by Wayne Currall
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have labelled two horses – Natural Disaster and Americanbootscoota – as good things at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and leading tipster Stuart Lowe have settled on Natural Disaster as their best bet.
“Natural Disaster has received a vastly improved barrier draw this week and gets his chance for a return to the winners’ list,” Manning said. “The gelding, to start from gate three, scored a winning hat-trick before he copped a second-line draw in last Friday night’s Chandon Final. He produced a big run to finish third behind Motu Premier and looks primed to notch his fourth Gloucester Park victory.”
Lowe agrees with Manning’s assessment.
“Natural Disaster followed three good wins with a solid third last week in a strong race won by Motu Premier,” Lowe said. “Should find this easier.”
Manning likes another Justin Prentice-trained pacer in Maia Maguire as his best value for the night.
“Maia Maguire is expected to start at a generous price in view of her eight-run losing sequence and a gate-)12 draw,” he said. “However the mare came from a back-line barrier when a close second to Kissmecougar at Bunbury on July 22. She has been placed at three of her last four starts.”
Lowe has opted for Scoobys Delight as his value selection.
“My value bet is Scoobys Delight in race three,” he said. “He’s going better than his recent form suggests. Worked hard a fortnight ago when a close-up fifth in a race won by The Publisher. The draw in gate two brings him in with each-way claims here.”
On-course announcer Ken Casellas, longshot specialist Pat Harding, TABradio’s racecaller Matt McDermott and Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar are all fans of Americanbootscoota.
Casellas summed up the thoughts of his colleagues by declaring Americanbootscoota as a “pacer on the way up”.
“He should move a step closer to fast-class company by winning the Vale Laurie Kennedy Pace at GP on Friday night,” Casellas said.
“The big, powerful gelding will start from the prized No.1 barrier and even if he does get beaten for the early lead by Better Than Money, he then will enjoy an ideal trail behind that pacer and should unwind a strong finishing burst. Americanbootscoota has won at six of his past 10 starts and one of his strengths is his versatility.”
Like Lowe, Casellas fancies Scoobys Delight on an each-way basis.
Harding is another tipster who believes Natural Disaster can salute.
“Justin Prentice horses have been in good form and I think Natural Disaster is ideally placed to win over the 2130m distance,” he said.
McDermott believes Blackjack Anna in the last race could provide good value for punters.
“I’m happy to take Blackjack Anna each-way again,” he said. “If things pan out her way in this field she can figure in a place.”
Dewar is keen on former NSW pacer Whozideawasthis breaking his duck in WA.
“Whozideawasthis has finished second in his only two WA starts,” he said. “Settled midfield in the moving line when running on in the straight and was only beaten a head last start. Drawn nicely in gate two over the 2130m journey and looks hard to toss.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has made Donegal Rundlescreek his best bet.
“Donegal Rundlescreek drops well down in class for Friday’s assignment,” he said. “Recent metropolitan wins have her well placed to contest a country-front race, even a wide draw should not present any concern.”
Havercroft has thrown out Jambiani as his best value for the night.
“Jambiani looks a great each-way proposition in the Vale Laurie Kennedy Pace,” he said. “Sparks will fly early with noted frontrunner Better Than Money drawn to try and cross Americanbootscoota. If that eventuates then Jambiani will be rattling home in the shadows of the post.”
Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can get in early with Rosies Ideal in the first race.
“This two-year-old filly is racing in grea heart with three wins from her last five starts,” he said. “Despite starting from the outside gate, I think Rosies Ideal can get punters off to a good start early in proceedings.”
Currall believes Ideal Diamante in the eighth race could deliver some value.
“This bloke hasn’t got a lot of exposed form but he has drawn the pole and has the speed to make the most of his draw,” he said. “Can lead all the way over the sprint trip.”
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley is also a fan of Rosies Ideal.
“I think Rosies Ideal and Sprinter are the two best bets on the program,” he said. “My value selections are Lovers Prayer, Scoobys Delight and King Crocker on what looks like a difficult night.”
Good punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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