13 October 2022 | Wayne Currall
The Group 1 WA Oaks (2536m) heads up a great night of trotting action at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The $150,000 feature has been made even more intriguing by the lapse in form of star filly Wonderful To Fly, who just a month ago seemed to have a mortgage on the event.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have dodged the classic when assessing their best bets.
TABradio’s Hayden King and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believe punters can add to their bank early doors by supporting Smart Watch in the opening race on the program.
“Smart Watch is a fluid and imposing mover who innately draws the eye,” King said. “He’s two from two in the West and, after Friday, I expect him to be three from three.”
Havercroft is singing from the same hymn book.
“Trainer Gary Hall Sr and driver Gary Hall Jr will have extra motivation to win the race named in honour of one of their most prolific owners, the late Beth Richardson,” Havercroft said. “The stable starts two runners, who will both be in the market, with my tip being the promising Smart Watch, who remains undefeated after two Australian runs.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas and The West Australian and Sunday Times’ pacing expert Ernie Manning agree that Ezana can return to winning form.
“Four-year-old Ezana has resumed after a spell in fine style and he is my best bet on Friday night to notch his 12th win from 25 starts when he begins from barrier four in race six,” Casellas said. “The Ray Williams-trained New Zealand-bred gelding had a tough run in the breeze for much of the way and battled on gamely when third behind Finvarra last Friday night. I’m confident he will improve on that effort, following his splendid first-up victory a fortnight earlier.”
And Manning sees a similar scenario unfolding.
“Quality four-year-old Ezana has won at 10 of his past 15 starts and looks hard to beat again for trainer Ray Williams,” Manning said. “The gelding won first-up on September 23 and had to face the breeze when relegated to third last Friday night. He looks a top chance in the $200,000 Golden Nugget on December 16 after winning at four of his six Gloucester Park appearances.”
Guild president Wayne Currall has made Stamford his best for the evening.
“Stamford has had to do all the work in the breeze at his past two starts,” Currall said. “He’s drawn the pole on Friday night and I’m betting he’s got the speed and the ability to hold out The Mustang.”
Last year’s longshot winner Pat Harding urges patience from punters, as his best bet comes up later in the night.
“Should be an interesting night at GP with a few races pretty open,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race eight with Unconditional. She was my best bet last week and proved successful. The Bond-trained mare starts from barrier two and is ideally placed to record two wins in a row.”
VALUE BETS
HAYDEN: Im Themightylucy is peaking at the right time. That may be enough to get her home for Michael Young’s maiden G1 success.
RYAN: I’ll follow-up on The Kraken each-way, again beginning from barrier one where he loves to be drawn.
KEN: For value, I suggest Vintage Blu in race nine in which he will start out wide at barrier eight. He is tough and versatile and certainly capable of overcoming the wide draw. He is overdue for a change of fortune after four seconds from his past five starts.
ERNIE: Bettorstartdreaming has not been placed in his past 13 starts, but gate three brings him into calculations this week. He drew the second row last Friday night and was blocked before finishing fifth. The gelding can boost his tally after only one win in his past 19 races.
PAT: My double comes up in race three with The Mustang. He recorded a great win last week, first-up after a spell and should repeat the dose this Friday.
WAYNE: Whatabro represents great each-way value in race two. He’s drawn to get a comfortable run behind likely leader The Kraken. He can score at good odds for driver Trent Wheeler.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
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