03 September 2020 | Wayne Currall
A titanic struggle is brewing in this year’s WA Trotting Media Guild tipping competition.
In any normal year, the competition would have been done and dusted last Friday night and Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart would have been declared the winner by a “short-half head” from TABradio’s form expert Hayden King.
But this isn’t any normal year, as we know.
The season has been extended until the end of December and so has our tipping competition.
Hence the battle continues, with Wishart and King locked together and leading the chasing pack.
Wishart and The West Australian’s Ernie Manning have made the unbeaten two-year-old filly Newsy their best bet at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“My best bet is in the last race with No.4 Newsy,” Wishart said. “Really good win last time out and can make it four from four.”
And Manning agrees.
“Two-year-old Newsy is unbeaten in three starts and looks a top prospect when having her first start at a Friday night city meeting,” Manning said. “The filly, co-trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was a stylish Pinjarra winner twice ahead of her Tuesday night success at Gloucester Park. She has impressed by overcoming tough runs in the breeze at her past two appearances.”
King has opted for Extreme Prince as his star bet.
“I think Extreme Prince can cross from out wide in the eighth,” King said. “He is an extremely tough frontrunner to get over and he’s been racing fairly well with little luck. If he leads, it should be over.”
Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas is keen on Space Junk in race seven.
“Space Junk bounced back to form in fine style at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week when he ended a sequence of six unplaced efforts with a commanding frontrunning display to crush his rivals in fast time,” Casellas said. “From the No. 1 barrier on Friday night he is set to repeat the dose.”
TABradio’s Matt Young believes Diamond Life can cause a minor upset in the sixth race.
“Diamond Life has the speed to lead and over the mile will run a massive race,” Young said. “The value with him comes with Howard Hughes and Undercover Mac in the event. Diamond Life has the advantage in draws and more race experience. I’m keen.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has went with the promising Wildwest as his best bet.
“Wildwest produced a fine first-up effort to win off 30m in a stand three weeks ago and it’s hard not to imagine there being natural improvement in the son of Raging Bull,” Havercroft said. “He isn’t the most tractable pacer going around, but his raw ability should see his name added to the roll of the time-honoured York Cup.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has sought some value with his star bet on Friday night.
“This week’s meeting looks like being another big night for Greg and Skye Bond,” Harding said. “Looking for a bit of value, my best bet comes up in race eight with No. 6 Captain Mannering. This horse has been racing well and ran a good third at his last start. With Chris Voak aboard, I think he can give punters a good sight at odds.”
Guild President Wayne Currall is keen on Mister Bushido in race two.
“This race represents a drop in class for Mister Bushido,” Currall said. “I’m hoping Gary Hall Jr will drive an assertive race and wrest the lead off polemarker Stop The Watch. If this scenario plays out then I can’t see Mister Bushido’s 10 rivals running him down.”
VALUE BETS
WARREN: Race five, No. 6 As Happy As Larry. Resumes and has gate speed. Can run a bold race at each-way odds.
ERNIE: Qtowntown Rip Roaring is on a 26-run losing sequence and the only placing from his past 14 starts was a third at Pinjarra. But he is expected to secure an ideal trail from inside the back line and could surprise. He was blocked for a run last Friday night.
HAYDEN: A Boy Named Rosie looks set to trail the pacesetter in the second. The pace should be true enough over the long trip for the gap to come. I can see him whizzing straight past for a deserved win.
KEN: For value, I suggest Diamond Life in race six in which he will start from barrier two and will seriously test Howard Hughes and Undercover Mac if he gets to the front early in this 1730m sprint.
MATT: Maximum Demand, the grand old campaigner, has found a winnable race. He just needs some luck, but respect him again.
RYAN: My Mdina exploded off a soft run when second-up in W.A. for an impressive victory. Represents value if she gets a similar run over the short-course stand.
PAT: My value bet comes up in race nine with No. 1 Taimate Angus from the Bob Mellsop stable with Gary Hall Jr aboard. He should be at good odds and had a win two starts back. If he gets away well he should be able to stay in front.
WAYNE: Machs Gold is drawn to get the run of the race behind likely leader Justasec in race four. Can unwind a fast sprint and could be dangerous at each-way odds.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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