24 November 2022 | Wayne Currall
The $150,000 Westral Mares Classic (2536m) highlights a great night of pacing at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Group 1 classic has brought together a classy bunch of mares with the two fancies – Eighteen Carat (gate nine) and The Amber Hare (12) – drawing unfavourable barriers.
It has opened up the race somewhat, but the majority of members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have looked elsewhere when finding their best bets for the meeting.
However, Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from the Sunday Times and The West Australian, is quite keen on Eighteen Carat.
“New Zealand import Eighteen Carat, a winner at seven of nine WA starts, has sufficient class to overcome gate nine in the Mares Classic,” Manning said. “She completed a winning hat-trick when scoring in the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic, after drawing seven, two weeks ago. Trainer Michael Young has sharply improved the five-year-old since she arrived in WA early this year with a tally of five wins from 38 starts.”
Media Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can add to their bank early by backing Soho Dow Jones in the opening event.
“The Kim Prentice-trained three-year-old took on the older horses on Monday in a stand at Pinjarra and won as he liked for reinsman Mitchell Miller,” Currall said. “He’s drawn awkwardly in gate seven, but he returns to his own age group and I think he’ll prove too strong.”
Longtime member of the Guild Pat Harding has made Glenledi Chief his star bet.
“Should be an interesting night at GP this Friday, but winners might be hard to find,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Glenledi Chief coming out of barrier two. Hasn’t had a great deal of luck in recent races but I think he can do well here.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has opted for El Chema as his best.
“El Chema has been racing consistently with consecutive wins at Bunbury before two placings at Pinjarra this campaign,” Havercroft said. “This represents a class rise for the Justin Prentice-trained gelding but that is offset by drawing barrier one and the lightly-raced pacer looks likely to improve his career statistics.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and TABradio’s Matt Young have settled on Diego as their best bet.
“Diego has been unplaced at his past four starts, but that is not going to deter me from selecting him to win – and making him my best bet on Friday night,” Casellas said. “The five-year-old, to be driven by Maddison Brown for ace trainer Gary Hall Sr, has drawn out wide at his past two appearances, and he has impressed with his flying finishes, surging home from last at the bell to run fifth behind Magnificent Storm and fourth behind Hampton Banner. He is better drawn at barrier five in race four this week and should be in a commanding position throughout.”
And Young agrees.
“Diego has the draw advantage and I can see him being driven aggressively here and landing a well-deserved win,” Young said.
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Smooth Rye has been unplaced at her five starts since a return to WA, but she is capable of bouncing back after drawing gate one. The five-year-old, transferred from Perth to Sydney last season, showed quality when winning three Menangle races in a sequence of four starts early this year.
WAYNE: Alcippes Delight could run a cheeky race drawn on the inside of the second line in the feature. If the pressure goes on early, she could be steaming home late. Last time she drew this barrier she won.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with another Bond-trained horse Booraa from barrier three. Again she has not had much luck but I think she is better than that and can win at good odds.
RYAN: Whoswhointhezoo grows a leg when starting from low draws and box one gives him each-way claims to repeat his surprise last-start success.
KEN: For value, I suggest debutant Ciao Babe in the ninth event when she looks to have the ability to overcome the awkward barrier at number six. The Jemma Hayman-trained filly looked the goods in a 2150m Byford trial on Sunday morning when she finished strongly from sixth at the 400m to be third behind Ideal Secret.
MATT: Blue Blazer is sprinting home powerfully and can figure at odds.
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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