The Team Bond 3YO Pearl Classic (2130m) headlines a strong 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Surprisingly, there is no runner from the camp of leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond in the Group 3 $50,000 feature.
However, the race is a strong edition of the Pearl Classic with many eyes fixed on the unbeaten Sweet Lou gelding Never Ending.
The Justin Prentice-trained pacer, who has never had his colours lowered in a race or a trial, will be shooting for nine wins when champion reinsman Gary Hall Jr jumps into the bike on Friday night.
And it would take a brave man to suggest he will be rolled in the feature.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have looked elsewhere when assessing the meeting for their best bets.
Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can kick the night off with a winner by supporting Cheer The Major in the opening event.
“Polemarker Miss Serenade will probably be sent out a short-priced favourite, but I think Aiden De Campo will have the ‘handlebars down’ on Cheer The Major in an effort to take up the running over the sprint trip,” Currall said. “If Cheer The Major finds the top I think he’ll be winning the first.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, is keen on Swingband in race two.
“Swingband’s two placings since resuming from a six-month spell have both been sound,” Havercroft said. “Things didn’t pan out well for the son of Alta Christiano last week when he went back, while Prince Of Pleasure had his own way in front. The draw is key this week and Kyle Symington will be keen to dictate terms from the inside barrier.”
Veteran tipster Pat Harding, who found James Butt last week at the juicy odds of 26/1, is keen on Jett Star again.
“Nice to see some larger fields at GP this week,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race four with No. 8 Jett Star. He has won his last three and should win number four over the sprint distance.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has made Lamandier his best for the night.
“Interstate import Lamandier, a Victorian and Queensland winner, gets the chance to score his first Gloucester Park victory when trying for a second-standing start success this week,” Manning said. “He broke a nine-run losing streak when overcoming a slow start to win his Pinjarra standing-start event last Monday.”
VALUE BETS
WAYNE: Call To Arms is a seasoned standing-start performer and could run a race at a juicy each-way quote.
RYAN: Alcopony rarely runs a bad race and the early market represents appealing each-way odds. Placed at three of four starts with Emily Suvaljko steering.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with No. 6 Sorridere. Very consistent and should make it back-to-back wins.
ERNIE: Barrier one could be the key to a change of luck for Illawong Mustang, who has won at only two of 55 starts since a transfer to trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green. The gelding is on a 32-run losing streak and his owners deserve a reward for patience. Seven Victorian races were won by the bay.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.