05 September 2019 | Wayne Currall
Friday night at Gloucester Park marks the beginning of the 2019\20 metropolitan harness racing season.
But before we dissect tomorrow night’s card, we should acknowledge the WA Trotting Media Guild’s winners for the 2018\19 season.
Matt Young made it two in a row when he finished on top as the leading tipster, Pat Harding won the longest-priced winner (for maybe the ninth time in a row) and Ken Casellas and Wayne Currall shared the spoils for the most winners on a night (nine on a 10-event card). Congratulations to all our winners.
Polemarkers Mad Robber and Our Corelli are two horses earmarked by members of the Guild as star bets on Friday night.
The newest member of the panel, former RWWA chief handicapper Warren Wishart and now a form analyst on Radio Great Southern, is keen on Mad Robber, as is TABradio racecaller Hayden King and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft.
“The best bet of the night comes up in race nine in Mad Robber,” Wishart said. “He looks beautifully placed over the sprint distance drawing barrier one. Should lead and win.”
King and Havercroft agree.
“Mad Robber has the pole again and the result should be as predictable as last week,” King said. “He is a very competent frontrunner and this looks his for the taking.”
“Mad Robber led easily last week from the same draw and this field looks no better,” Havercroft said. “I’m not sure any of these are good enough to get around him over the sprint distance.”
Longshot guru Harding and The West Australian’s Ernie Manning believe Our Corelli will continue on his winning ways.
“Could be a good night for favourites for the first Friday night meeting of the season at GP,” Harding said. “My best bet of the night come up in race five with Our Corelli. He again has the benefit of barrier one and should make it two wins in a row. His last win was impressive and he should give another excellent front-running exhibition.”
Manning concurs.
“Our Corelli gets the chance to repeat his impressive all-the-way win last Friday after again drawing gate one,” Manning said. “The gelding will be hard to run down, judging by the way he scored by almost 11m and rated 1:52.7 over 1730m last week. He looks a Fremantle Pacing Cup and WA Pacing Cup hope, on the strength of six wins in nine starts since a transfer to trainer Debra Lewis.”
TABradio’s Young has gone with another polemarker in the shape of Extreme Prince.
“Extreme Prince has returned with good form, awfully unlucky last run and has the draw to go the journey,” Young said.
On-course announcer Casellas is looking at another horse who has drawn the pole to keep the winners rolling in.
“The Trilogy switches back to mobile racing on Friday night and gets an ideal opportunity to end a losing sequence of 10 by leading all the way from the No. 1 barrier,” Casellas said. “My best bet on the night possesses excellent gate speed and relishes the role of pacemaker. The Kristian Hawkins-trained and driven The Trilogy has been racing in good form in stands at his past four starts, the most recent being three Fridays ago when he started off 30m and sustained a spirited burst from last to finish a close second to Eloquent Mach.”
Guild president Currall is the only member of the panel not to make a polemarker his best bet.
“Aldo Cortopassi will have a look for the lead from gate two with Major Pocket, but the rails horse Waimac Attack may have too much speed at the start,” Currall said. “Forget Major Pocket went around last week when he finished down the track behind the ‘Crazy Burglar’ – he was tramping three and four deep when they were scooting home in a slick 56.4. Major Pocket’s four previous runs were terrific efforts and I think he’ll break his drought in this race.”
VALUE BETS
WARREN: I expect improvement tonight from Hot Fraternity, and I also think he will be at each-way odds. This race shapes far more ideally for him and he will give a great sight.
HAYDEN: Sir Nicholas is racing well but always needs luck. He has won over this track and distance before and he could blouse them late.
RYAN: Spud’s numerical form doesn’t look enticing, but this assignment for his local debut should represent a big drop in class. A recent second at Byford trials suggests he is ready to go.
PAT: I thought Michael Joseph was a tad unlucky last week. He’s coming out of barrier four over the sprint distance and should give punters an excellent sight.
ERNIE: Champion trainer Gary Hall is persevering with nine-year-old The Arsonist, who has not won in his past 13 starts, and the gelding should be kept under consideration by punters. He can improve on a ninth last Friday, when racing for the first time in five months.
MATT: Lightning Calder trialled well at Northam and, even though off 30m, should run a big race at decent odds.
KEN: Michael Joseph could provide some good value by bouncing back to his best in race eight. He will pay to follow, taking into account his strong second to Roman Aviator two starts ago.
WAYNE: El Hombre finished third behind Our Corelli last week and this represents a drop in class. He’s drawn to get the world perfect run behind the ‘Crazy Burglar’ and could finish right over the top at each-way odds.
Two former Media Guild members are doing it tough at the moment. Stuart Lowe and Robbie Dewar are struggling with health problems. On behalf of all Guild members and the harness racing fraternity, we wish them both all the best and hope to see them back on their feet in the near future.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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