The $120,000 Group 1 WA Oaks (2536m) takes pride of place at Gloucester Park on Friday night and two members of the WA Trotting Media Guild believe the race is as good as run and won.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and longshot guru Pat Harding have made outstanding filly Double Expresso their best bet on an exciting 10-event card.
“Star filly Double Expresso could probably have won the WA Oaks from any barrier, and it is a bonus that she drew gate three,” Manning said. “Looking exceptional since early in her two-year-old season, she has a career tally of 12 wins from 16 starts, with five victories in her past six appearances. She beat a strong field when leading two weeks ago.”
And Harding agrees with his colleague.
“Could be a pretty tough night at GP this Friday with not too many stand outs, but my best bet of the night comes up in race five – the feature event for the three-year-old fillies,” Harding said. “The one that looks head and shoulders above the rest is Double Expresso. With her impressive record and the Ross Olivieri/Chris Lewis combination, I think she can really step up in this race.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart and Guild president Wayne Currall claim punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting the favourite.
“The Buckeye Bullet is a progressive four-year-old, who switches back to the mobile after a devastating win last week from the stand,” Wishart said. “Love the fact he’s drawn low, so he should lead and win.”
Currall concurs with Wishart.
“This preparation The Buckeye Bullet has recorded four wins and two seconds from his seven starts,” Currall said. “He’s really hit his straps and Ryan Warwick should be able to send him to the top from gate two and dictate terms out in front. He’ll be short but should be winning.”
TABradio racecaller Matt Young is very keen on Bee Seventeen in race two.
“Bee Seventeen has come up with a good barrier, finally,” Young said. “He has been racing really well against the trend of the races he has been in and I am expecting him to lead throughout on Friday night. I’m very confident.”
But hold your horses! Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas has declared Eloquent Mach in the same race.
“Unplaced at his six starts this season, including a first-up ninth at odds-on behind Saleahs Comand two weeks ago, doesn’t appear to be much recommendation for four-year-old Eloquent Mach on Friday night,” Casellas said. ”But, as the old saying goes; ’there’s no substitute for class’, and therefore I’m prepared to forgive Eloquent Mach for these below-par efforts and make him my best bet this week. I’m sure he has benefited a great deal from his first-up performance. It would be unwise to overlook his 10 wins from 16 starts last season.“
TABradio’s form expert Hayden King is keen on Pradas Ideal Dahling in race eight.
“Pradas Ideal Dahling has superb gate speed and there are question marks over the early pace of those drawn inside him,” King said. ”He was responsible for a doughty effort from the breeze last start and I think he will lead all the way this Friday.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes Taroona Bromac can overcome a wide draw in race nine.
“Taroona Bromac ruined his chances when breaking after the start in the Easter Cup,” Havercroft said. “The start before he accounted for his rivals when resuming from a spell and he should be fitter for his third-up assignment.”
VALUE BETS
ERNIE: Veteran mare Talkerup has won only once in her past 35 starts, but she should run a big race from gate one. She had barrier six and a second-line draw when unplaced in her past two races.
PAT: Marquisard has been about the place of late with not a lot of luck. With not a great deal of exposed form in the race, I think Aldo Cortopassi can steer him to victory.
WARREN: Pradas Ideal Dahling was brave in defeat last week after breezing and this looks a thinner race. Will have to do the work again but fitter for two runs back and at the indicative odds of $5 is great each-way value.
WAYNE: Mon Lillies has had three runs back from a little freshen up. She’s finished down the track in all three starts from wide gates, but she’ll appreciate the back-line draw on the pegs behind likely leader Talkerup. Can surprise at cricket-score odds.
MATT: Athabascan was a great run in the breeze a few starts ago and looks like he’ll have to do it tough again here, but this is a winnable race at odds.
KEN: Countess Grace has a touch of class and I was impressed with her wholehearted finishing burst from last to fourth behind Millwood Molly last week. She’s an each-way chance in the Race for Roses.
HAYDEN: Delightfull put in a couple of encouraging runs before breaking through on Monday at Pinjarra. She showed great acceleration after the start in a stand trial at Byford on Sunday. If she leads, I don't think they will beat her. If she sits near the speed she will go very close.
RYAN: Miss Sangrial was first over the line in last year's running of the Race for Roses before being disqualified due to a handicapping bungle. Not averse to starting off back marks and can repeat the feat.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting from home.
Wayne Currall