21 September 2017 | Wayne Currall
Our Zak Whitby has been labelled the best of good things at Gloucester Park tomorrow night by several members of the WA Trotting Media Guild.
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe, on-course announcer Ken Casellas, Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar, TABradio announcer Matt Young and Guild president Wayne Currall have all made Our Zak Whitby their star bet on Navy Cup night.
Casellas spoke for his colleagues when he said Our Zak Whitby’s recent form – two close seconds behind two classy horses – stamped him as the horse to beat. “The Ed Dewar-trained four-year-old will appreciate starting from gate two,” he said. “With Chris Lewis in the sulky, he appeals as the likely leader and this should prove a determining factor in his clash with in-form pacers Livura and Whozideawasthis.”
Casellas likes dual WA Pacing Cup winner My Hard Copy as his value selection. “My Hard Copy has drawn the pole in the $50,000 Navy Cup and is primed and ready for a bold showing at his fourth appearance after a 13-month absence,” he said. “He finished strongly from eighth at the bell to be a close fourth behind Condrieu last Friday night. He is a good frontrunner and is likely to take plenty of catching.”
Lowe’s value bet is Skippy Rascal. “This pacer led all the way to win at Northam three starts ago,” he said. “Fortune hasn’t favoured him at two subsequent runs where he has been unplaced. With the pole draw here he gets his chance to break through for a city win.”
Dewar believes Argyle Red could provide punters with some each-way value. “Argyle Red has drawn beautifully in gate three when he goes over the 2130m trip on Friday night,” he said. “Ran second behind the consistent Tanaka Eagle at his last start and in the past has shown speed. If he does so again, he could play a part at a price.”
Young has nominated Assassinator as his best value. “This will be Assassinator’s first run for trainer Ross Olivieri,” he said. “He put up a slashing performance in a recent trial and should be a great chance to show his best on Friday night. Pretty keen on an each-way basis.”
Currall fancies Master Jaxon on an each-way basis. “This guy is returning from a six-month spell so there’s bound to be doubts over his fitness,” he said. “But he could get out to a backable price and his class will carry him a long way in a quality stand.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning is a fan of Vampiro. “Vampiro is unbeaten in five Gloucester Park starts and showed quality when he came from a second line draw to score on Tuesday night.” he said. “The Skye Bond-trained four-year-old won only once in seven New Zealand races before his transfer to WA a few months ago. He was a Pinjarra runner-up in his local debut, then improved considerably. The gelding looks a feature events prospect.”
Manning is keen on Lagoon Stride for some value. “Seven-year-old Lagoon Stride last won 18 months ago and he has a 37-run losing sequence,” he said “But he impressed when overcoming a back-row draw and finishing second to Harry Hoo over 2536m on September 8. The gelding, prepared by Colin Joss, will be driven from gate six by champion reinsman Chris Lewis.”
Longshot maestro Pat Harding believes this week’s meeting looms as a battle of the big stables – Skye Bond V Gary Hall. “Both trainers have some excellent, in-form horses engaged and could clean up the card between them,” he said. “In the first, the Hall-trained, Lets Chase The Dream is poised to pounce. With a second and a third since a spell, he looks the likely winner. “In the second, Bond can open her account with Dodolicious. Ryan Warwick has elected to drive the classy mare and it could be a clash between her and the other Bond runner, Donegal Rundlescreek.”
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley also fancies Lets Chase The Dream. “And the in-form Mighty Mr Sharkey should hold out Ideal Tyson in the fourth,” he said. “I also like Campora in the fifth. He should receive a good run behind likely pacemaker Stroganoff.”
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good punting.
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