27 September 2018 | Wayne Currall
The $25,000 WA Trotting Media Guild Cup (2536m) headlines a strong card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild will be on course to celebrate their big night and hopefully steer punters into some winners.
Mitch Maguire, King Of Swing and Lincs Tiger have all been earmarked as best bets by several Guild members.
Stuart Lowe, who finished third in last season’s tipping contest, The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian Ryan Havercroft have all made the consistent Mitch Maguire their best for the night.
“Mitch Maguire has won four of his five runs back from a spell and bolted in last week over 1730m rating 1.54.3,” Lowe said. “Drawn the pole here and should lead throughout.”
Manning agrees with Lowe.
“Mitch Maguire, with the advantage of barrier one, can further boost his exceptional Gloucester Park tally,” Manning said. “He has won seven of nine races at headquarters, and his overall career record is 18 victories from 28 appearances. He faced the breeze when second in The Schrader Final, then bounced back to win again last Friday.”
Havercroft is singing from the same hymn sheet.
“Mitch Maguire has been in irresistible form of late and has come up with the prized inside barrier,” Havercroft said. “His only defeat in his last five outings was in The Schrader Final, when inconvenienced at the start and later suffering a gear failure.”
Novice race caller and the newest member of the Guild Hayden King is a big fan of classy four-year-old King Of Swing. Longshot guru Pat Harding, who once again took the honours for the longest-priced winner last season when he found Courage Tells at odds of $114 in December, also is in King Of Swing’s corner.
“King Of Swing should be able to lead all the way in the Media Guild Cup, expressing his dominance as WA’s best pacer in the imminent absence of Chicago Bull,” King said.
Harding believes King Of Swing can manage the class rise and make it five on the bounce.
“Media Guild Cup night is always a good night at GP and this year should be no exception,” Harding said. “I believe the Garry Hall-trained King Of Swing is the way to go in the cup. Coming out of barrier one is a plus and I think he is a most exciting horse poised to make it five wins in a row.”
TABradio’s Matt McDermott and Guild president Wayne Currall believe Lincs Tiger can continue on his winning way.
“This will be Lincs Tiger’s first start at 2500m, but he’s a versatile pacer with three wins in a row,” McDermott said. “Should be hard to beat.”
Currall agrees.
“Lincs Tiger is racing his way through the classes and looks a good thing to break his M0 status on Friday night,” Currall said. “The Bonds have their eyes set on biggest targets with Lincs Tiger and he should put this field to the sword.”
Ken Casellas, a perpetual winner or placegetter in the Guild’s tipping competition, finished second last season. He’s keen on classy mare Tricky Styx on Friday night.
“A massive drop in class should enable Tricky Styx to end a 15-month drought,” Casellas said. “Tricky Styx, prepared at Northam by Jesse Moore, has the class to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier on the front line and Aiden De Campo is likely to press forward in the early stages in a bid to put pressure on the early leader.”
Last season’s top tipster was Matt Young with a very healthy winning percentage of more than 47 per cent. Young has nominated Argyle Red as his best bet.
“Argyle Red has drawn beautifully to lead and has dropped back in class,” Young said. “He should be leading and winning.”
VALUE BETS
Stuart: My value bet is Argyle Red, who ran a good race when unplaced in the Navy Cup behind Chicago Bull last week. Down in class and better drawn here.
Ernie: Robert The Bruce has won only one of his past 14 races and is on a six-run losing sequence. But he is slowing glimpses of ability that enabled him to win at five of his first six WA starts. He ran fourth after breaking gait last Friday.
Ryan: Sokys Bigbullet was headed from barrier one upon resuming but showed enough to suggest he will be fit enough for this assignment. He won’t be covered up this week and is up to this class.
Hayden: Madame Meilland, despite being poorly drawn over 1730m, can get terms run to suit and win.
Pat: Not much value here, but I think Mitch Maguire from barrier one will deliver the goods. He scored a great win last week and should repeat the dose for punters.
Matt M: Sangue Reale has been impressive at his last two starts. He rattled off some good closing sectionals on Monday and is a good chance at a hat-trick in the last .
Wayne: Extreme Prince can’t beat Mitch Maguire, but he’s drawn to get the perfect run in transit behind the hot-pot. Looks a great chance to run second.
Ken: For value, I suggest the Justin Prentice-trained Rocknroll Lincoln in race two. He is resuming after a spell and will be driven by Jocelyn Young from barrier six. His form earlier this year was outstanding and he looks set to issue a strong challenge to the in-form Speed Man.
Matt Y: Saleahs Command is a chance to cross in the first and if he leads he will go very close. He’s worth an each-way bet and you’re hoping everything goes right.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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