10 February 2022 | Wayne Currall
Wow! What a finish to last week’s WA Pacing Cup – punters didn’t know where to look as more than half the field crossed the line within a length of each other.
It was one of the best finishes to WA’s premier race in many years.
This week’s card at Gloucester Park features the running of the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2536m) and the boys from The West – Ryan Havercroft and Ernie Manning – believe Minstrel can make amends from last week’s cup.
“I am expecting Minstrel to reproduce his Fremantle Cup-winning form where he led all of the way over this distance,” The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Havercroft said. “Roman Art is the only runner to his inside and I would think Aiden De Campo would enhance his winning chances by taking a sit on the Greg & Skye Bond-trained runner.”
And Havercroft’s colleague agrees.
“Class five-year-old Minstrel gets his chance to bounce back for a consolation win after he was caught three-wide in last Friday night’s WA Pacing Cup and finished fifth,” Manning said. “The gelding had scored his second major win with an all-the-way victory in last month’s Group 1 Fremantle Pacing Cup. He also won at elite level when successful in the 2021 Golden Nugget. Nine wins and five places have been recorded by Minstrel in 16 Gloucester Park starts.”
TABradio’s Matt Young and longshot guru Pat Harding are keen on Gambit.
“One last chance for Gambit,” Young said. “He is likely to breeze again and surely Friday night is his race. Triple up to catch up!”
Harding agrees with those sentiments.
“Another interesting night at GP this Friday with winners hard to find,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with No. 2 Gambit. With a string of second places to his name, he is due for a change of luck and I think this is the night.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas has made Bettorstartdreaming his best for the night.
“Lindsay Harper is riding on the crest of a wave, and I’m full of confidence in declaring his six-year-old Bettorstartdreaming as my best bet on Friday night,” Casellas said. “Bettorstartdreaming has an abundance of gate speed, and I suggest he has sufficient early pace to dash to the front from barrier four and then relish the role of pacemaker in race three.”
TABradio’s Hayden King has opted for Leap Of Faith as his star bet.
“Leap Of Faith looks set to run to the front in the last and, from there, she shouldn’t be beaten,” King said. “Her form is much better than suggested and she is poised to return to the winners’ list.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is in agreement with the boys from The West that Minstrel looks a good thing in the feature event, but has thrown out Pradason as an each-way special in the first.
“Minstrel will probably be in the red in the cup … and deservedly so,” Currall said. “But I’m looking for a little bit of value and I’ve settled on Pradason on an each-way basis. He looks likely to get the perfect run behind Zazu and with any luck can finish over the top of that pacer.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Regal Scribe has worked into some form in six local starts and switches to the stand this week. Tasted success from behind the strands in South Australia.
ERNIE: Trainer Debbie Padberg could be rewarded for patience with Deeorse, who has not won in his past 45 starts and has only two Gloucester Park victories to his credit after 52 appearances at headquarters. Gate two will be in his favour this week.
MATT: Vespa was an eye-catching last run. He will need some luck but it is a suitable type of race.
PAT: My double comes up in race nine with No. 2 Marquisard. He, too, is due for a change of luck and I think Chris Voak can bring him home in fine fashion.
KEN: For value, I suggest Vespa, drawn the outside barrier in a field of nine, will give punters a huge run for their money in the sixth event. He is the class runner in the race and is sure to have derived considerable benefit from his excellent first-up fifth behind Blitzembye last Friday night.
HAYDEN: Sokys Bigbullet is a bold horse on speed. He will keep giving all day and is a model of consistency.
WAYNE: Apollo Rock is a handy frontrunner and will give them plenty to chase in race nine. Kyle Harper is a great judge of pace and will give the Bob Mellsop-trained pacer every chance. Each-way all day.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
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