25 January 2024 | Wayne Currall
Friday night’s nine-race card features the running of the $50,000 The West Australian Nights Of Thunder Final (1730m).
This promises to be a thrilling race with plenty of pace and plenty of winning chances.
However, one man believes he’s found the winner of the night’s feature.
Ernie Manning, a valued member of the WA Trotting Media Guild and the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has made polemarker and likely favourite Chal Patch his best bet for the evening.
“New Zealand import Chal Patch, a winner of five Gloucester Park races, looks hard to beat after drawing gate one in the Nights Of Thunder Final,” Manning said. “The Nathan Turvey-trained gelding overcame barrier seven when he charged home from back in the field and won a Nights Of Thunder qualifying heat last Friday night. Arriving from New Zealand with a big reputation last year, he won at three of his first five WA starts and was rated as a future cups contender. He is racing third-up this week and should be at his best.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Soho Santorini in race two.
“Soho Santorini has the speed to hold out early challengers and I think he can lead,” Young said. “And in his current form that can set up victory.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas and Guild president Wayne Currall believe Goodfellaz can returns to the winners’ list in race three.
“Goodfellaz has been racing against pacers of the quality of Minstrel, Lavra Joe, Machnificent and Chal Patch in recent weeks, and he should appreciate a considerable drop in class and prove the master of his eight rivals in the 1730m Countryman Pace,” Casellas said. “He certainly has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting out wide at barrier seven.”
And Currall agrees.
“Goodfellaz should be at 100 per cent peak fitness after four runs back from a spell,” Currall said. “This is the weakest field he’s met in quite some time and ace reinsman Chris Lewis should be able to steer him to victory.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has marked the old warrior in Galactic Star as his star bet.
“Another interesting night at GP,” Harding said. “A few short-priced favourites but I suspect a tough night. My best bet comes up in race six with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Galactic Star from barrier three. Had a good win four starts ago and I believe he is ready to win again.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, is banking on Rascal to win race seven.
“Rascal resumed last week and barely worked up a sweat when only seeing daylight in the closing stages,” Havercroft said. “That was his first start this campaign, though he had four trials in preparation and so fitness should not be a concern. The Kat Warwick-trained gelding led last time drawing inside and looks to be hard to go past again.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Six-year-old October Reign, trained by Michael Young, has won at only one of his past 12 starts. But he is a winner of four Gloucester Park races and can never be underestimated despite unplaced runs at his past four appearances. He has recorded two recent fourths and can improve on a last-start sixth.
MATT: Nullarbor Navajo can capitalise on a quick tempo early. Looks to be the swooper late in running.
KEN: Jawsoflincoln is poised to make his mark in this State. That was the obvious conclusion after watching his tremendous effort at his WA debut last Friday night when he raced three wide all the way and refused to give in when a fighting sixth behind Rumour Has It. I’m sure he will fight out the finish and prove hard to beat in the Nights Of Thunder.
WAYNE: Why change a winning formula. Over the past three weeks I have opted to go with an all-up wager … and I’m three from three. This week I’m pinning my hopes on Goodfellaz into Rubins Plight and coming home with Water Lou. Go you good things!
PAT: My double comes in race seven with the Kat Warwick-trained Rascal. With a small field and barrier one I think he should record a good win.
RYAN: I’ll throw out Alcopony as an each-way play in the Nights Of Thunder Final. Rarely runs a bad 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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