19 January 2023 | Wayne Currall
Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park features The West Australian Nights Of Thunder Final (1730m).
Last week’s fastest and most impressive heat winner, Pinny Tiger, is certain to go around deep in the red and it will take a mammoth effort from his eight rivals to lower his colours.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have understandably looked elsewhere when selecting their best bets for the meeting.
Veteran tipster Pat Harding believes punters can line their pockets by supporting polemarker Run For Mercy in race two.
“A pretty tough start to the year at Gloucester Park and this week looks tough as well,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in the second race with No.1 Run For Mercy. Had a good win last start at good odds and Chris Voak should make it two in a row.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is keen on Mea Culpa in the third.
“Mea Culpa has won three of five starts since arriving in WA and looks to be above average,” Havercroft said. “He impressed last week when sustaining a three-wide run for the last 1000m while still running through the line and I can’t imagine the Nathan Turvey-trained gelding will have to do that much work this week.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas thinks Whoswhointhezoo is worth a punt.
“Giant pacer Whoswhointhezoo has a six per cent winning record; he has won once from his past 52 starts and has managed one placing from his past 16 starts,” Casellas said. “But I am more than happy to make the nine-year-old my best bet this week when he starts from the No. 2 barrier in race six. This looks an ideal race for him, either leading or sitting behind the pacemaker.”
However, that’s not how Guild president Wayne Currall sees the race panning out.
“Shadow Roll hasn’t done a great deal in his four runs back from a spell,” Currall said. “But this represents a drop in class and I think trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton Green will be aggressive from the get-go.”
The pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, Ernie Manning, is in the corner of Im Themightylucy.
“Four-year-old mare Im Themightylucy, who won at six of her first eight WA starts, looks hard to beat after drawing barrier one for the opening race in a new campaign,” Manning said. “The New Zealand import has not appeared since she struck interference and ran unplaced in the WA Oaks last October. But she could have a class edge on rivals first-up.”
TABradio’s Matt Young has made Master Yossi his star bet.
“Master Yossi drops in grade nicely,” Young said. “Looks to be a keenly contested race and he has a good turn of foot.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes in race six with No.5 Tinseltown. Another Chris Voak drive that is overdue for a win.
RYAN: Talks Up A Storm looks the run-on hope if the pace is hot in the Nights Of Thunder Final. Won’t be too far back in a small field and worth an each-way interest.
KEN: For value, I suggest Beyond The Sea from barrier six in race six. She impresses with her powerful finishing bursts and looks set for a bright career.
WAYNE: Euphoric Moment always seems to to go around at big odds. Can run a race if the pace is on.
ERNIE: A win last November has been Whoswhointhezoo’s only placing from his past 16 starts. However, he should not be underrated with a barrier two draw. The veteran came up with gate nine when he dropped back early and was unplaced last start.
MATT: Whoswhointhezoo is racing well and represents each-way value in the sixth of the night.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week
Good punting.
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