14 June 2018 | Wayne Currall
On a night when there looks like being at least four pacers in the red, members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have earmarked their specials for Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Outstanding fast-class pacer Bettors Fire, exciting two-year-old Franco Edward and the prolific winning Cott Beach have all come up with the pole in their respective races and will all be sent out as short commodities.
And Jack Mac, unbeaten in all his nine starts in WA, will be looking for the perfect 10 when he steps out as the long odds-on favourite in the last race on the card.
Guild members believe all four hot pots can justify their short odds by winning.
Last season’s leading tipster Stuart Lowe, The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and Guild president Wayne Currall are all fans of Bettors Fire.
“My best bet is the outstanding pacer Bettors Fire, who has dominated free-for-all company recently with three wins and a second from his last four starts,” Lowe said. “Advantaged here with the pole draw and should lead all the way.”
Manning and Currall agree.
“Classy evergreen Bettors Fire looks primed to celebrate his 100th start in grand style,” Manning said. “He is poised for his 39th win after the bonus of a pole draw. The veteran, a winner at four of his past six starts, looked in peak form when he scored impressively after racing three-wide last Friday night.”
Currall was even more succinct.
“Bettors Fire leads and wins,” he said. “No value for punters, but he looks the best of good things.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and longshot king Pat Harding believe Cott Beach can continue on her winning ways.
“Cott Beach has an imposing record and seems back to her best after successive wins at Narrogin and Bunbury,” Havercroft said. “She is one of many short-priced favourites that will be fancied on the card.”
Harding agrees with his colleague.
“Looking forward to a great night at GP this Friday – a night that should prove to be a good one for punters,” Harding said.” My best bet of the night comes up in the sixth with No.1 Cott Beach. A great draw with only a small field and Nathan Turvey should bounce this horse out and lead all the way and win.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas and TABradio’s Matt Young are keen on Better Scoot.
“Better Scoot comes up with a well-programmed event by the stable in the stand and has the front line again,” Young said. “He should work his way to the top and continue on his winning way.”
And Casellas agrees with Young’s summation.
“My best bet on a star-studded program is Better Scoot in the stand,” Casellas said. “He’s a lightly raced outstanding standing-start performer who resumed last month after a 19-month absence when he finished a game third behind Lord Willoughby. He franked that good form with an all-the-way victory from the strands a fortnight ago and only has to begin safely to be the one to beat again.”
VALUE BETS
Stuart: My value bet is Dredlock Rockstar, who ran a big race when third off 50m at Pinjarra last start. Going better than numerical form indicates and with the benefit
of coming off the front line of the stand here should have each-way claims.
Ernie: Rockin The Boys has drawn barrier nine and a Northam second has been the only placing in her past six starts but she looks suited in mares company after having difficulty getting clear last Friday.
Wayne: Tommy Be Good can’t beat Bettors Fire but he’ll get all the favours following the favourite and could run into the quinella again.
Ryan: Hillbilly Time has been racing consistently while alternating between stands and mobiles in recent times. Drawn behind Carter Micheal, he should be handily placed to figure again.
Pat: A great win last week by Bletchley Park and I see no reason why he can’t win again from barrier three. Obviously Franco Edward is the main danger but Bletchley Park could be at good each-way odds and continue his winning form.
Matt: Major Catastrophe has been racing well in stronger company and thrives on the longer trip. The draw is decent and expect him to go very close on Friday.
Ken: For value, I suggest Suspicious Life in the second event. This pacer is blessed with wonderful gate speed and he could run a cheeky race if he can find the front from gate six.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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