10 October 2019 | Wayne Currall
The members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have come up with a mixed bag of best bets for Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park.
Only two members – TABradio racecaller and form analyst Hayden King and Guild president Wayne Currall – have settled on the same horse as their star bet on the 10-event program.
King and Currall both believe punters can get their night off to a winning start by supporting perennial placegetter Major Pocket.
“Major Pocket should be able to work to the front and return to the winners’ list,” King said. “His recent form has been exemplary and he should win.”
Currall agrees.
“Major Pocket has finished in the placings at eight of his past 10 starts and is overdue for a win,” he said. “I’m not as confident as Hayden that he’ll work to the front with the speedy Mattjestic Star drawn on his inside, but I still believe he’ll prove too strong for his rivals regardless of whether he leads or breezes.”
Longshot king Pat Harding is keen on Warfare.
“Could be a good night for punters and tipsters alike,” Harding said. “It looks like some even contests coming up, but my best bet of the night comes up in race seven with No. 8 Warfare resuming. We had hoped to see him win last week, but washout notwithstanding he should win well this Friday night.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has opted for Speed Man as his best bet.
“Speed Man has been racing competitively from awkward draws and this week starts from the inside,” Havercroft said. “He held-up easily when last starting from this barrier and expect Gary Hall Jr to take full advantage of the favourable peg.”
On-course announcer Ken Casellas is a fan of Mighty Conqueror.
“Inexperienced but richly talented five-year-old Mighty Conqueror is being set for feature events at the summer carnival and he should add to his imposing record by overcoming the 30m backmark handicap by winning on Friday night,” Casellas said. “He is my best bet to emerge triumphant over his classy rival Space Junk. At his first appearance after winning the Easter Cup in April, Mighty Conqueror started off the 40m mark and was untroubled to race without cover before coasting to victory over Forgotten Highway in a 2631m stand at Pinjarra last Monday week.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning believes former Queensland and Kiwi pacer Bill Haley can strike the right chord.
“Bill Haley gets the chance to show summer carnival feature events potential when making a WA debut after four Queensland wins from his past five starts,” Manning said. “The newcomer to Debra Lewis’ stable scored four New Zealand wins before he was exported to Brisbane last autumn. He was most impressive when winning the Four-Year-Old Championship at Albion Park in July.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart has singled out the consistent Athabascan as his best on the card.
“Athabascan is racing in great form and the conditions of this race are perfect,” Wishart said. “From gate two it’s straight to the front and that will be it.”
TABradio‘s Matt Young has opted for polemarker Mighty Flying Deal as his best bet.
“Mighty Flying Deal has worked back into some great form and is drawn to lead here,” Young said. “In front he is dynamite and he should not be getting run down.”
VALUE BETS
HAYDEN: Carrera Mach is absolutely flying and should find an OK spot. He can come all over the top late.
WAYNE: The Bucket List is drawn to get the right run in the feature event. His last-start second behind Waylade was full of merit and he looks each-way all day from his trailing draw.
PAT: Carrera Mach is ideally placed here with not a huge amount of exposed form around him and I think the Olivieri/Lewis combination can prevail.
RYAN: Brookies Jet is drawn to get the perfect sit behind the likely frontrunner Hot Fraternity. Can run into the placings.
KEN: For value, I suggest Hot Fraternity in race seven. The versatile eight-year-old is favourably drawn at barrier two on the front line and he should be in a commanding position throughout the 2130m event.
ERNIE: Carrera Mach has not won in his past 10 starts and there’s been only one victory from his last 20 races. But he looked on the way back to peak form when running on to finish third two weeks ago. He has won eight races, including three at Gloucester Park.
WARREN: Mattjestic Star is well drawn over the sprint trip and he can give a sight at each-way odds in a wide open race.
MATT: Highroller Joe has a wonderful turn of foot and may be forgotten by punters in the last. Driven cold and saved for one run he could swoop over the top of the field late.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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