The two-year-old babies take pride of place at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The running of the Group 1 Channel 7 2YO Golden Slipper (2130m) has attracted a capacity field of 12 highly credentialed youngsters who will battle it out for the rich $150,000 purse.
And what a great race it promises to be.
One member of the WA Trotting Media Guild - TABradio’s Matt Young - has made his best bet in the feature.
“Vegas Strip can capitalise on the omissions of a few very talented youngsters in the Golden Slipper,” Young said. “The Team Bond-trained two-year-old has brilliant speed and can cross this field. From there he can control and win the feature to give Deni Roberts her first G1 victory.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has placed his faith in Watts Up Sunshine as his star bet on the mammoth 11-event card.
“Great to see 11 races at GP and some good fields,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No.1 Watts Up Sunshine. His form has been pretty good and with the excellent barrier should record another win.”
The racing co-ordinator at The West Australian Ryan Havercroft is keen on Muzstang in race six.
“Musztang has been impressive in four local starts,” Havercroft said. “He missed away from the strands in the Marathon Handicap and in the three runs since, the Michael Brennan-trained gelding has finished in the top two from unfavourable draws. This week he comes up with the pole and has shown gate speed previously in Melbourne.”
Guild president Wayne Currall believes the Murray Lindau-trained and Kyle Harper-reined Beyond The Sea can go one better than her last-start second behind top-class mare Acharne Girl.
“Beyond The Sea hasn’t saluted since her win at Pinjarra in July, but she has her hoof firmly on the till,” Currall said. “She almost nailed Acharne Girl two weeks ago at headquarters and is poised to strike on Friday night. No Acharne Girl in this field … jump on punters.”
The Guild is rapt to have Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, back on deck after his recent health problems.
I’m sure I speak for everyone in the industry by saying “Great to have you back in good health Ernie - more power to you.”
Manning has left his best bet until race 11.
“Talented two-year-old Copy Cat Queen is primed to successfully handle a class rise after her impressive midweek win at Gloucester Park on September 19, when she scored stylishly after facing the breeze,” Manning said. “The filly has shown ability since early in her career and made a winning debut. She struck a six-run losing streak, but now seems back to her best.”
However, that’s not how award-winning journalist Ken Casellas sees the race panning out.
“Wide barriers haven’t helped Nase Vira at her past two starts, and she should appreciate a slightly better draw at No. 5 in the final event on Friday night,” Casellas said. “I believe she should fight out the finish with Copy Cat Queen, and emerge victorious. Therefore I’m happy to make her my best bet.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Brought To Light is a talented type who gets the perfect draw and can get the perfect run. I’d be saving on him in the feature.
PAT: My double comes up in race five, The Golden Slipper with No. 4, the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Vegas Strip. Has some excellent form and should win well.
RYAN: Feeling Aces looks a likely place chance if he can keep the back of Paul Edward. Worked in the breeze at his last two and should get the right run here.
WAYNE: I’m persisting with my all-ups. I’m getting closer … I can feel it in my bones. I’m doing an all-up win on four horses who have drawn the coveted pole - Watts Up Sunshine, Tenzing Bromac, Muzstang and Paul Edward bringing it home. Go you good things!
ERNIE: New Zealand import Caribbean Lily has run unplaced on country tracks at her past four starts, but barrier one should be big bonus for the mare. She was a Christchurch placegetter ahead of six WA country wins. The five-year-old has shown city winning potential in two seconds at headquarters.
KEN: Grevis has been performing in superb form and he will give you a great run for your money at good odds when he begins from the inside of the back line in the Golden Slipper.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
