No fast-class event at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but we do see the running of The Lewis Retravision Fillies & Mares Pace (2130m).
The Group 3 feature worth $30,000 has attracted a strong line-up.
However, members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have sidestepped the main race on the nine-event card when selecting their best bets.
Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by backing Cabsav in the first.
“Trainer Mike Reed should have this two-year-old filly at her peak at her fourth run back from a spell,” Currall said.
“And she’s drawn to lead from the inside gate. She’s the one they all have to get over.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas is keen on Moonlite Drive in the third.
“Moonlite Drive excels as a frontrunner, and he’s my best bet this week to take full advantage of the No.1 barrier in race three,” Casellas said. “The 2536m journey won’t worry him; he has had four starts over this distance for three wins and a second.”
Longshot guru Pat Harding has settled on Boom Time as his star bet.
“With just nine races at GP this Friday night competition should be interesting,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race six with No. 2 Boom Time. Second up after a spell and with only seven runners he should live up to his name.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and that newspaper’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft are firmly in the camp of Vespa.
“Smart six-year-old Vespa has been beaten at his past six starts, but gets the chance to score a ninth Gloucester Park win for trainer Michael Young after drawing gate three,” Manning said. “He started from gate six on July 8 and became held up before finishing ninth. Last Friday night, he ran a creditable fifth from his second-row draw, The gelding will be driven by Gary Hall Jr, who has considerable success with Young-trained pacers.”
And Havercroft agrees with his colleague.
“Vespa looks to have found a winnable race with most of his market rivals drawn wider,” Havercroft said. “The son of Mach Three led and won from this barrier seven starts ago and I can’t imagine The Kraken is going well enough to want to resist an early challenge for the lead.”
However, TABradio’s Matt Young sees the same trainer getting the chocolates but with a different horse.
“Orlando Blue is third up from a spell and there looks to be some pace on early,” Young said. “He will be put into the race at some stage and I think he can get his first victory this prep.”
Young’s colleague at TABradio, Hayden King, is playing the patient game and waiting until the last to unleash.
“Machs Gold hasn't been at his top but strikes his big chance to bounce back,” King said. “He comes up with the pole in a race where leading is most of the battle and, providing he makes no early errors, should go all the way.”
VALUE BETS
WAYNE: Euphoric Moment won first-up after almost nine months away from the track. He is drawn to get a soft run behind likely leader Blissfullabbey and can surprise at good odds.
KEN: For value, I suggest Zephyra in the opening event. She is awkwardly drawn at barrier six, but this is not a concern. Her forte is her brilliant sit-sprint capacity.
PAT: My double comes up in race seven with No. 4 Rupert Of Lincoln. He is overdue for a win and should give the Ross Olivieri/Chris Voak combination a back-to-back race double.
ERNIE: Gov Starzzz has shown encouraging signs in recent weeks that he could be ready to regain form. The gelding, beaten in his past 21 races, came from a second-row draw to finish fourth at Pinjarra last Monday. He ran a Pinjarra fifth early this month.
RYAN: Machs Gold is a pegs horse and Dylan Egerton-Green is sure to want to use the inside draw to advantage. Can improve sharply here.
MATT: Our Lililou raced the boys and held her own last week. She has drawn close enough and could surprise racing back against her own sex.
HAYDEN: Goodfellaz draws softly over the long trip and this horse is highly progressive. He could be at OK odds and will take beating.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.