The WA Derby hopefuls will strut their stuff at Gloucester Park on Friday night when they contest the $50,000 Cowden Insurance 3YO Western Gateway Pace (2130m).
The Western Gateway is a traditional lead-up race for next month’s WA Derby.
And one horse who stands heads and shoulders above the rest is Never Ending.
Ken Casellas, an illustrious member of the WA Trotting Media Guild, has made the Justin Prentice-trained Never Ending his best bet for the night.
“Speed is a great asset in harness racing, and Never Ending has an abundance of that quality, and that’s why I’m making him my best bet to win the Western Gateway,” Casellas said. “I’m also not superstitious that the prospect of notching win No. 13 will prevent him from beating Mister Smartee in what promises to be a thrilling affair.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding is keen on the chances of Classic Choice.
“Some more good fields at GP this Friday night and I expect some close finishes,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with No. 7 Classic Choice. Didn’t have much luck last week, but with Chris Voak aboard I think he can finish strongly and win.”
TABradio’s Matt Young and Guild president Wayne Currall have landed on their best bets in race three, albeit with different horses.
Young has opted for polemarker Thomson Bay, a horse he believes can post an all-the-way victory.
“Thomson Bay has the perfect draw to show his best again and looks the likely leader, should be at peak fitness and can get another win for the stable,” Young said.
But that’s not how Currall sees the race unfolding.
“Ima Fivestar General has had two starts back since a three-month spell,” Currall said. “He has contested stronger races than this recently and I’m expecting trainer/driver Robbie Williams to drive him like the best horse in the race.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator from The West Australian, has made Codename Marcus as his star bet.
“Codename Marcus has been consistent at four efforts since arriving from Victoria, culminating in a last-start win over this distance on Saturday,” Havercroft said. “His back line draw maps him to get a similar run and this field isn’t strong. The Ryan Bell-trained gelding is fit and we know he will run out the trip.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, is in the corner of classy mare Cyclone Charlotte.
“New Zealand import Cyclone Charlotte was highly impressive at Gloucester Park last Friday night when she overcame a three-wide run and recorded her fourth straight win,” Manning said. “The Ray Williams-trained four-year-old looks a leading candidate for next month’s $50,000 Norms Daughter Classic and $150,000 Mares Classic. She was beaten at five consecutive starts when first racing in WA, but has a tally of eight wins and four places from her past 12 appearances.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: Insta Gator is improving all the time, and he is poised to make a bold bid for victory in the Western Gateway Consolation. Was extremely tough and courageous in winning from Star Lavra at Northam on Tuesday night.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Lusaka in barrier six. A model of consistency and should win again.
MATT: Alcopony has a lovely trailing draw in what looks to be a hot race. With a touch of luck he can win.
WAYNE: Machlani hasn’t saluted in more than a year, but he gets a chance to earn on Friday night from his favourable draw in two. And it’s worth remembering that his last win at GP was over this distance. Hoping Emily Suvaljko can fire him out to take up the running.
RYAN: Alcopony looks an each-way play for me with Vampiro sure to inject early speed over the sprint distance. I’m relying on some Chris Lewis magic to extricate him from inside of the back line.
ERNIE: Nine-year-old Vampiro gets the chance to notch his 26th Gloucester Park win when he starts from barrier three this week. A third has been the gelding’s only placing in his past 13 starts, but he can never be underestimated. He is a multiple runner-up in Group 1 races and connections are again aiming him at Gloucester Park’s rich carnival.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.