20 October 2022 | Wayne Currall
The $50,000 Cowden Insurance 3YO Western Gateway Pace (2536m) is the feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Group 2 race has attracted a quality field and the barrier draw has made it even more interesting.
The majority of members from the WA Trotting Media Guild have found their best bets elsewhere, except for The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and TABradio’s Hayden King, who have different opinions on the outcome of the feature.
Havercroft has labelled polemarker Machs Bettor as his best on the 10-event card.,
“Machs Bettor has been in sparkling form since resuming from a spell, recording five wins and two placings from seven starts,” Havercroft said. “He finished off impressively after a soft run in transit to take out the Battle Of Bunbury four weeks ago and should be fresh for a Western Gateway tilt, drawing the coveted inside barrier which only enhances his prospects.”
However, that’s not how King sees things panning out.
“Tricky Miki spaced rivals last week and rattled off strong sectionals in the process,” King said. “He will receive the perfect run behind the leader and all Gary Hall Jr needs to do is extricate and he will take terrific stopping.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas and Guild president Wayne Currall believe punters can add to their bank early doors.
“Punters should make a flying start to Friday night’s meeting by supporting Kimble in the opening event, in which the four-year-old has the class to overcome a somewhat awkward draw at barrier five,” Casellas said. “He’s my best bet, following his splendid close-up second to Rascal last Friday night when he did not get clear until late, and then finished strongly.”
And Currall sees a similar scenario playing out.
“Kimble impressed with his last-start second behind Rascal,” Currall said. “At his previous start he posted an all-the-way victory at headquarters. I’m hoping champion reinsman Gary Hall Jr sends him to the top and repeats his first-up run in the west.”
The West Australian and Sunday Times’ pacing expert Ernie Manning and TABradio’s Matt Young have labelled The Code Breaker as their star bet.
“Talented five-year-old The Code Breaker has emerged from a slump and barrier one is a significant bonus,” Manning said. “The gelding won only once in 14 starts ahead of a game frontrunning victory at Gloucester Park on October 7, when he fought off a determined challenge. He ran a last-start third after facing the breeze, but is expected to set the pace this week. Should be hard to run down.”
And Young agrees.
“The Code Breaker is racing really well and has the draw to lead,” Young said. “He excels as a frontrunner and should get the job done.”
But former longshot guru Pat Harding has a different view.
“Looks like a bit of a mixed bag at GP this Friday night and not too many winners stand out,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Glenledi Chief in barrier two. He’s been quite consistent without a win in recent runs but this is his chance to make amends.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: The last is a dead-set dartboard job so I’ll play Illawong Mustang at a liberal each-way quote. Will need luck from the draw but started in the Group 3 Spring Feature two starts ago when held up and wasn’t that far away last time out.
HAYDEN: Miss Limelight was a cruel watch last start. The recidivist in me will go again.
KEN: My value selection comes up in the final event in which I’m suggesting the lightly-raced New Zealand-bred mare Glorafilia to show her true colours after seventh and eighth placings at her first two Australian appearances. The Mike Reed-trained mare is sure to appreciate a considerable drop in class.
WAYNE: Tuas Delight has been racing in stronger company than he meets in the last. Should appreciate the drop in class and the soft draw.
ERNIE: Four-year-old Hillview Bondi drops in class this week after a last-start seventh and he gets the chance to improve on a tally of one win from his past nine starts. The gelding displayed considerable potential in earlier campaigns and has nine wins to his credit. He can improve on recent Northam and Pinjarra placings.
MATT: Miss Limelight has been having a torrid time of it lately. I think she will get a good run here and can bob up at decent odds.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with No. 3 Linebacker. His last three runs have been very good and I think he can bob up here to make it two wins from his last four starts.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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