by Wayne Currall
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild believe speedy beginner Thereugo and tough stayer Mighty Mr Sharkey are stand-out bets on tomorrow night’s 10-event card at Gloucester Park.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, veteran tipster Bill Brindley, The West Australian’s harness racing writer Ernie Manning and leading tipster Stuart Lowe have all labelled Thereugo as their best bet.
Havercroft summed up the thought of his colleagues. “Thereugo has been racing with great zest and looks well placed to continue on his winning ways this Friday,” he said. “He should easily cross this field, the scratching of Its My Lucknow brings him into barrier five, and that will be the last they see of the son of McArdle.”
Havercroft has opted for Perfect Mach as his value selection. “Perfect Mach makes a rare mobile start this Friday and looks to be a good each-way proposition on his last-start second,” he said. “That was off a 50m handicap at Pinjarra and he made considerable ground in the last lap to finish just behind favourite Destined To Rule.”
Brindley also likes Brookies Jet and has gone with El Machine as his best roughie for the night.
Manning believes Bronze Seeker could be the forgotten horse on tonight’s card. “Bronze Seeker, who is racing first-up, has drawn outside the front line and is likely to be overlooked by many punters as a result of having been unplaced at his last seven starts before a spell,” he said. “However, he is dropping in class following his appearances in races won by Heez On Fire and Galactic Star last autumn. The gelding has won 23 races, including eight at Gloucester Park.”
Lowe’s value bet is My Hard Copy. “My Hard Copy, who has won nearly a million dollars in stake money, has had two runs back from at long break for two solid unplaced efforts,” he said. “Should be ready to show his best now and looks to strike an easier race here.”
On-course announcer Ken Casellas, TABradio’s race caller Matt McDermott and Guild president Wayne Currall have all made Mighty Mr Sharkey their best bet.
Casellas spoke for his two colleagues when he said it would take the handicapper quite a while to catch up to Mighty Mr Sharkey. “The four-year-old gelding is set to continue on his winning and looks set to complete a hat-trick of wins by proving the master of his 11 older and more experienced rivals,” he said. “He is somewhat awkwardly drawn at barrier five on the front line, but is capable of mustering considerable early pace, which should enable driver Ryan Warwick to get him into the lead soon after the start.”
Casellas likes classy mare Foxy Dame as his value tip. “The Mike Reed-trained mare has a losing sequence of 18 and is certainly not ideally drawn out at barrier six on the front line,” he said. “But she has shown glimpses of form since resuming from a brief two-month break and is capable of surprising.”
McDermott has opted for Bettor Not Bitter as his next best. “Bettor Not Bitter was a massive run in defeat last week from the stand,” he said. “He returns to a mobile here and is the only runner off the back row and with luck can take the prize.”
Currall’s value selection is Lisharry in the fifth race. “Lisharry is returning to racing after a four-month break, but he was racing against better fields than this,” he said. “From the pole he should be able to hold up, or at least race handy, and could surprise at odds.”
TABradio’s announcer Matt Young fancies classy mare Donegal Rundlescreek as his best bet. “Donegal Rundlescreek covered extra ground out wider against the boys last start and has been very impressive last month,” he said. “She is back to her own sex and looks a big chance to get the cash.”
Young has opted for Wabi Sabi as his best value. “Wabi Sabi in the last has been hitting the line OK recently and comes up with the perfect draw over the mile,” he said. “He has the speed and can show his best form this Friday night. Get on early as it could be a market mover throughout the day.”
The Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar has labelled Ideal Alice as his best bet. “Ideal Alice has drawn ideally in gate one and and should be hard to toss,” he said. “A winner of more than $302,000 in stakes, the Gary Hall-trained mare ran a solid sixth behind Shandale last Friday night after drawing the outside of the front line. Gets every chance to win race number 20.”
Dewar fancies Yackandandah as his value bet. “The final event over 1730m is not an overly strong affair, which gives Yackandandah a chance to break through,” he said. “His last win was on June 17 over 2536m, but he was held up for a run when finishing down the track at Pinjarra on Monday.”
Longshot king Pat Harding believes punters and tipsters alike have found the new harness season tough going. “I believe as the season progresses and some of the State’s better horses resume life will get a little easier,” he said. “I thought the Halls should get the money with Whozideawasthis. It ran a reasonable third last week but with the distance of this race being 2536 metres it should prevail and Mighty Mr Sharkey should make it three wins in a row. This Skye Bond-trained horse is racing in great form and should again give punters a great sight.”
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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