The WA Trotting Media Guild celebrates their big night at Gloucester Park on Friday and a few members believe Idealindiamonds is one of the star bets on the nine-event program.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning, veteran tipster Bill Brindley and TABradio announcer Matthew Young are all keen on Idealindiamonds posting a hat-trick of victories.
Manning summed up the thoughts of his colleagues. “Idealindiamonds has been most impressive when winning at his first two WA starts,” he said. “Barrier four now boosts his chances of maintaining an unbeaten Gloucester Park record. “He showed a lot of ability in eights wins from 18 New Zealand starts. His versatility has been evident here. He faced the breeze when winning from a mobile, then led in his standing start victory.”
Manning fancies square gaiter Barry as his best value for the night. “Barry is a talented trotter who has the ability to be prominent when resuming from a lengthy spell,” he said. “He won nine New Zealand races and has shown a glimpse of his best when running third from 30m behind at GP. He has yet to win in WA, but trainer Shane Young is likely to have him forward in condition for his first-up race.”
Brindley believes Mako Shadow can get punters off to a great start in the opening event and has opted for Assassinator as his value bet in the fourth race.
Young agrees with his grandfather on the chances of Assassinator. “I’m sticking with Assassinator, who should be able to slide into a decent spot,” he said. “There looks to be a bit of speed to his inside and I’ll follow up after a solid enough run last Friday with little to no luck.”
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe is a big fan of Soho Tribeca. “My best bet is Soho Tribeca, who resumes after a break of nearly three months,” he said. “Won his last three starts, including a $120,000 four-year-old Vicbred final at Melton. Drawn wide here, in a good field, but looks to have the class to go on his winning way.”
Lowe’s value bet is Sheer Rocknroll. “This mare won 11 of 22 starts last season,” he said. “She has been close up at two unplaced runs this season but, with the advantage of the pole draw, she is set to get a great run in transit.”
Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar has labelled Our Jabari as his best. “Our Jabari won four starts ago when he did things wrong,” he said. “He could take out Friday night’s opening event. Did a lot of work when three-wide early and then breezing before running a two-length fourth behind Bettor Not Bitter.”
Dewar has nominated Driven as his best value. “Driven will out to break a 37-run losing sequence when contesting a 1730m affair,” he said. “Field is not massively strong and he did run a nice race when fifth behind Idealindiamonds in a 2503m stand 10 days ago. Is better suited back to a mobile and could give some cheek.”
On-course aanouncer Ken Casellas and TABradio race caller Matt McDermott have made First Edition their best bet.
Casellas spoke for both when he said punters would be wise to totally ignore First Edition’s eighth behind Heez On Fire last Friday night. “Fifth Edition was sixth in the one-wide line at the bell, but was badly blocked for a clear passage in the final circuit and was bolting with nowhere to go all the way down the home straight last week,” he said. “The gelding, trained by Skye Bond and driven by Ryan Warwick, looks a great prospect from the pole over 1730m on Friday night.”
Casellas has opted for B D Windermere as his value selection. “It’s a dangerous business selecting a pacer who has been unplaced at her past 14 starts and has a losing sequence of 26,” he said. “But that’s what I’m doing in nominating eight-year-old mare B D Windermere as my best value bet on Friday night. Trained at Bunbury by Steve de Campo, she will be driven by Dylan Egerton-Green from barrier three in the 1730m GPHR Media Guild Tips Pace. She is capable of mustering plenty of early pace and should be prominent throughout.”
McDermott likes Bethany Aitch as his value tip “She had a good draw last week and ran a nice second over this trip and with any luck in the run can knock over the boys,” he said.
Longshot king Pat Harding is looking for omens with his star bet Earl Harbour in the race named in his honour. “If you believe in omen bets, I have one in the third,” he said. “There’s a horse in this race who won me the title a couple of years back – it is Earl Harbour. On Friday night he will be coming out of barrier one and I think he will be a good each-way chance for punters, particularly with Lauren Jones aboard. “Another good each-way bet should be Glow Bright. Coming from the Debbie Padberg stable with Shannon Suvaljko aboard, the horse should give punters a good sight.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is going up against Casellas and McDermott by naming quick beginner Debt Free Charlie as his best for the night. “Debt Free Charlie is very quick from the machine and if driver Kyle Harper can cross Fifth Edition at the start then it will go a long way to ensuring an all-the-way victory,” he said.
Currall likes Sightseeing Anvil as his value selection. “Sightseeing Anvil is a fast beginner from the machine and could take up the running here,” he said. “The engagement of Chris Lewis is a positive move from the camp and he could represent good value.”
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good punting.
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