Punters are in for a marathon night at Gloucester Park on Friday night with 12 races on the card.
The feature event on the program is the $50,000 APG WA 4Y0 Final (1730m). Unfortunately, the original six-horse field has been reduced to four following two scratchings and prolific-winning mare Wonderful To Fly will go around as a red-hot favourite.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have looked elsewhere when assessing the program for their best bets.
Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting polemarker Hillview Bondi in the opening event.
“Hillview Bondi has had three runs back since a six-month spell and should strip fitter for Friday night’s assignment,” Currall said. “Young gun Kyle Symington should be able to shoot the Ryan Bell-trained five-year-old gelding to the top from his rails draw. The addition of Dolly vardon blinkers is a positive sign the stable are keen to lead. Get on.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft are keen on Sista Sammy in the second.
“Lightly-raced five-year-old mare Sista Sammy looks set for an excellent career in Western Australia where she has been untroubled to win at her first two appearances, following wins at her final three starts in New Zealand,” Casellas said. “She is my best bet on Friday night to stretch her winning sequence to six by proving too speedy for her rivals in race two.”
And Havercroft agrees.
“Sista Sammy looks to have found a nice race to make it a hat-trick of victories from as many local starts,” Havercroft said. “On both occasions she found her way to the top and comfortably accounted for her rivals. From what we have seen of her racing pattern, I would expect Deni Roberts to press forward and take up a position near the speed, making the Greg and Skye Bond-trained mare the one to beat.”
TABradio’s Matt Young has made James Butt his best for the night.
“James Butt finds a suitable race and loves the mile,” Young said. “This talented gelding from the in-form Chris Voak stable should lead throughout and looks a lock for Friday night.”
Veteran tipster Pat Harding believes Jett Star can overcome his wide draw in race six to salute.
“While there might be 12 races at GP, some very small fields make it tough for punters and tipsters alike,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race six with No. 7 Jett Star. This Greg and Skye Bond-trained horse has been most consistent and I think he can return another good win in this small field.”
However, that is not how The West Australian and The Sunday Times pacing expert Ernie Manning sees the race unfolding.
“A sharp class drop will suit Watts Up Sunshine, who ran an impressive fourth after he drew gate eight and covered extra ground in last Friday night’s 4YO and 5YO Championship,” Manning said. “The gelding, a recent arrival from Victoria, won Gloucester Park races by 10m at each of his first two WA starts. He has notched 16 interstate victories.”
VALUE BETS
WAYNE: On a night where value is at a premium, I’ve decided to launch into an all-up. Hillview Bondi, into Mea Culpa into The Mustang. Hopefully all three can lead and win.
KEN: For value, I suggest Manea in race 11 in which she will start from the outside barrier. She is still learning to race, but generally unwinds a spirited finishing burst.
RYAN: It’s hard to find value at the meeting in my eyes, though if they lit the fuse with Ifeel Sikdarl over the short trip, the indicative $14 price would represent each-way value if he found the top.
MATT: Nullarbor Navajo was really solid on return last week. She finds a good trailing draw and suitable field to show her best.
PAT: My double comes up in race seven with No. 1 Wonderful To Fly. This is a class horse who should account for the other runners.
ERNIE: Five-year-old Cooper, who has a nine-run losing sequence, could appreciate his switch back to the mobile after a series of standing-start events. He showed big potential last year, when winning at five of his first seven starts.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting on a huge night of pacing at headquarters.