04 January 2024 | Wayne Currall
The first city meeting of 2024 kicks off with an exciting eight-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It looks to be a pretty even program, but members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are confident that they can steer punters into a few winners and start the new year off on the right note.
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, has made his best bet in the opening race.
“Rumour Has It looks set for a big campaign with two successes prior to a last-start close-up fourth behind Stormyskyes when sitting in the breeze,” Havercroft said. “The daughter of Roll With Joe won’t have to leave the pegs this week from an inside draw and should be the one they will all be chasing.”
TABradio’s Matt Young, who narrowly edged Ken Casellas and Ernie Manning to take the title of leading tipster for last season, has opted for Taking The Miki as his star bet.
“Taking The Miki finds a suitable race and not many horses going as good as her lately,” Young said. “She deserves a win and looks very hard to beat on Friday night.”
Pat Harding, who once again landed the longest-priced winner for last season, believes Minstrel can record a hat-trick.
“The first meeting of the year at GP looks pretty tough for all concerned,” Harding said. “However, my best bet comes up in race four with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Minstrel from barrier three. With only a very small field he should make it three wins in a row.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Soho Dow Jones in race seven.
“We all know what a big advantage it is to find the front at headquarters,” Currall said. “Every winner last Friday night led and won … it’s a huge advantage on a tight circuit like GP to find the pegs and the lead. That’s why I’m so keen on Soho Dow Jones to post an all-the-way victory. His third behind Tricky Miki in last season’s Golden Nugget over Friday night’s trip was full of merit. He’s the one they all have to get over.”
Casellas and Manning are both in the camp of Watching Our Coin.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try again,” Casellas said. “So, that’s what I’ll do this week, after Watching Our Coin ($3.80), my best bet last week, was beaten by a half-head by Cooper. Watching Our Coin is again my best bet, to win the final event on Friday night. He should carry too many guns for his six rivals.”
And Manning agrees.
“New Zealand import Watching Our Coin, who impressively began his Perth career, looked set for another top campaign when a first-up second after facing the breeze last Friday night,” Manning said. “The Michael Young-trained gelding had a record of eight wins, three seconds and a third from his first 12 WA starts. At one stage last year, he notched five Gloucester Park wins and a second in six consecutive appearances. He has the potential to be a Group 1 cups contender.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Valbonne may start as the longest-priced runner in race seven, but he is now third-up and ran some good races last campaign. A rough each-way show.
MATT: Thomson Bay is going well and if he gets the late split he can finish over the top of his rivals.
PAT: My double comes up in race four with No. 7 Our Shelley Beach. Had a win four starts ago and I think he can win again at good odds.
WAYNE: On a night where I can’t see much value, I’m banking on an all-up. Rumour Has It into Soho Dow Jones and finishing with Watching Our Coin. All three-word names and hopefully all three winners. Go you good things!
KEN: High Price, now trained by Garry Sayers, will start from the inside of the back line in race six, and he has the ability, to end a losing sequence of 14.
ERNIE: Seven-year-old Sidstrepo has not won in his past 33 starts, but barrier one should deliver a chance for him to be right in the finish. Though three thirds have been the geldings’ only placings in his last 13 appearances, he has flagged a return to the winners’ list when fourth in each of his latest two races.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips fo this week.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
