30 July 2020 | Wayne Currall
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have come up with a few similar best bets for Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and longshot guru Pat Harding have both settled on Kiwi Bloke, in the standing start event, as their star bet.
“New Zealand import Kiwi Bloke is expected to begin swiftly from a standing start and he gets the chance to notch his first Gloucester Park win,” Manning said. “The gelding, who is among a strong team that Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth has in Ross Olivieri’s stable, is a winner of five standing start races. Arriving in Perth last year after two New Zealand wins, he has notched four WA country victories. His last-start Pinjarra third was from a stand.”
And Harding agrees with Manning.
“It certainly has been a tough few weeks for tipsters and punters alike, but dryer conditions might make a difference,” Harding said. “My best bet of the night appears in race eight with Kiwi Bloke coming out of barrier No.1.This is only a small field and this horse is returning from a spell. I expect driver Chris Voak to have a good night and a win here would cap it off.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart are firmly in the camp of Mandy Joan.
“Mandy Joan brought up consecutive victories when blowing away her rivals last week after racing off the pace and runs into a six-horse field for this assignment,” Havercroft said. “I’d expect her to work forward here and attempt to make the Gary Hall-trained duo of Fake News and Just Rockon Bye chase her down.”
Wishart is singing from the same hymn sheet.
“I’m waiting until race 10 for my best bet,” Wishart said. “Mandy Joan’s form this time in has been outstanding and she finds a very suitable race here. Too good again.”
Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas and Guild president Wayne Currall have opted for Just Wing It as their best bet on the 10-event card.
“The combination of owner Merv Butterworth and trainer Ross Olivieri continues to reap handsome rewards and I’m nominating the partnership as my best bet at Gloucester Park on Friday night to land the bacon with the lightly-raced five-year-old Just Wing It in race three,” Casellas said. “Just Wing It is a good frontrunner and from his favourable draw at barrier No. 2 I’m expecting Chris Lewis to succeed in a bid for an all-the-way victory.”
And Currall supports everything Casellas says.
“Ken has summed the race up beautifully,” Currall said. “I’d expect champion driver Chris Lewis to seize the initiative at the start and send Just Wing It to the top. From there, he’s the one they all have to get over.”
Matt Young, TABradio’s host of the harness racing segment One Out, One Back every Tuesday morning following the 9am news, believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting Otis in the opening event.
“Otis will start the night off perfectly for punters,” Young said. “He continues to improve and has the draw to run to the lead and should be winning again.”
TABradio’s form expert Hayden King is keen on Jilliby Jake in race four.
“Jilliby Jake led recently and held off all bar Robbie Easton in a stronger line-up,” King said. “He gets the opportunity to lead again and this should be more his pace. One of many leaders who look winners on the night.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Qtown Rip Roaring is on a 19-run losing sequence, but he has not finished further back than fifth in Gloucester Park races at his past four appearances. He had difficulty getting clear in three of those events. The gelding has won 14 races, including three in Perth.
PAT: My value bet comes up in race five with No. 4 Qtown Rip Roaring. There is not a great deal of form in this race and it looks like a pin job, but I think this horse looks as good as any and with Chris Voak aboard could give a good return.
RYAN: Major Shard missed away before steaming home from back in the field a fortnight ago. Placed at four of his last five runs and Jesse Moore has him going well, so represents an each-way prospect.
WARREN: Race four, No. 2 The Black Cardinal. Front line draw and low number are keys to his chances. Think he should lead and at $26 is a great each-way play.
KEN: For value, I suggest Im Rocknroll Magic in race eight, a 2503m stand in which the Debra Lewis-trained Im RocknrollMagic will start from then inside of the 10m line. Forget the seven-year-old’s 11th behind Henwood Bay last week when he had no luck at all and base his prospects on his splendid first-up second to Forgotten Highway the previous week.
WAYNE: While They Pray, Rock Me Over and Pierre Whitby look like fighting out the finish of The Kerry Clarke 4&5YO Classic (2130m), but don’t be surprised to see Euphoric Moment fly late, especially if there’s plenty of pace on.
MATT: Madame Meilland is racing well and from the draw she should be handy enough and looks a good each-way chance.
HAYDEN: Miss Eerie has really stepped up recently and comes up with the coveted draw early in the program. She was climbing over their backs latterly and was disappointed for a run. I think she can lead all the way if they so desire.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
