The Group 3 Retravision Winter Cup (2536m) is the headline act on Friday night at Gloucester Park.
The $50,000 feature has only attracted a field of eight but it promises to be a race with plenty of action.
However, the majority of the WA Trotting Media Guild members have looked elsewhere when assessing their best bets on the 10-event card.
One in-form pacer who has struck a chord with members of the Guild is the Chris Voak-trained and driven Carabao in the night’s standing-start event.
Four members of the Guild have made the son of American Ideal their best bet on the program.
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas, The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, veteran tipster Pat Harding and Guild president Wayne Currall have all settled on Carabao as their star bet.
“Carabao has struck a purple patch with decisive all-the-way victories in stands at his past two starts,” Casellas said. “And I’m making the five-year-old my best bet this week to bring up a well-deserved hat-trick for Chris Voak when he starts off the front in the 2503m Westside Auto Wholesale Handicap.”
Harding agrees.
“Unfortunately small fields continue to persist at GP, making it another tough night ahead for punters and tipsters,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race seven with No. 5 Carabao. Chris Voak is putting a good team together and this horse has been most consistent at his last five starts and should make it three wins in a row.”
Havercroft is just as keen as his colleagues.
“Carabao has flourished since joining the stables of Chris Voak, earning a cheque at all 11 starts which include three victories,” Havercroft said. “All of those wins were behind the strands and he looks well placed again off the front line after his BOTRA Cup success a fortnight ago.”
Currall makes it a quartet.
“Carabao is a horse who seems to enjoy his racing,” Currall said. “He’s a star in the stands … he steps cleanly, can muster early speed and relaxes when he finds the top. I’m confident he’s got this field covered and can make it a hat-trick on Friday night.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times is keen on Prince Of Pleasure in the night’s feature race.
“New Zealand import Prince Of Pleasure has impressed when placed at his past two starts and looks hard to beat in the Winter Cup,” Manning said. “The gelding, who showed class when undefeated in his first seven races for trainer Gary Hall Snr, has recently bounced back to form. He won at four of five starts ahead of a close second, and then ran third behind Galactic Star last week.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is leaving his best until the last.
“Waverider returns with a good draw and has the speed to lead,” Young said. “He looks very hard to beat as he has immense talent.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: For value, I suggest Street Hawk from the favourable No. 2 barrier in race three, a 1730m sprint. He will be fitter after his unlucky first-up fifth a fortnight ago when he was hopelessly blocked for a clear run in the final circuit.
PAT: My double comes up in race one with another Chris Voak-trained horse in Montego from barrier four. Should make it two wins in a row.
RYAN: The Code Breaker is racing well and won from this draw three starts ago. Could be each-way odds from a favourable barrier.
WAYNE: Cheddar Is Better is a seasoned standing-start performer. He led all the way from the strands at Pinjarra earlier this month and although he’s up in class he represents good each-way value.
ERNIE: Five-year-old Sound Value was beaten at his last nine starts and has won only once from 24 Gloucester Park appearances. Though the Ryan Bell-trained gelding has not raced for more than eight months, he proved his fitness by stylishly winning a Byford trial last Sunday.
MATT: Withoutthetuh is dropping in grade and could flash home nicely in this class late.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week.
Good punting.