by Wayne Currall
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild believe Whozideawasthis and Midnight Man are star bets on what’s looming as tricky little program at Gloucester Park tonight.
Longshot specialist Pat Harding summed up the thoughts of most tipsters when he said, “another tough night coming up at GP and trying to find winners won’t be easy”.
But Harding, Media Guild president Wayne Currall, on-course announcer Ken Casellas and leading tipster Stuart Lowe have all made the Gary Hall-trained Whozideawasthis their best bet for the night.
Casellas spoke for his three colleagues when he said former NSW pacer Whozideawasthis had been transformed since coming under the care of leading trainer Hall.
“Whozideawasthis arrived in Perth earlier this year unheralded and unplaced at his final 10 outings in New South Wales,” Casellas said. “But he gave a bold frontrunning display when he won easily at a 1.56.5 rate over 2130m last Friday night. That followed excellent seconds to Dana Duke and Rycroft at his first two WA starts.
“He is a speedy beginner and good frontrunner who can also finish with great determination when forced to race without cover.”
Casellas opted for Gotta Go Chocolate as his best outsider.
“An effortless win in a six-horse trial over 2130m at Kellerberrin on Sunday has persuaded me to make Gotta Go Chocolate as my value bet for the night,” he said. “The Kristian Hawkins-trained six-year-old dashed to the front in the middle stages of the trial and won by just under nine lengths.”
Harding likes My Platinum Belle as his best value.
“I think Gary Hall Jr can make it back-to-back wins (after Whozideawasthis) with My Platinum Belle,” he said.
“This Justin Prentice-trained mare has some good numbers to her name and gate 10 will be ideal for her. I think the strongest competition will come from the stablemate Maia Maguire. Could be a good quinella.”
Lowe has nominated The Bucket List as his best value for the night.
“He’s the class runner of the field in the Marathon,” he said. “He has plenty of time to overcome the backmark with the race run over more than two miles.”
Currall thinks speedy beginner Bellerkerrin could run a race at odds in the opening event.
“Bellerkerrin has drawn the outside of the front line, but this may help his cause,” he said. “Horses with speed drawn out wide seem to get a slingshot effect from the 2130m start. If Bellerkerrin can work to the front without going too hard then he’ll be hard to run down.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and TABradio’s race caller Matt McDermott are fans of Midnight Man.
Manning spoke for both he and McDermott when he said consistency was being shown by Midnight Man, who has won or been placed in seven of his past 10 starts.
“Midnight Man drew the prized number one barrier and he has the speed to hold the front running,” he said. “The gelding led when he won over 2100m at Bunbury on July 22 and also set the pace before finishing a close second to talented performer Rockin The Boys in another Bunbury 2100m event last Saturday.”
Manning opted for Ideal Justice as his value selection.
“Ideal Justice has drawn wide for his first race after a lengthy break, but he is capable of being prominent if near his best form,” he said. “The New Zealand import won at eight of his first nine WA starts. A winner of five Gloucester Park races, he is dropping in class.”
McDermott believes backing Quincey Brogden on an each-way basis in the first race could prove fruitful.
“Quincey Brogden has been going OK and sneaking a few first-four stops,” he said. “From inside of the back line with a soft trip and any luck he can run a place.”
Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar is a big fan of Motu Premier.
“Former New South Wales pacer Motu Premier could win the feature event, the Allwood Stud Marathon Handicap,” he said. “A winner of four from seven from a stand, the Ross Olivieri-trained pacer has to come off a 30m handicap to win. At his last start he breezed when winning the Chandon Final two weeks ago. Could repeat the dose here.”
Dewar likes Campora as his next best.
“Campora is a consistent type who won a Gloucester Park midweeker on August 1 over 2130m and looks the testing material again when he contests the Fly Like An Eagle At Allwood Stud Pace,” he said.
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley has made Thereugo his star bet.
“The Kyle Harper-trained and driven Thereugo is my best bet as he has the speed to overcome gate nine,” he said.
“And the Halls should have an early winner in Whozideawasthis. Gotta Go Chocalate is my value bet and in the feature Rub Of The Green can win in what should be a great race.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft likes classy filly Maczaffair as his best for the night.
“Maczaffair looked to be back to her WA Oaks winning form when winning second-up at headquarters last month,” he said. “She did all of the work in the run on that occasion against her own sex, but she looks up to tackling the boys in this assignment.”
Havercroft likes old timer Shardons Rocket as his best value.
“Shardons Rocket is as tough as old boots and has shown a return to form of late, albeit against easier company,” he said. “The marathon trip of 3309m will be of no concern. The 12-year-old has contested this race three times and finished runner-up in 2013. He’ll be at cricket-score odds but he is capable of finding his way into the placings for the sentimental punters.”
Good punting.
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