We can all take a deep breath after last week’s controversial finish to the WA Pacing Cup.
Suffice to say, it was a brilliant night with a big on-course crowd to enjoy the entertainment.
This Friday night at Gloucester Park features the $50,000 The Running Camel 4YO Championship (2130m).
It features a star-studded field, but WA Trotting Media Guild member TABradio’s Matt Young has eyes only for Lucca, his best bet on the 10-event card.
“Lucca has the perfect draw, speed to lead and a toughness to match his ability,” Young said. “I am expecting the Bill Hayes-trained gelding to lead and fend them all off and get the job done in the night’s feature.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding is keen on Steel The Show as his star bet.
“After a couple of lean weeks, the Skye and Greg Bond team look like coming back with a vengeance,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race four with the Bond-trained Steel The Show from barrier four. Hasn’t had much luck in recent races but should bounce back with a win.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator from The West Australian, and Guild president Wayne Currall have all landed on the returning Stamford as their best.
“Five-year-old Stamford has been beaten at his past 17 starts, but gets the chance to justify a big family reputation when he starts first-up from barrier one,” Manning said. “The gelding is a one-year younger brother of last Friday night’s WA Pacing Cup winner Magnificent Storm, a $1 million stake-earner. Stamford, who will have his first start since a transfer to Dylan Egerton-Green’s stable, has shown considerable ability in four Gloucester Park wins.”
Havercroft is just as enthusiastic.
“Stamford looks the standout for mine from a favourable draw when resuming from a spell,” Havercroft said. “His most recent seven-start campaign only delivered two placings, but the Dylan Egerton-Green-trained gelding had been a consistent performer prior to that, amassing 11 wins and 11 placings from a 37-start career.”
And Currall makes it a hat-trick.
“Stamford returns to the racetrack after almost five months on the sidelines,” Currall said. “He’s found a very winnable race at his first start for the new stable and from the pole he appeals as the horse they all have to get over.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Three Rumours is a tough mare who was solid on return. She strips fitter second-up and should run a big race.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with No. 4 Street Hawk from the Bond stable. With two seconds, should break through for a win.
ERNIE: Though only two wins have been scored by Bellezza Nera in his past 33 starts, the gelding has produced creditable performances from bad barrier draws recently and he should not be left out of calculations. He came from the second row when a Gloucester Park runner-up on October 20. Gate eight was drawn by Bellezza Nera when he ran second and sixth at headquarters in his latest appearances.
RYAN: Bellezza Nera has been racing well, finishing in the top two in five of his last six runs. One of those was from behind the strands.
WAYNE: I’m following the lead of my fellow tipsters and shooting for a three-leg multi – Steel The Show into Lucca and finishing with Stamford. Go you good things!
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.