There’s been a changing of the guard at the WA Trotting Media Guild.
For many years, longtime member Pat Harding has held the mantle as the longshot guru – and for good reason. He consistently comes up with the longest-priced winner each season.
However, young gun Hayden King from TABradio has stolen the longshot guru’s thunder by finding Nuclear Poker at headquarters last Friday night at the juicy odds of $32 – and he also tipped the trifecta, which paid in excess of $2000.
Hope some of the followers of this column jumped in and reaped the benefits.
Until Harding can wrest the longest-priced winner away from King, we must crown a new longshot expert – the Longshot King.
And at Gloucester Park on Friday night, which features the running of the two $100,000 Westbred Classics, the Longshot King has made brilliant filly Wonderful To Fly in the fillies division as his best bet on the 10-event card.
“Wonderful To Fly has been dealt the worst barrier for the 3YO fillies feature,” King said. “However, she has a patent class edge. It should be enough to get her home.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and the Sunday Times, believes the smart Swingband can win the colts and geldings division of the Westbred.
“Class three-year-old Swingband is capable of bouncing back from a narrow defeat last Friday night,” Manning said. “The Ryan Bell-trained gelding has showcased his talent when winning races including the 3YO Colts and Geldings Sales Classic, the Caduceus Club Classic, an Australian Pacing Gold Classic and the Pearl Classic. His career record stands at 11 wins and four places from 18 starts.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Doc Holliday in race two.
“Doc Holliday is second up and finds a really suitable race,” Young said. “I expect him to be close to the speed and out tough them late in running.”
Guild president Wayne Currall has made the speedy Al Guerrero his star bet.
“Al Guerrero has drawn the ace in race three and Kyle Harper shouldn’t have any trouble taking up the running,” Currall said. “He didn’t see out the longer trip when third behind Plutonium last month but is better suited back to 2130m. He’s the one they all have to get over.”
But former longshot guru Harding sees a different outcome.
“Looks like another tough night for tipsters and punters at GP this Friday night,” Harding said.”My best bet comes up in race three with No. 6 Mirragon. He had an excellent win last week and looks the class horse in this field to record back-to-back wins for Debbie and Chris Lewis.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas has opted for the consistent Joey James as his best for the night.
“Placings behind Cooper and Tenzing Bromac at his past two starts have been splendid efforts by Joey James, and the five-year-old gets an ideal opportunity to break through for an overdue win when he begins off the front line in the Cowden Insurance Handicap, a 2503m stand on Friday night,” Casellas said. “I’m confident Joey James will set the pace, and therefore I’m happy to make him my best bet, pitted against the Bond stable’s outstanding standing-start performer Master Yossi.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is a patient man and has kept his best bet until the last race on the program.
“Plutonium has been in irresistible form with wins at five of his last six starts and looks suited in a small field to close out the meeting,” Havercroft said. “With his stablemate Always Fast the only runner drawn to his inside, he may find his way to the top, but can also win from the breeze, evidenced by a last-start win from that position in the Group 2 Binshaw.”
VALUE BETS
HAYDEN: Fanci A Dance should not be underestimated and could be slightly forgotten by the market. His form has been of choice quality for some time.
ERNIE: Swingband’s stablemate Peligroso won only once in his final 10 starts before going for a spell three months ago, but he should not be underrated when resuming with a gate two draw. His country placings early last winter indicated he could handle a rise in grade.
MATT: Deeorse has a nice draw in the stand. If he can lob close enough he is one that could cause a boilover.
WAYNE: Arma Einstein is drawn to get a soft run in race two and can surprise at odds. His last-start third in the Binshaw was full of merit and he’ll probably go out at double-figure odds.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with No. 4 Lavra Joe. I thought he was somewhat unlucky last week but I think he can record another good win in this small field.
KEN: For value, I suggest Zazu, who is perfectly drawn at barrier one in the opening event. Zazu has finished at the rear at his first two runs after a spell when he was not suited from awkward draws. He is a proven frontrunner and will give his rivals a few headaches.
RYAN: The depth of the Westbred Classics sees smart horses jump at luxury odds and I’ll speculate on Paul Edward at bolters’s odds to run into the minors. Placed at his last five before a short let-up.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.