Long shot king Pat Harding found Ima Rocknroll Legend last week and he duly saluted at the juicy odds of $13.40 and $3.30 for the place. "Great to steer harness racing punters into Ima Rocknroll Legend," Harding said. "Couldn't believe it paid so well – don't often get that about a Gary Hall-trained horse."
Harding, a long-time member of the WA Trotting Media Guild, believes punters can get off to a great start in the second at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Cerato. "He's been badly drawn at his past two starts, but coming out of gate two this week gives him a great each-way chance," Harding said. "Later in the program, Allamerican Queen, trained and driven by Justice Prentice, is another good each-way bet. She has a bit of form and should give punters a good sight."
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe has labelled Sarah Goody as his best for the night. "She had a hard run at her last start when she finished fifth," Lowe said. "Was impressive when an all-the-way winner in 1.54.3 at her previous run. Likely to lead here and should be very hard to beat." Lowe believes Our Jericho could get out to a good price. "He ran his best race for some time when third to Chicago Bull in fast time two weeks ago," he said. "Draw brings him in with each-way claims."
Sunday Times scribe Robbie Dewar is a fan of Stroganoff. "He gets his chance to break an eight-run losing streak on Friday night," Dewar said. "He's drawn nicely in gate one and could lead like he did last week – but he's not opposed to an Abraxas Blues this week." Dewar thinks Four Legged Frenzy offers value in the last. "She hasn't won in 14 starts but last week's close second to Mako Shadow gives her a great chance to break through," he said.
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley has advised punters to follow champion reinsmen Chris Lewis and Gary Hall Jr on Friday night. "My best bets are Sarah Goody, Fanci A Dance and El Hombre -all good drives for Chris," Brindley said. "Chicago Bull is a great drive for Gary and Beaudiene Boaz and Soho Wall Street can give him a winning treble."
Brindley likes infinite Symbol for some value. "She's drawn well and is a good each-way chance," he said. "Together with Three Blind Mice and Bettors Reward they appeal as a good all-up place bet."
The West Australian's Ernie Manning and Media Guild president Wayne Currall are Chicago Bull fans. "I think Chicago Bull is shaping to be WA's best hope in the Inter Dominion Championship later this year," Manning said. "He brilliantly won the Fremantle Pacing Cup and WA Pacing Cup last January, then returned with a highly impressive victory on June 9. "Trainer Gary Hall is keeping him ticking along with a brief winter campaign before he spells and then begins his Inters preparation. Hall has astutely elected to give him non-ambitious goals at this stage and the horse should come through in fine style, fully primed to be aimed at the Inters."
Manning likes Chevrons Champion for a bit of value. "She appears to be regaining zest for in-form trainer Nathan Turvey and I think she is a sound value bet," he said. "The four-year-old, a winner of 12 races, is on a 10-run losing streak. In fact, she was not placed in five starts leading up to her second over 1730m at Gloucester Park last Saturday night. But it seems Turvey could be about to turn the tide with her."
Currall has waited until the last event for his value selection. "Atlastalone drops a good deal in class in the last on the card," he said. "Drawn wide but has the services of in-form concession driver Michael Grantham and could surprise at odds."
Wayne Currall