05 January 2023 | Wayne Currall
The first meeting of the New Year at Gloucester Park is always an interesting night as horses make their last-ditch efforts to qualify for the Fremantle Pacing Cup and the WA Pacing Cup.
And members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are hoping to start 2023 on a winning note as well.
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has made Diego his star bet in the feature of the night, the Group 2 $100,000 J P Stratton Cup (2130m).
“Fast beginner and powerful frontrunner Diego can take a winning advantage from having drawn barrier one for his second consecutive start,” Manning said. “The gelding won impressively when he set a fast pace after coming up with the pole two weeks ago. A third has been his only placing in three recent races where he drew wider than gate five.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, who finished third in last year’s tipping competition, believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting Free Wheeling in the opening event.
“I’m hoping Free Wheeling will get the chance to do exactly that when second-up this Friday and start my new season’s tipping with a winner,” Havercroft said. “When last drawing barrier one she led and only just got run down at headquarters last June and Aldo Cortopassi drove her to two wins in July.”
However, that’s not how Media Guild president Wayne Currall, who won the leading tipster award, sees the race panning out.
“Like Ryan, I’m hoping to start the new season with a winner – but I’m thinking Nevermindthechaos could be the one saluting,” Currall said. “Her last-start second behind Three Rumours was full of merit. She tramped three deep for the last 1000m and just went under by a neck. She’s third up in this race and should strip fitter again. Looks the testing material.”
Veteran tipster Ken Casellas, who finished a very close second in the tipping competition and won the award for the most winners in a night (Ken tipped the card last October) is keen on Lucky Galleon at a price in race two.
“Lucky Galleon has thrived on a diet of country racing, and I’m full of confidence that he will make his mark in the city,” Casellas said. “He will start from the outside of the back line in race two at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and I’m making him my best bet to overcome this significant disadvantage and prove the master of his 11 rivals. He has blossomed under the care of Ray Williams, with five wins at Pinjarra and two at Northam from his 16 WA appearances. He is certainly far better than his fifth and ninth placings at his two Gloucester Park starts might indicate.”
Pat Harding, who lost his longshot title to Hayden King last year, will be keen to regain that crown this season.
Harding has opted for Run For Mercy as his star bet.
“The first meeting for 2023 looks a tough assignment for both punters and tipsters, although I have a feeling that Chris Voak might start the New Year with a bang,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race six with No. 3 Run For Mercy. She’s been a bit up and down but there’s not a great deal of form in this race and I think Voak can bring her home.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is looking for a safer beginning from the strands for his best bet.
“Strauny was tardy away last week but with a safer getaway I think he will get the job done in the standing-start event,” Young said.
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: New Zealand import Master Yossi is due for a return to the winners’ list after defeats at his past five starts. He showed big potential winning seven of his first nine WA races. The gelding is capable of improving on unplaced runs at his latest three appearances.
RYAN: Henwood Bay has been racing over staying trips and comes back to a mile here. Smallish field means he may settle close enough if there is a speed battle up front. Place heavy each-way play only.
WAYNE: Euphoric Moment won at $71 last Friday and will be at long odds again on Friday night. However, the horse is in form and is shooting for a hat-trick – a first for the seven-year-old gelding.
KEN: For value, I suggest the Craig Hynam-trained Medieval Man from barrier three in race three. He possesses excellent gate speed, and it would be advisable to overlook his last-start 10th at $81 when he was hopelessly hemmed in on the pegs in the final circuit.
PAT: My double comes up in race eight again with Chris Voak aboard – No. 2 Carrera Mach. He’s had a change of stables and is due for a change of luck.
MATT: Acoltnamedsu could be very cheeky with drawing a barrier over the short course. He could go close.
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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