12 January 2023 | Wayne Currall
The Group 1 $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup (2536m) highlights a stellar night of pacing at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
As in all big races, the barrier draw has thrown up a tantalising clash between the State’s best pacers.
However, the majority of members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have bypassed the feature event when settling on their best bets for the meeting.
Veteran tipster Pat Harding is keen on one in the big race and he’s made that horse his best bet.
“Looks like barrier one could be a good guide for punters and tipsters this week at GP,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race five, the main event the Fremantle Cup. I think Lavra Joe from the pole can put aside his recent performances and record a good win.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and TABradio’s Matt Young have made Pinny Tiger their best for the evening.
“Pinny Tiger is a speed machine and I’m making him my star bet this week when he looks capable of bursting to the front and outpacing his rivals in the first heat of the Nights of Thunder,” Casellas said. “He looked a picture of health when he finished an extremely close second behind Lavra Joe in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.”
And Young agrees.
“Pinny Tiger is a gelding born to run,” Young said. “He has blistering gate speed and over the mile I think he will win and carve out a sensational time.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, has opted for Ragazzo Mach as his best for the night.
“I was taken by the run of Ragazzo Mach three starts ago when winning with a sensational turn of foot down the outside, and since then has performed well in the Xmas Gift and the Stratton Cup,” Havercroft said. “Trainer Mike Reed will no doubt be thinking a Pacing Cup start is still a possibility and so may be looking to make a statement here.”
The West Australian and The Sunday Times pacing expert Ernie Manning is keen on Nevermindthechaos in race five.
“Talented five-year-old Nevermindthechaos looks primed for a return to the winners’ list after minor placings when she endured tough runs on the past two Friday nights,” Manning said. “The mare has been beaten at her most recent five appearances, but she showed big potential with six wins in a sequence of nine starts between late 2021 and last April.”
Guild president Wayne Currall has made Strauny, in the night’s only stand, as his best bet.
“Strauny’ s victory last week after blowing the start had to be seen to be believed,” Currall said. “He goes back to the 10m line on Friday night but with a safer getaway he should prove too strong for his rivals.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes up in race seven with No.1 James Butt. Although resuming after a spell, this is not a strong field and can add to the good performances of Chris Voak.
KEN: For value, I select Hengheng in the final event in which he gets a great chance to set the pace from the No.1 barrier. He has led and won in two Group 3 events, defeating Finvarra and Machnificent in October 2021 and against Palatino in March last year.
MATT: Hampton Banner has the perfect draw over 2500 and in a race with plenty of tempo, I think he could be dangerous late.
RYAN: It’s hard to weigh up where Hengheng is after two bad beginnings in stands to commence this campaign. Barrier one brings him into calculations in the last.
ERNIE: Mighty Conqueror, a WA Pacing Cup winner and placegetter in past seasons, should not be underrated when he drops in class on Friday night. The gelding has been beaten in his latest 15 races, but it would not surprise if he was able to record his 21st victory.
WAYNE: Jumpingjackmac interests me in the Fremantle Cup. Gary Hall Jr would have had the choice of a few drives but has elected to pilot “Jack” despite his wide draw. Junior’s decision is good enough for me to make his drive an each-way play in the feature.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
