Punters are in for a treat at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the running of the Group 2 $50,000 August Cup (2536m) and the Group 1 $100,000 Pearl Classic Final (2130m) for the two-year-olds.
The features have thrown up odds-on favourites, but there’s no shortage of class runners going around in both races.
WA Trotting Media Guild members Pat Harding and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believe Lavra Joe can post an all-the-way victory in the August Cup.
“Looks like another chilly night at GP this Friday and winners look a bit hard to find,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race four in the August Cup. Lavra Joe showed he was back to his best with a fine win last week and coming out of barrier one I expect him to win again.”
Havercroft sees the race in a similar light.
“Lavra Joe broke through in Open Class last week when leading from barrier six,” Havercroft said. “In the August Cup the Ray Jones-trained gelding has barrier one and will be dictating terms again as he looks to bring up his 24th victory and take his earnings beyond $350,000.”
Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Boom Time in race two.
“Boom Time returned to winning form last start when he led all the way,” Currall said. “I expect driver Chris Voak will employ similar tactics here from his good draw in gate two. This is definitely a better field than he beat earlier this month, but if he gets to an early lead then he’s the one they all have to gun down.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and Sunday Times, have made Eighteen Carat their best bet for the evening.
“Eighteen Carat has shown abundant early speed to set the pace and win at each of her past three starts, but she faces an acid test on Friday night when she has drawn out wide at barrier eight in race three,” Casellas said. “Whether she will be able to cross to an early lead is extremely problematic. But I’m making her my best bet because I’m confident that her class will prevail, whether she is able to get to the front or whether she is held up for a late charge.”
And Manning agrees.
“Five-year-old New Zealand import Eighteen Carat has developed into a class mare with four Gloucester Park wins from five WA starts,” Manning said. “She has led in each of her victories at headquarters and possesses the early pace to settle in a commanding position despite having to overcome gate eight this week. Trainer Michael Young has sharply improved the bay after she arrived in Perth with a tally of five wins from 38 races.”
VALUE BETS
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No. 1 James Butt. He is resuming after a spell but had some good form before that. With only a small field he should give Chris Voak a good win as a trainer/driver.
RYAN: Joey James led and was just run down in the BOTRA Cup before a close-up fourth in the Marathon Handicap in his last two behind the strands. Reliable at the start which should see him near the pace at good odds.
WAYNE: I reckon Joey James is each-way all day in the stand. Cooper and Master Yossi will be ahead of him in the market, but he can surprise at good odds.
KEN: For value, I suggest Power And Grace in the final event. Nothing went right last week when he was shuffled back in the field and was badly blocked for a clear passage until the final 120m before he battled on into fifth place behind Tuas Delight.
ERNIE: Medieval Man has won only one of his past 17 races and is on an eight-run losing streak. But there was merit in his performance last Friday night when he finished second after facing the breeze. The gelding is a winner of 15 races, including six at Gloucester Park.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.