07 March 2024 | Wayne Currall
The Group 3 Lombardo Pace (2536m) headlines a stellar 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The feature race, for the mares, has attracted a small but select field with favouritism being shared by polemarker Nullarbor Navajo and Cyclone Charlotte.
However, members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have steered clear of the Lombardo when selecting their best bets.
Leading tipster Matt Young believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting Showpony in the first.
“Showpony has been racing without much luck as of late and his last run should’ve topped him off nicely for this,” Young said. “He has the speed to lead and is a different horse on the pegs. Looks the winner.”
Guild president Wayne Currall has marked Rolling Fire down as his star bet.
“Rolling Fire is a classy conveyance,” Currall said. “He was defeated but far from disgraced when he ran a courageous second behind Hotly Pursued at headquarters last month. He sat parked in that race when they came home in a slick 55.4 for the last 800m. Will probably have to do the bullocking work again outside of likely leader Franco Ecuador, but he’s third-up from a break and should be breathing fire.”
Longshot king Pat Harding is keen on Lavra Joe in race four.
“What a difference a week makes – 12 excellent fields at GP last week and this week a large number of smaller fields,” Harding said. “Makes life pretty difficult for punters and tipsters. My best bet is in race four with No.7 Lavra Joe. Second start from a spell and I think he will show his real class in this race.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, has opted for Xceptional Arma as his best for the night.
“Xceptional Arma is the class runner in the 3YO fillies event, having amassed more earnings than her six rivals combined,” Havercroft said. “She is yet to win this season and starts from the outside gate, but she won at 10 of her 16 starts as a two-year-old and should prove too good here.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas believes Highview Heidi can break her maiden status in race nine.
“Bunbury trainer Paul Strachan has produced Highview Heidi in fine fettle for her first two race starts,”Casellas said. “The filly impressed with her debut second to Bull Shark Betty after racing in the breeze and getting to the front 300m from home, and then with her sixth in the Sales Classic final when she was badly blocked for a clear passage in the final stages. Highview Heidi is my best bet to reign supreme over Jaxs Ideal and Wesmedad.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has left his best until last.
“Barrier one gives Melbourne import Duty Bound a chance to bounce back into the winners’ list for trainer Jemma Hayman, after unplaced runs at his past six starts,” Manning said. “The gelding won five Victorian races, including two at Melton, before recording two Gloucester Park victories. Owned by Merv and Meg Butterworth, he was a $1.40 favourite when winning at headquarters five months ago. He should be improved after a first-up fifth last Friday night.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Swingband is going well and could be an each-way quote in a competitive FFA event.
WAYNE: I reckon most punters will have passed over Fly To Fame when assessing the form in the night’s only stand. She was rolled as a long-odds-on pop on Tuesday night at GP, but I think she can bounce back here at a good each-way quote.
PAT: My double is with Highview Heidi, No.3 in race nine. With only six runners she gets a real chance to open her account with a good win.
RYAN: Burghley Shard is a safe beginner with each-way claims. Likely favourite Lucca often finds a way to get beaten.
KEN: Cheddar Is Better looks the likely pacemaker in race seven, the 2503m stand. He should take plenty of catching.
ERNIE: The Barry Howlett-trained Sugar Street has been beaten at his past 12 appearances, but is capable of figuring prominently after starting from inside the back line. The gelding showed class when he won seven races, including four at Gloucester Park, during 2021-22.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
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