04 October 2018 | Wayne Currall
Chicago Bull has his final start in WA on Friday night at Gloucester Park in the $50,000 J P Stratton Cup (2130m) before heading east for an ambitious campaign that includes the Victoria Cup, the New Zealand Cup and the Inter Dominion series.
He’ll be at unbackable odds again and every member of the WA Trotting Media Guild won’t hear of hear of him being beaten.
Longshot king Pat Harding has made him the best bet for the night, despite the $1.04 on offer.
“The obvious stand out at GP on Friday is Chicago Bull in the J P Stratton Cup,” Harding said. “With only seven runners, this extraordinary horse should notch up another easy win as he heads towards the Inter Dominion.”
Prominent tipster Stuart Lowe, The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian Ryan Havercroft believe classy four-year-old King Of Swing will make amends for his last-start defeat.
“The best bet is the brilliant King Of Swing, who was narrowly beaten in the Media Guild Cup last week,” Lowe said. “He won his previous four starts and looks classes above his rivals.”
Manning agrees with Lowe’s summation of the race.
“King Of Swing will appreciate a class drop after his close second to Motu Premier in the Media Guild Cup last Friday,” Manning said. “He was keen in that event when making only his second appearance after a month out of racing. The WA Derby winner had notched victories at his previous five starts and he looks a genuine Golden Nugget prospect.”
Havercroft thinks his colleagues are on the money.
“King Of Swing lost no admirers last week when outstayed by the accomplished Motu Premier,” Havercroft said. “He drops back in distance, and enormously in grade to an M0 front race and should return to winning form.”
Novice racecaller Hayden King is keen on Destined To Rule in the stand.
“Destined To Rule finds the perfect opportunity to lead and should record his first city win,” King said.
GPTV’s Ken Casellas thinks punters can strike early with Madame Meilland in the opening event.
“Classy mare Madame Meilland should give punters a flying start to Friday night’s meeting by proving too good for her rivals in the opening event,” Casellas said. “She’s my best bet and I’m extremely confident she will make amends for her most unlucky eighth behind Tricky Styx last Friday night when she raced in the breeze and was travelling like a winner before locking wheels with the pacemaker Better B Chevron 120m from the finish.”
Last season’s leading tipster Matt Young believes Suspicious Life can post an all-the-way victory.
“Suspicious Life is returning and has brilliant gate speed, should lead and control the race ultimately returning to the winners’ circle,” Young said.
Guild president Wayne Currall is happy to make Amelias Courage his star bet.
“Amelias Courage was rolled as a short-priced favourite last start,” Currall said. “But they did run home the last 800m in a slick 56.7 – and that was against the boys. She’s drawn wide but will appreciate dropping back to mares company and can bounce back here.”
VALUE BETS
Pat: For a bit of value I thought Loaded Aussie in the last race of the night could be the way to go. Coming out of barrier seven over the sprint journey is not great, but I think he stands a good each-way chance, particularly as there’s not a great deal of exposed form in the race.
Stuart: The value bet is Always Arjay, who covered plenty of ground last week when sixth to Mitch Maguire. He was placed at three of his previous four starts and should appreciate a return to stand conditions.
Ernie: Suspicious Life clearly won a recent trial and is expected to run a big race when resuming. The lightly-raced gelding has won three Gloucester Park events and he ran two seconds there shortly before being spelled last June.
Ryan: Glow Bright’s recent form, though numerically unappealing, has been sound and he should be emerging late from a soft draw.
Hayden: Suspicious Life will spear to the front and lead all the way in a low-pressure contest.
Ken: For value, I suggest Always Arjay in the fourth event, a 2503m stand. The Matt Scott-trained gelding is a standing-start specialist and if he reproduces his strong effort when second to The Bucket List in the BOTRA Cup in July he will notch his 17th victory.
Matt: Estilo, now with the Kristian Hawkins stable, is nicely drawn and in an even race over the mile, could be a big price and worth having something on at each-way prices.
Wayne: Forever Remembered needs the pace on in a race where Speed Man will go around as a short-priced favourite. However, if the Shattering Class mare gets conditions to suit she can run a big race at huge odds.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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