01 February 2024 | Wayne Currall
The $31,000 Media Guild Cup (2130m) and the $50,000 Trotsynd Trotters Cup (2503m) headline a stellar 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And punters would be advised to jump into October Reign when prices go up after last year’s winner and runner-up in the leading tipping competition for the WA Trotting Media Guild both made October Reign their best bet.
“October Reign should charge across and lead this field,” TABradio’s Matt Young, the Guild’s leading tipster, said. “His last run was solid and this is a further drop in grade. Should be getting the job done.”
And the runner-up in the leading tipster competition, veteran journalist Ken Casellas, agrees.
“October Reign is racing with refreshing enthusiasm and his splendid performances on the past two Friday nights make him a stand-out best bet for this week when he starts from barrier four in race seven,” Casellas said. “He began like a rocket from the outside barrier last week when he set the pace and finished a close third behind Ima Fivestar General. He has the natural speed to dictate terms in front this week and has the strength to keep any snipers at bay at the business end of proceedings.”
However, that’s not how longshot guru Pat Harding sees the race panning out.
“Great to see the Media Guild being featured at GP this week,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race seven, the race named after me. I think No.5 Per Ardua Ad Astra can get the job done – could be a good night for Chris Voak.”
Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can add to their banks by supporting All Is Well in the opening event.
“Punters shouldn’t be deterred by All Is Well’s horror draw in gate nine,” Currall said. “It just means we’ll get a better price about this in-form pacer from the stables of Kat Warwick. Champion reinsman Chris Lewis will let All Is Well amble out of his wide gate and let the field sort itself out before making his move. This four-year-old gelding has been most consistent this prep in collectively stronger races.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, is expecting Pinny Tiger to make a winning return to the track.
“Classy six-year-old Pinny Tiger impressed when he won a Pinjarra trial by 10m last week and he looks on target for a first-up success,” Manning said. “The Michael Brennan-trained gelding showed his quality when clearly winning a Four-Year-old Classic, ahead of victories in a heat and the final of last season’s Nights Of Thunder series. He later performed creditably when fourth and fifth in strong company at Newcastle and Menangle, respectively. The bay was placed only once from three WA starts last spring, but this time in he appears ready to display peak form again.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, is a patient man. He’s made his best bet in race 10.
“I’ll wait until the last for my best, with Three Rumours looking well-placed to bounce back to winning form,” Havercroft said. “She made a mistake last time out and so incurs ODM status but isn’t severely punished with only a six-horse field. She drew outside her main rival here, Rumour Has It two starts back and beat her on that occasion.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Marbeechsam is racing in tremendous form and could just sit off them and sniper them late, He’s an each-way player.
KEN: Our Shelley Beach is getting close to another win when he starts from barrier four in race two. Shannon Suvaljko is planning to set the pace, and if the six-year-old does lead he will take a power of beating.
PAT: My double comes up in race eight with No.5 Withoutthetuh. Has had a couple of good wins and with Chris Voak aboard I think he can win again.
WAYNE: My all-up came a cropper last week … all good things must pass. However, I’m backing up again this week with All Is Well into Solesseo Matuca and coming home with October Reign.
ERNIE: Veteran import Street Appeal has not won since a Brisbane victory in 2021, and he’s run only two minor places from 22 Gloucester Park starts. But he broke a string of 15 unplaced runs when a close second at headquarters last week. The gelding has barrier three on Friday night and should be considered.
RYAN: Deeorse has run handy races lately at big quotes and the inside draw suits. Showing enough to be considered in this type of race.
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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