30 December 2020 | Wayne Currall
The last meeting at Gloucester Park for 2020 will be run on Thursday night and members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are confident of ending the year with a bagful of specials.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and longshot guru Pat Harding are confident Taroona Bromac can end the year with a victory.
“New Zealand import Taroona Bromac, co-trained by Greg and Skye Bond, impressed when he led and ran second to stablemate Justasec at Gloucester Park last Monday,” Manning said. “Barrier two has boosted Taroona Bromac’s prospects of breaking a six-run losing sequence. He showed a lot of potential when winning twice at Christchurch and now has a career record of 13 victories from 30 starts. Six of his wins have been at Gloucester Park.”
And Harding, who looks likely to add another longest-priced winner title to his CV, agrees.
“It has been a tough year for tipsters and punters alike and this New Year’s Eve meeting looks like being more of the same,” Harding said. “My best bet of the night comes up in race nine with Taroona Bromac coming out of barrier two. There’s not a great deal of exposed form in this race, but a last-start second and a good barrier draw gives this horse a great chance.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart, who has a stranglehold on this year’s tipping contest, and Guild president Wayne Currall, who pulled off the impossible by tipping the card last week, believe punters can fill their pockets early doors with smart two-year-old Finvarra.
“My best bet comes up in the first with Finvarra, who has drawn favourably in gate two,” Wishart said. “Brilliant debut then had to face the breeze last run when he showed great determination to hang on for third. Well drawn and should lead and win. Let’s hope it’s another big night for punters.”
Currall is singing from the same hymn sheet.
“I expect Gary Hall Jr to send Finvarra straight to the top in the opening event,” Currall said. “The American Ideal colt eventually wrested the lead away from rivals and ran them ragged at his debut victory at Pinjarra earlier this month when he scored by more than 10m in a slick mile rate of 1:54. This is a better field but he can record his second win from three outings.”
Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas is keen on Thats Perfect, despite his horror draw.
“It’s always pretty tough to win from the outside barrier, but I’m confident that Thats Perfect can overcome the disadvantage of starting from the No. 1 barrier and win race three on Thursday night,” Casellas said. “He’s my best bet on a good, competitive program after putting in a marvellous effort to finish fifth behind Vivere Damore in the Christmas Gift when he had no luck at all and ran on from last at the bell.”
TABradio’s Hayden King, who is poised to take second place in the tipping competition, has made Black Jack Zac his star bet for the meeting.
“Black Jack Zac is flying,” King said. “The polemarker Destined To Rule is a slow beginner, so even though Blackq Jack Zac doesn’t fly out, I think he will get to the front. He should close 2020 out on the right note.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinaror Ryan Havercroft has opted for classy squaregaiter Princess Mila as his best bet.
“Princess Mila looks the measuring stick in the Trotters Cup,” Havercroft said. “She has been consistent since arriving from Victoria and the 30m handicap holds no fears after stepping safely and winning from 20m two starts ago in metropolitan company.”
TABradio’s Matt Young believes brother David can end the year on a high with Baylan Jett in
“Baylan Jett finds a winnable race and has early speed,” Young said. “He should get close enough to them and can win this.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Just Makemine Diamonds has not won in her past 15 starts, but showed a glimpse of form when she ran fourth after starting from the second row at Gloucester Park on December 18. Has now drawn gate one and is in line for her 10th win.
PAT: My value bet comes in race six with the Ross Olivieri-trained Just Makemine Diamonds. With Chris Voak aboard and the barrier one draw, I think she can give punters a nice return.
WARREN: Jesse Allwood is in great form and put in a good effort in a handy field here on Monday. I think this race sets up well for him. Great each-way bet.
WAYNE: Old Maximum Demand will line up for his 242nd and final start at headquarters on Thursday night and wouldn’t it be fitting if the rising 14-year-old bowed out a winner. I’ll be having something each way on the old bloke.
KEN: For value, I suggest Mr Kiwi, unplaced at his past five starts, to be prominent in race nine in which he is capable of showing up strongly, despite his awkward draw at barrier six. He had a tough first-up run when eighth behind Free To Air last week and he will be improved by that effort.
HAYDEN: Roll With Me has trialled up well. Although drawn awkwardly, he cannot be disrespected and will be further improved from last week’s first-up effort.
RYAN: The Kraken just doesn’t know how to run a bad race and I’d expect improvement from this draw. It’s a strong field so we get a price about a good horse from the best draw.
MATT: War Spirit is a big price, but his form is good enough to win this at a big opening price.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting and many more winners in 2021.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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