The last time the members of the WA Trotting Media Guild all had different best bets, I had a $10 all up on their selections (I left my selection out).
The first five legs came in and I had The War Nurse running for $2400 – not a bad return for my $10 outlay. Unfortunately, The War Nurse was a casualty and faded to finish out of the money after leading for most of the race.
This week at Gloucester Park, a similar scenario has emerged and, once again, I’ll be throwing a $10 all up on the six best bets (I’ll leave my selection out again).
Veteran tipster and multiple winner of the Guild’s tipping competition Ken Casellas gets the ball rolling with Son Of A Tiger in race two.
“Son Of A Tiger, a winner at six of his first 10 starts in WA, has been plagued by bad draws and has been unplaced at his past five outings,” Casellas said. “He has drawn out wide at barrier eight on Friday night, but is overdue for a change of fortune. The New Zealand-bred five-year-old, to be driven by Chris Voak for trainer Matt Scott, is my best bet to buck the odds and return to the winning list against modest opposition. He is capable of sustaining a powerful finishing burst.”
TABradio’s form expert Hayden King, a man of few words, believes Speed Man can bounce back to winning form in the fourth.
“Speed Man draws favourably and gets his chance to lead this week,” King said. ”I think he can dictate throughout and turn over some of his better-credentialed adversaries.“
Longshot guru Pat Harding is the next cab off the rank and he believes Taroona Bromac can win the Group 1 $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget.
“Should be another great night for the Greg and Skye Bond camp with at least four winners,” Harding said. “My best bet of the night comes up in the Golden Nugget. Last week saw another impressive win for the Bond-trained Taroona Bromac. Coming out of barrier five for the 2536 metre journey should give this horse an opportunity to be well placed to record yet another win.”
TABradio racecaller Matt Young steps up next and he is keen on Rosies Ideal in race six.
“Rosies Ideal was unlucky in her last two runs in top mares company,” Young said. “She comes down in grade and is versatile. Expecting to see her back in the winners circle.”
Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart’s best of the night is Ideal Liner in the ninth.
“An early Xmas present for trainer Gary Hall here with Ideal Liner dropping back from open company to a conditioned race and drawing ideally in barrier two,” Wishart said. “Will be winning and hopefully by a considerable margin.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning rounds out the sixth best bet of the night in the last with Kiwi Bloke.
“New Zealand import Kiwi Bloke, a Pinjarra winner at four of six WA starts, now looks set for city successes,” Manning said. “The six-year-old is expected to improve on his close second when making a Gloucester Park debut last Friday night. He is shaping to be yet another profitable proposition for trainer Ross Olivieri and Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth.”
(At the current odds, a $10 all up investment would return a tidy $35,840, if all six horses salute).
Guild president Wayne Currall, whose tipping record this season leaves a lot to be desired, is keen on Saleahs Comand in the opening event.
“Lindsay Harper should be able to get an easier lead this week with Saleahs Comand,” Currall said. “The horse had to go too hard to hold the front last week in a sprint race and was left vulnerable over the last 100 metres. Will prove hard to run down with a couple of 30 plus quarters.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: For value, I suggest Brett Smith’s reliable and versatile campaigner McArdles Gem in race one in which he is sure to enjoy starting from the coveted No. 1 barrier. He certainly has the ability to upset the short-priced favourite and noted frontrunner Saleahs Comand.
HAYDEN: Sangue Reale may not have been in the conversation for this race a month ago, but he is thriving throughout this campaign. He is going from strength to strength and he draws exceedingly well.
PAT: My value bet of the night comes up in race nine with No. 3 Zennart. Lauren Jones has a habit of bobbing up on Hall-trained horses and I think he is well placed in a small field to give punters good value.
MATT: Im Soxy is a great each-way chance. He’s been unlucky his past two runs and has drawn to get a good run.
WARREN: Black Jack Zac (10) has the perfect draw for him to trail the speed, importantly on the pegs. With clear running he can win and will be at each-way odds.
ERNIE: Zennart has not won in his past six starts, but should be considered after nine wins and five places from 25 Gloucester Park appearances. The Gary Hall-trained veteran was racing only second-up when facing the breeze last week and he can be excused for running unplaced.
WAYNE: Perennial placegetter Robb Stark hasn’t won since May, but he draws to get the run of the race behind likely leader Whoswhointhezoo. He loves the pegs and will be finishing hard.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good Punting
Wayne Currall