Only eight races at Gloucester Park for the twilight Easter Cup meeting on Friday, but it’s a card packed full of interest.
The $50,000 Easter Cup (2503m) is the feature event – a Group 3 standing-start race where getting away from the strands will prove vital for victory.
Two members of the WA Trotting Media Guild – TABradio’s Matt Young and veteran tipster Pat Harding – have made Taking The Miki their best bet in the feature.
“Taking The Miki was devastating in her all-the-way win from the stand last week,” Young said. “The Oaks winner should run to the top again with a safe getaway and then Chris Voak will rate her perfectly to hold out the dangers.”
Harding sees the race panning out in a similar fashion.
“A pretty low-key Easter meeting at GP but nevertheless should be interesting,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race six, the Easter Cup. Taking The Miki has two wins from a spell and is ideally placed from barrier five to win again with Chris Voak aboard.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas, a proud part-owner of last week’s Empress Stakes winner Simply Shaz, has made Sweet Ivy his best for the night.
“New Zealand-bred filly Sweet Ivy conceded age and experience to her nine rivals at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon when she proved superior to those mares with a smart victory after getting to the front 400m after the start,” Casellas said. “The Sarah Wall-trained three-year-old should appreciate racing against her age group when she contests the opening event, over 1730m, at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon, and therefore I am more than happy to make her my best bet.”
Guild president Wayne Currall believes Nevermindthechaos can make amends for her unlucky unplaced run in last week’s Empress Stakes.
“Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong for Nevermindthechaos,” Currall said. “She was always going to draw the river in this preferential barrier draw event, but she has class on her side and I think she can dominate in this race. Will start short but should be winning.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, believes Arma Einstein can make it back-to-back wins.
“Arma Einstein, who broke an eight-race losing run when winning impressively last Friday night, gets the chance to score his second victory in seven days,” Manning said. “The Colin Brown-trained gelding finished powerfully from three-back last week and showed the ability which has enabled him to win 12 events at headquarters.”
The racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, Ryan Havercroft, is keen on Rascal in race eight.
“Rascal has found the right race to end a nine-start losing streak with very little exposed form among his rivals,” Havercroft said. “Resumed last Friday when making some ground late from the back of the field. Drawn to be near the speed and from there should be hard to beat.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Jumpingjackmac could be a forgotten commodity on his last two efforts. This is a hotly-contested event and he could get out to a silly price. A must in the quaddie and something small on for interest.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with No. 2 Lavra Joe. He has shown a return to form in his last three starts and I think can add another win to the belt.
KEN: For value, I suggest Stormyskyes in the final event, in which she is sure to enjoy the prized No. 1 barrier. She caught the eye last Friday night when she finished with a spirited burst to be a close fourth behind Tuas Delight.
WAYNE: Alfa Prince had a torrid run in the stand last week after an unsuccessful challenge for the lead. If he finds the top in the Easter Cup he can run a race at big odds.
ERNIE: Sunshine Swift has not won in her past 32 starts, but she drew attention when finishing second after racing three-wide at Gloucester Park on March 28. The six-year-old is capable of registering her first victory since a Bunbury win almost two years ago.
RYAN: Valentines Brook should be sitting just off them in what looks to be an intriguing free-for-all. A quiet trip over the staying trip could see him run into the placings at juicy each-way odds.
Click here to view all the Medial Guild tips for this week.
Good punting over Easter.