harness racing.
The classy Magnificent Storm returns in a free-for-all (2536m) and the four and five-year-old mares do battle in an interesting Harry Capararo Pace (2130m).
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have settled on their specials and value bets for the meeting.
Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Eldaytona in race two.
“Eldaytona hasn’t been setting the track alight at his past few starts, but the key to his chances on Friday night is the draw,” Currall said. “Trainer-driver Lindsay Harper will be pushing his charge out from the pole to hold up from the rails and post an all-the-way victory. He’s a good frontrunner and will be hard to topple if he finds the top.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, believes Whos The Dad can continue on his winning ways.
“Talented four-year-old Whos The Dad faces a class rise after winning at three of his past four starts, but the tougher task should be offset by barrier one,” Manning said. “The Kevin Charles-trained gelding has won five of 10 races since a spell and looks a genuine $200,000 Golden Nugget prospect. His two Gloucester Park victories in the past fortnight were impressive, particularly a 17m demolition of rivals last Friday night.”
However, veteran tipster Pat Harding sees the outcome differently.
“Should be an interesting night at GP, but still a couple of races with small fields unfortunately,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 6 Watts Up Sunshine. It’s time for another win and I think he can give punters a good sight.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and Ryan Havercroft, The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator, have settled on Otis as their best bet.
“Otis made a spectacular return to racing after a lengthy absence when he galloped at the start and settled more than 60 metres from the early leader before charging home from eighth at the bell to win a stand a fortnight ago,” Casellas said. “He is again my best bet when he starts from the 10m mark in race six on Friday night. The WA-bred five-year-old is sure to be a dominant force in the coming months.”
And Havercroft agrees.
“Otis made a successful return to racing after an 18-month break when wearing down Taking The Miki over the closing stages a fortnight ago,” Havercroft said. “He meets many of his rivals from that race under similar conditions and given he should have derived benefit from the first-up effort, natural improvement would make him the one to beat.”
VALUE BETS
WAYNE: Ima Fivestar General drops in class but has drawn wide. Despite the awkward draw, I expect him to be thundering home and he can surprise at odds if the pace is hot.
ERNIE: Five-year-old Bettors Destroya should not be underestimated despite a Pinjarra win in April being the only victory from her past 12 starts. The mare, trained by Justin Prentice, has been prominent since winning at her race debut. She has won only twice from 17 Gloucester Park starts, but was freshened after unplaced runs at her past two appearances and improvement can be expected.
PAT: My double comes up race seven with No. 5 Fly To Fame. She hasn’t had a great deal of luck but I think Chris Lewis might just be able to win with her over the short distance.
KEN: For value, I suggest Hillview Bondi in race three in which he possesses the speed and strength to seriously challenge the polemarker Whos The Dad, who is in sparkling form.
RYAN: Flying Rumour is racing in a purple patch of form and is drawn to be on pace in what now shapes as an open affair with the scratching of Machnificent.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.