05 October 2017 | Wayne Currall
Covered N Diamonds is a standout on Friday night’s card at Gloucester Park, according to members of the WA Trotting Media Guild.
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe, The West Australian’s Ernie Manning, veteran tipster Bill Brindley, Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar and Guild president Wayne Currall have all labelled the Skye Bond-trained Covered N Diamonds as their best bet.
Lowe spoke for his colleagues when he said Covered N Diamonds looked a class above her rivals in the last race. “Covered N Diamonds will be making her debut at GP, but she has won six times and run second once from her last seven starts,” he said. “All of her four WA starts at Pinjarra have resulted in four wins and she should continue the winning streak here.”
Lowe’s value bet is Master Jaxon. “He has had only one run back from a spell, but spoilt his chances when he galloped away from the stand and finished last,” he said. “He had close to a 40 per cent winning rate before that run. Looks well suited here with the pole draw at the mobile start and should figure in the finish.”
Manning has opted for Bettor Bling as his each-way choice. “Bettor Bling is showing glimpses of the ability which enabled her to win Gloucester Park juvenile events, including the WA 2YO Fillies Sales Classic (1730m), at her first two starts,” he said. “Now a five-year-old, the mare has run second and third over 2130m at GP midweek meetings in her past two appearances. She has drawn inside the second line on Friday night and will follow out Its My Lucknow, who is in solid form.”
Brindley also fancies Master Jaxon as his value bet. “Master Jaxon can lead throughout from his inside draw and roll hot favourite Idealndiamonds,” he said.
Dewar has opted for Chevrons Champion as his value selection. “Chevrons Champion is looking to break a 20-run losing streak on Friday night,” he said. “Ran a nice fourth behind Jaxon Fella last week and if she gets a good run in transit looms as a sound each-way prospect.”
Currall believes R J Bopper could run a race at odds. “R J Bopper finished fourth last Friday night and is drawn to run a race from the inside of the back line,” he said. “This is a very winnable race in a field where there is a lack of depth.”
Long shot king Pat Harding has labelled the costly Lets Chase The Dream as his star bet. “One of my better bets is with the Garry Hall-trained Lets Chase The Dream,” he said. “He has been very consistent in his four runs back from a spell and gate nine shouldn’t worry him over the 2536m.
“The other runner I like is in the fourth. This is a pretty open race with not a great deal of form among the runners. For that reason I favour Foxy Dame from the pole. In-form driver Shannon Suvaljko is aboard and the mare should give punters a good sight.”
On-course announcer Ken Casellas has made Foxy Dame his best bet. “The Mike Reed-trained mare has drawn the coveted No.1 barrier and Shannon Suvaljko will be determined to get to an early lead and then dictate the terms of the 2130m event,” he said. “She should prove the bet of the night.”
Like Manning, Casellas is a fan of Bettor Bling. “It’s great to see Callan Suvaljko back in the sulky after recovering from serious injuries and he has excellent prospects with the nippy sit-sprinter Bettor Bling, my best value bet on the 10-event program,” he said. “Bettor Bling will start from the inside of the back line and should enjoy an ideal passage. The five-year-old caught the eye at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening when she flew home, out wide, from ninth at the 300m to finish a close third to Bad Round and Torrevean Mio. That followed her fast-finishing second to Chiaroscuro a week earlier.”
TABradio’s announcer Matt Young believes punters can get their money early doors. “My best bet of the night is Smoldering Ashes in the opening event,” he said. “This horse has been performing superbly since entering the Capel stables of Andrew De Campo, comes up with the perfect barrier and, in a race lacking mid-race pressure on paper, can lead throughout and win comfortably.”
Young has nominated Cut For An Ace as his each-way selection. “Cut For An Ace is in a hot stand, but gets into the race nicely and is flying,” he said. “With a safe start this gelding has to be considered a good chance. Strong last-start second to Heez On Fire after leading him up in the three-wide line. This time Cut For An Ace meets Heez On Fire 10m better off.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is keen on Idealndiamonds. “Idealindiamonds looks set to continue on his winning ways when contesting the TABTouch Inter Dominion Gala Dinner Pace,” he said. “Unbeaten in three local starts, he has sat on the speed in all of those and barrier four presents the opportunity for the son of American Ideal to dictate terms.”
Havercroft is a fan of Shandale on an each-way basis. “Shandale has strong claims in the feature event, the J P Stratton Pace,” he said. “It would pay to overlook his last run where he dropped out and was unsuited in making a mid-race move. His previous two runs were impressive when sitting outside the leader and barrier one gives Shannon Suvaljko the opportunity to place him on the speed.”
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good punting.
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