by Wayne Currall
Punters who followed longshot king Pat Harding would have been laughing all the way to the bank after the opening event at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
Harding, renowned for always finding outsiders during the course of the season, tipped Muffins on top last week and the filly duly saluted at the juicy odds of $22.50.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning also ended up having Muffins on top after the late scratchings of favourite Rosies Ideal and Captured Delight.
Harding has again chosen the opening event to launch into his best bet for the WA Media Guild Thoughts for Friday column.
“I think the combination of Michael Brennan and Michael Grantham can get punters off to a great start with Captain Mannering,” he said. “The horse has had two starts in WA since a spell and ran a very good second last time out.
“And I think the Brennan/Grantham team can strike again with The Bucket List in the seventh race. The horse has run some very good races and is poised to win again. Should be a good night for the two Michaels.”
Manning has settled on Somewhereonlyiknow as his best for the night.
“Gary Hall Jr is booked to drive Somwhereonlyiknow in the Tabtouch 3YO Fillies Pace (1730m) and gets the chance to further boost his impressive run of success with pacers trained by Justin Prentice,” he said.
“The youngster demolished rivals when she led and won by 19.1m over 2130m at Gloucester Park last Tuesday week. It was the fifth win notched by Somewhereionlyknow and she is capable of leading from gate two.”
Manning opted for the Skye Bond-trained Kiwi import Gaz Wannabet as his value selection.
“Gaz Wannabet is expected to be prominent when racing first-up in the International Animal Health Product Pace (1730m),” he said. “The gelding won three New Zealand races and has scored eight victories, including four at Gloucester Park, since arriving in WA last year.”
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe, Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar, The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and veteran tipster Bill Brindley have all settled on Sprinter as their best bet.
Havercroft summed up the thoughts of his fellow Guild members.
“Sprinter will be short but has been in sparkling form and can overcome an awkward draw in the Retravision Pace,” Havercroft said. “The Gary Elson-trained pacer has not missed a cheque in his five runs this campaign and will look to bounce back from a last-start fifth to El Hombre when he contests a country-class race on Friday night.”
Havercroft likes The Pima Indian as his best value.
“The Pima Indian put his disappointing debut performance behind him when winning easily at Pinjarra on Monday,” he said. “Though still learning the racing caper, the inexperienced three-year-old will be looking to pinch a metropolitan-staked race before the season ends next Thursday. The back-line draw means he will be longer than the $1.20 he returned five days ago.”
Lowe is a fan of Chiaroscuro as his best value.
“My value bet is Chiaroscuro, who won well here four starts ago,” he said. “Has run solid races at three runs since, all from wider draws than this race. Should go close.”
Dewar believes squaregaiter Angus Invasion can get the cash.
“Normally I am a bit loathe to declare in trotters races, but I will make an exception for Friday night,” he said. “Angus Invasion is aiming for four on end when contesting the 2130m mobile event. Drawn beautifully in barrier two and could be too smart for his rivals.”
Brindley also fancies Americanbootscoota.
“Americanbootscoota looms as a good bet in race four as he can handle the standing start and is a classy performer,” he said. “My value bets on another great night of pacing are Fernleigh Rebel in the third and Unexpectedvisitor in the last.”
On-course announcer Ken Casellas has opted for Run Oneover as his best bet.
“Run Oneover put up a tremendous performance to finish second to the pacemaker Bettors Fire in the August Cup 12 months ago and I’m confident that he will go one better and win the Group 3 August Cup at headquarters on Friday night,” he said.
“He is perfectly drawn at barrier one on the front line and Gary Hall Jr will attempt to make every post a winner by setting a brisk pace over the 2536m journey.”
Casellas likes Military Master for some value.
“My each-way value bet is Military Master in the final of the Schrader Pace, in which he will be driven by Chris Lewis from gate two. He should be prominent throughout and with 18 starts in his current campaign he could have that extra bit of fitness which could tilt the scales in his favour.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is a fan of Americanbootscoota.
“Punters should forget he went around last start as he suffered atrial fibrillation and was retired from the event,” he said. “He has since trialled brilliantly and should bounce back in the stand.”
Currall believes Better Than Money could provide some value in the fifth event.
“This bloke has drawn wide over the sprint trip but he only knows one way to race – go hard at the start and keep on running,” he said. “Could surprise at odds.”
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
