Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have come up with a mixed bag of specials for Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park.
Longshot guru Pat Harding and TABradio’s Hayden King believe punters can get their night off to a flyer by supporting Alta Engen in the first event.
“Could be a good night for favourites at GP this Friday night,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race one with No. 1 Alta Engen. Excellent draw, small field and good form adds up to another win in my book.”
And King agrees with Harding.
“Alta Engen is facing his stiffest test, but I expect he’ll pass with flying colours,” King said. “He’s always been a horse that can sustain a high speed for some time, and the pole draw only helps his cause. From the lead, he will be mighty hard to beat.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has gone to the other end of the 10-event card by making Always An Angel his best bet.
“Class filly Always An Angel is unlikely to be troubled by an outside barrier when she pursues her 11th win in an 18-start career,” Manning said. “The Justin Prentice-trained three-year-old overcame tough runs to win after drawing gates nine and eight in her last two appearances. She faced the breeze on August 27 and endured a three-wide run two weeks ago. To be driven by Gary Hall Jr, she can add to a tally of four wins from her past five starts.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Fanci A Dance in the second race.
“Fanci A Dance has the good draw and his form since returning has been outstanding,” Young said. “This looks a great race for him here.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas has opted for Alta Louisa as his star bet for the night.
“Alta Louisa has resumed racing after a spell in wonderful form with four wins and a third placing from five starts,” Casellas said. “I’m making the Justin Prentice-trained mare my best bet this week when she meets strong opposition from Star Of Diamonds, Wainui Creek and Mandy Joan in the fourth event at Gloucester Park. She has drawn inside those three quality mares and I’m sure Gary Hall Jr will be anxious to use her good gate speed to enable her to have the advantage of racing ahead of them throughout the 2130m journey.”
Media Guild president Wayne Currall believes Lord Rosco can find winning form in race eight.
“This race race represents a drop in class for Lord Rosco,” Currall said. “The Stephen Reed-trained six-year-old gelding hasn’t saluted for almost a year and will have his fourth change of driver in as many starts. Champion reinsman Chris Lewis is in the cart this week and with the addition of the hood-type blinkers, I’m confident ACL can spear Lord Rosco to the front and record an all-the-way victory.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes up in race two with another No. 1 in Fanci A Dance. Again another horse with good form, a great barrier and Chris Voak aboard. Should win well.
HAYDEN: The FFA throws up more questions than answers. Horses returning from injury, will those battle-worn ligaments be as efficient as they once were? Others resuming from layoffs, will they have the necessary fitness to endure the gruelling 2536m trip? Thats Perfect has fitness, given his two runs in. He also has form, evidenced by his strong late work last start behind Magnificent Storm. Moreover, he has the draw advantage, which could be enough to vanquish his five rivals.
ERNIE: Four-year-old Adda Spoilt Major has not won in his past 20 starts, but barrier two boosted prospects of him breaking through for a victory. The Mike Reed-trained gelding looked in top order when a Gloucester Park runner-up at his last three appearances. He fought on gamely after facing the breeze last Tuesday night.
MATT: High Price has trialled up nicely and has a good draw. I’m expecting a big run on debut here.
KEN: For value, I suggest Euphoria from the inside of the back line in race five. He should obtain a perfect run behind the likely pacemaker Regal Cheval and gets a great opportunity to end a sequence of four second placings.
WAYNE: Alta Rhett has been racing well without much luck. He’s drawn to get a cushy run, maybe three back the pegs in race two. From there Nathan Turvey can bring him with one sprint and he could surprise at odds.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.