28 April 2022 | Wayne Currall
The $30,000 Allwoods Stud Farm Laurie Kennedy Race For Roses (2503m) headlines a stellar 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Group 3 feature is a standing-start race for fillies and mares.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have done the form and have settled on several polemarkers as their best bets at headquarters.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and TABradio’s Matt Young are keen on Euphoria in race three.
“Euphoria’s second-up run last Friday was sound, sitting in the breeze when running fourth behind Typhoon Banner,” Havercroft said. “With natural improvement and a better barrier draw, the Gary Hall Sr-trained son of American Ideal will get a more economical run this week. Did lead and win from barrier one over a mile at headquarters in October.”
And Young agrees.
“Euphoria has the fitness and the draw,” Young said. “He should be leading and winning.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is expecting big things from the Colin Brown-trained and reined Regal Cheval in race four.
“Brownie would have been smiling after he learnt Regal Cheval had drawn the pole for Friday night’s assignment,” Currall said. “This horse has been crying out for a rails draw and I think he can post an all-the-way victory here.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has settled on another polemarker in Sangue Reale as his star bet.
“While favourites might have dominated last week, they might be a bit hard to find this week,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race five with No.1 Sangue Reale. He had a good win three starts ago and from a great barrier and Michael Grantham aboard I think he can win.”
TABradio’s Hayden King and veteran journalist Ken Casellas believe Talks Up A Storm, yet another horse with the coveted No.1 alongside its name, can lead all the way.
“Talks Up A Storm has the assistance of a run under his belt and should be now ready to win,” King said. “He is reunited with regular partner Dylan Egerton-Green and I expect him to lead throughout.”
And Casellas agrees.
“A topical tip this week, with gusty winds and heavy autumnal rains, is Murray Lindau’s speedy four-year-old Talks Up A Storm, who is my best bet on Friday night,” Casellas said. “He resumed after a brief spell with an excellent second to Eldaytona on Tuesday of last week, and I’m confident he will set the pace and win.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning is the only Guild member who has not made a polemarker his best bet for the night.
“New Zealand import Ideal Agent was highly impressive when he overcame a 20m handicap to clearly win the Easter Cup for co-trainers Greg and Skye Bond on April 15,” Manning said. “The five-year-old, a winner at seven of his past 11 starts, is versatile and should comfortably handle his return to a mobile start. Ideal Agent, who arrived in WA last year, confirmed his quality when finishing third after racing three-wide in the 4 & 5YO Championship three weeks ago.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Bettorstartdreaming raced in a free-for-all two starts ago and can reverse some poor numerical form from a better draw here.
MATT: Hoppys Way could ping across and lead. He is versatile and can win from anywhere.
WAYNE: Captured Delight is safe away from the tapes and that alone makes her an each-way wager in the night’s feature event. Can win at good odds.
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No. 5 Miss Mucho. She is due for a change of luck and this might just be the race.
HAYDEN: Nevermindthechaos should get a soft run off the speed, a position which she won’t know herself from. She’s had a fortnight between runs, meaning she will be freshened for a couple of gruelling tests, and should be ready to win again.
KEN: For value, I suggest Infinite Sign, who has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of an awkward draw at barrier six in race seven. His first four runs as a three-year-old have produced three wins and a second to Beyond Bling at Pinjarra last week.
ERNIE: Will I Rocknroll has not won in his past 11 starts, but is capable of bouncing back after being unlucky lately. He became trapped three-wide and finished seventh on April 15, then last Friday night received severe interference from a three-horse fall and ran fifth. The seven-year-old won Melton races before joining Gary Hall’s stable.
Hey punters, the mask mandate is over so we’ll see you at GP.
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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