by Wayne Currall
Members of the Media Guild have mixed thoughts about their best bets for tomorrow night’s meeting at Gloucester Park.
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe and TABform racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft have opted for Tricky Styx as their best for the night. “Tricky Styx is a classy WA mare whose last two runs were at Menangle where she finished just behind the placegetters in very smart time after tramping wide,” Lowe said. “Should lead here and be very hard to beat.” Havercroft agrees with Lowe. “Tricky Styx resumes in the WASBA Breeders Stakes and her class should see her prevail over her race-fit rivals,” Havercroft said. “A recent Byford trial where the Jesse Moore-trained daughter of Jeremes Jet rated 1:58.6 in defeating Pay Me Quick by 3.6m suggests she will be ready for this assignment.”
TABradio race caller Matt McDermott and Guild president Wayne Currall are in the Harry Hoo camp. “This is the best barrier draw he has had for quite some time and although gate one has been a ‘hoo do’ for some I think this Hoo, as in Harry, has his fair share of ability to take advantage of the pole,” McDermott said. Currall is on the same page as McDermott.”This is Harry Hoo’s fourth run in after a four-month break and he should just about be cherry ripe,” Currall said. “He’s got good gate speed and should make every post a winner.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has put another Gary Hall-trained horse in Overboard Again as his best for the night. “Overboard Again appears to be near the form he showed when winning five races in a sequence of eight starts late last year,” Manning said. “He has won and run second after facing the breeze at his two starts since a spell. First-up, Overboard Again scored from the highly rated Shandale. He was then only narrowly beaten by the in-form Livura.”
Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar believes former New Zealand mare Dana Duke is a stand out in the fourth race. “She’s a winner at her only two starts in WA and she has drawn well in barrier four,” Dewar said. “I know it’s a step up in class on Friday night but she looks a capable type.”
Longshot maestro Pat Harding has gone head-to-head with Manning, nominating Vultan Tin as his best. “I think punters should get off to a good start in the opening event with Vultan Tin, especially on an each-way basis,” Harding said. “Forget about last week, after all there’s no Galactic Star in this race.” Harding’s value runner for the night is last-start winner My Platinum Belle. “She should give punters a good sight in the seventh race and I predict leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond could have a great night with up to six winners.”
Lowe has opted for Rabchenko as his best each-way chance. “Rabchenko won well at headquarters three starts ago.” Lowe said. “Two subsequent runs have been solid and is drawn to get a great run here.”
Havercroft believes The Bob Mellsop-trained Your Excused could be good each-way value in the first. “This horse grows a leg when drawn to lead and should give a sight,” Havercroft said. “The six-year-old gelding saluted last time he drew the coveted inside barrier, dictating terms and going on to hold off Challenging by 3.9m at this track and distance.”
McDermott is a Skippy Rascal fan. “I think he has enough gate speed to hold a forward position and with the right run and a little bit of luck can finish in the money,” McDermott said.
Currall has come up with Naughty Maravu in the stand as his best value for the night. “This bloke has been racing against better horses than he meets on Friday night.” Currall said. “He loves the stand and should get out to an each-way quote.”
Manning is at odds with Currall, opting for The Real Nadal in the same race. “The Real Nadal looks suited off the front after being handicapped off 30m at his past two appearances,” Manning said. “He galloped away three starts ago, but his barrier manners were better when he ran fourth at Pinjarra early in May and third at Narrogin last week.”
Dewar believes Star Armbro could be good value in the ninth race. “Star Armbro has drawn beautifully in barrier one,” Dewar said. “He was a winner two starts back and should be able to repeat the dose here.”
Good punting.
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