09 March 2023 | Wayne Currall
The feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night is the re-running of the Listed APG 2YO Colts & Geldings Classic (1730m).
The $100,000 race had to be abandoned last week when Greatgreat Boulder fell at the 600m point after the field had travelled almost a lap.
Barrier draws remain the same and Waverider, who burst to the early lead in last week’s race before it was abandoned, looks hard to beat from gate three.
However, members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have looked elsewhere when selecting their best bets on the 11-event card.
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas, veteran tipster Pat Harding and Guild president Wayne Currall have all settled on Jett Star as their best for the evening.
“Jett Star put the writing on the wall as a coming winner with a excellent tough second-up effort last Friday night when he raced wide early and then in the breeze before fighting on grimly with a 56.6sec. final 800m to finish a neck second to Mea Culpa,” Casellas said. “From barrier No. 3 over the 1730m in the Caduceus Club Members Pace on Friday night he gets the nod as my best bet this week.”
Harding agrees.
“Looks like it could be another good night for the Greg and Skye Bond stable,” Harding said. “Nice to see 11 races on the program. My best bet comes up in race two with No. 3 Jett Star. This Bond-raced horse has come up well after a spell and is geared for a win in this race.”
And Currall makes it a clean sweep.
“Jett Star strikes a very winnable race on Friday night,” he said. “Deni Roberts should be able to have him in a striking position from his good draw and he’s the one they all have to get over.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and the Sunday Times, is keen on prolific winner Nevermindthechaos.
“Five-year-old Nevermindthechaos is firmly established as a top-class mare after winning Gloucester Park races at five of her past six starts,” Manning said. “She completed a winning hat-track ahead of running sixth when trapped three-wide on February 10. The Michael Young-trained bay has bounced back with two victories in the past three weeks. Her record from 22 starts at headquarters is 11 wins.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has made veteran pacer Vampiro his star bet.
“These conditions used to be Vampiro’s bread and butter and I’m backing him to wind back the clock, roll to the top and hold on over the sprint trip,” Havercroft said. “He hasn’t won in more than 14 months but hasn’t been a long way away this time in, missing the placings in all five runs but not being beaten more than 8.6 metres in any of those starts.’
TABradio’s Matt Young is a fan of Im The Black Flash in race five.
“Im The Black Flash showed tremendous promise last preparation and finds the right race on return,” Young said. “I expect him to come on and show some excitement this time in.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: For value, I suggest Dardy Boy in race nine in which he is favourably drawn at barrier two for his first assignment for eight months. He is a splendid frontrunner and certainly capable of a bold first-up effort.
PAT: My double comes up in race eight with No. 8 Manning. Had a good win last start and I think he can get the job done in this race.
WAYNE: Punters should disregard Henwood Bay’s last-start ninth at Albany. He was off 70m and added to that handicap by galloping at the start. He broke a long run of outs at his previous start by winning at Albany and appeals as a great each-way chance from gate two over the long trip.
ERNIE: Hengheng has won only one of his past 11 races and is on a five-run losing streak, but he drew inside the back line this week and should secure an ideal trail. The gelding performed creditably when finishing second and fourth in races won by Steel The Show over the past fortnight.
RYAN: I have a strong opinion on the Nathan Turvey-trained Mea Culpa who is consistent, finishing in the placings in his last 11 outings. Each-way again here.
MATT: Baltic Ace finds a suitable race and should be close enough to get the job done.
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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