Wonderful To Fly will be a long odds-on favourite as she shoots for her sixth win in a row in the $50,000 Trotsynd 3YO Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Despite drawing awkwardly in gate 10, the Shane Young-trained and reined star filly has too much class for her 11 rivals and success in the Group 2 feature will see her prize money soar past the $300,000 mark.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild are unanimous in their praise for Wonderful To Fly, but have clashed again in selecting their best bets on the 10-event card.
Longshot guru Pat Harding and Guild president Wayne Currall have labelled Born To Boogie as their best for the night.
“Certainly looks like another tough night at GP this Friday, but I think punters can get off to a good start,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race one with No. 5 Born To Boogie. She certainly has been most consistent and I think Chris Lewis can guide her home for a good win.”
And Currall agrees.
“Born To Boogie has had three runs back from a spell now and should be on song for Friday night’s assignment,” Currall said. “Most importantly, she has drawn inside of one of her main rivals in Savvy Bromac – a decided advantage and one I’m sure champion reinsman Chris Lewis will make the most of.”
However, TABradio’s Hayden King sees a different scenario unfolding.
“Savvy Bromac might be just too fast for them,” King said. “She can sit back and come with one electric run and be too strong in the opener. There looks to be some pressure on paper, which is additional assistance.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Pinny Tiger in race two.
“Pinny Tiger has awesome gate speed and I think he can cross here,” Young said. “If he does he will be winning.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes it’s time for Will I Rocknroll in race three.
“Will I Rocknroll has not won in 14 starts but hasn’t drawn closer than barrier five in his last eight runs and gets the prized inside peg for this week’s assignment,” Havercroft said. “Hasn’t been far away of late and the draw should see him in front or close enough to the speed to be a factor in the closing stages.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has made the returning Finvarra his best for the evening.
“Class pacer Finvarra, long tagged as a cups horse by trainer Gary Hall, looks hard to beat first-up,” Manning said. “He won at his debut in 2020 and last year displayed abundant talent by twice completing winning hat-tricks. The four-year-old, unplaced only once in a 14-start career, looks a leading prospect for next summer’s Fremantle Pacing Cup and WA Pacing Cup.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes up in race two with No. 6 Pinny Tiger. With four wins and a second from his last five starts I think the Brennan/Grantham combination can notch up another win.
WAYNE: Bettor Be Lively has had no luck recently and should appreciate getting a soft run behind Will I Rocknroll in the third. Looks a strong each-way play.
HAYDEN: Faster Than Dad draws the almost impossible barrier of nine, however he has been in fine form this time in. He can do work and the barrier will inflate his price.
MATT: Twobob Cracker is a great each-way chance in the stand. The horse is knocking on the door for another win.
RYAN: Eldaytona takes on the in-form Ideal Agent, but draws inside his main rival and the Sue Wiscombe-trained pacer’s recent form is very good.
ERNIE: Melbourne import Gee Smith has won only once in his past 13 starts, but he should not be overlooked when attempting a fifth win in a standing-start event. The pacer has run three seconds and two thirds in stands at his past five appearances. He won four Victorian races ahead of arriving in WA last year.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.