30 March 2023 | Wayne Currall
The Group 2 Direct Trades Supply Empress Stakes (2536m) highlights an action-packed 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The feature event brings together a 12-horse capacity field featuring the likes of Wonderful To Fly, The Amber Hare and Nevermindthechaos.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild feel confident they have come up with some great bets on the program.
Veteran tipster Pat Harding kicks off the first of the best bets in the opening race.
“An interesting night at GP with some short-priced favourites on offer – nevertheless it should be a good night for punters and tipsters,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race one with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Raven Banner from barrier one. Ran a good second last week and I think he can win over the sprint journey.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and TABradio’s Matt Young, a clear leader in this year’s tipping competition, are keen on Classic Choice.
“Busselton trainer Barry Howlett has got Classic Choice back to his best and the six-year-old is my best bet this week when he starts rom barrier two in race three,” Casellas said. “He ended a 13-month drought in commanding style a fortnight ago when he raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning easily from Kimble and Arma Einstein.
And Young agrees.
“Classic Choice finally gets a good barrier where he should lead,” Young said. “His last run was superb and when he is out in front he can carve out brilliant sectionals.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has made Taking The Miki his best for the night.
“Class four-year-old Taking The Miki made a strong return to racing at Bunbury last Saturday when she overcame a second line draw to win convincingly after racing back in the field,” Manning said. “The bay graduated to elite status last season when she was a WA Oaks winner and WA Derby third placegetter. She is highly consistent, having been among placings at 19 of 28 starts.”
The racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, Ryan Havercroft, has opted for Disco Under Fire in race nine as his best for the evening.
“Disco Under Fire possesses the gate speed to take advantage of the inside barrier and return to winning form in a race devoid of encouraging form lines,” Havercroft said. “Though beaten twice from the same draw in January, the Giles Inwood-trained gelding has been freshened-up for this assignment and this does represent a slight drop in class on his last five tries.”
However, that’s not how Guild president Wayne Currall sees the race panning out.
“I believe Regal Cheval has the gate speed to cross polemarker and likely favourite Disco Under Fire at the start,” Currall said. “His last-start third when beaten in the shadows of the post by Will I Rocknroll and Ima Fivestar General had ‘be on me next start’ written all over it. I’d love to get the $8 being offered early doors but I think that’s a fantasy price.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes up in race five with the last-start winner The Amber Hare from barrier seven. She’s been very consistent over her last four races and I think she can make it back-to-back wins.
KEN: For value, I suggest Gran Chico in race nine. He is sure to appreciate a considerable drop in class and can certainly break through for his first win since November 2020. He raced three back on the pegs in fifth place before running home solidly to finish third behind the flying James Butt last Friday night.
MATT: Jumpingjackmac could be the forgotten horse in a tactical event. He will go mighty close.
ERNIE: Veteran gelding Regal Cheval has not won in 16 starts over almost 10 months, but he drew attention when placed in two of his past three races. He was only narrowly beaten after setting the pace last Friday night.
RYAN: Simply Shaz flooded home off a soft trip two starts ago to win in town and she is drawn to enjoy a similar path over the longer distance of the Empress Stakes. Each-way from the pole.
WAYNE: Dominus Factum will run a very cheeky race if he can bounce onto the lead from gate four. He’s each-way all day for mine at a price.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week
Good punting.
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