12 July 2019 | Wayne Currall
Everyone knows that drawing the pole at Gloucester Park is a big advantage. Certainly members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are all over it, a fact which is reflected in their best bets for Saturday night’s card.
All of the Guild members’ star bets, except one, will come out of the pivotal inside gate.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has made polemarker Jaspervellabeach his best in the $125,000 Golden Slipper Pace (2130m).
“Jaspervellabeach resumed from a spell last Friday and was doing his best work late when running on into fifth in the Slipper Prelude,” Havercroft said. “He is drawn the pole for this week’s Group 1 feature and will be the one to beat.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas, TABradio’s Matt Young and RWWA’s racing communications co-ordinator Tim Walker have all made Saying Grace their best bet.
Casellas spoke for his two younger colleagues by declaring Saying Grace.
“Star reinsman Ryan Warwick is delighted to be lining up in the prized No.1 barrier in four events on Saturday night and I’m choosing one of those runners, Saying Grace, as my best bet,” Casellas said. “The Greg and Skye Bond-trained five-year-old gets a perfect opportunity to end a losing sequence of nine after encouraging efforts at his past three outings. Warwick’s other drives from the No.1 barrier – Infinite Symbol, Vampiro and Salacious Gossip – all have excellent winning prospects.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning is keen on Ideal Liner continuing on his winning ways.
“Ideal Liner has won his last seven races and looks the eventual heir to Chicago Bull’s crown as trainer Gary Hall’s stable star,” Manning said. “Highly rated since a close second behind Ana Malak in the 4YO Championship at Gloucester Park last November, he now han an imposing career tally of 10 wins from 13 starts.”
Guild president Wayne Currall and racecaller Hayden King keep the ball rolling for the polemarkers by making Batavia On Fire their best for the night.
“Punters can start the night off with a flyer by jumping on the ‘Voak Train’ in the opening event,” Currall said. “This bloke’s really being crying out for a draw and on Saturday night he finally gets the draw to post an all-the-way victory.”
And King agrees.
“Batavia On Fire is the best horse in this race and has the ace draw,” King said. “Should lead throughout.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding is the only Guild member not making his best bet a horse drawn in gate one.
“My best bet on Saturday night at GP is, in fact, the same as my best bet last week,” Harding said. “Simba Bromac gave punters a nice return and I reckon he can repeat the dose this week. Coming out of barrier three in a small field, I think he can make it two wins in a row.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: The Midas Touch was ultra-consistent last preparation and won a Byford trial in good time last weekend, which suggests he might be primed to strike first-up.
KEN: For value, I suggest The War Nurse in race two in which she is nicely drawn on the inside of the back line behind the likely pacemaker Thereugo. The War Nurse’s recent efforts have been full of merit.
MATT: Cut For An Ace has been unlucky as of late and should get a decent run and be getting home well.
TIM: Simba Bromac won well last week. Takes on Vampiro and the like here, so it will be a challenge. Given he got a win on the board last week, I think he can stay in that winning form here.
ERNIE: Parisian Partygirl has not won in her past 10 starts, but showed signs of a return to top form when third at Bunbury and fourth at Gloucester Park in her most recent appearances. Has won nine races, including two at Gloucester Park.
WAYNE: Secret Operation had a horrid run at his last start when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Will appreciate being drawn wide and can storm home off a hot pace. A genuine knockout hope at odds.
HAYDEN: Rock N Roll Delight is consistent and conditions could suit in the final event. She is a powerful sit-sprinter.
PAT: My value bet of the night comes up in race two. I think Robert The Bruce from gate six over the sprint journey can get the money. It is not a particularly strong field and he did have a win three starts ago. He seems an excellent each-way chance for punters.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
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