WA Media Guild Friday’s Thoughts 23 December

We have two Group 2 races at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but both could be upstaged by the harness racing free-for-all clash between Diego (Bettor’s Delight) and Magnificent Storm (American Ideal).

TABradio’s Hayden King and Matt Young believe Diego, from the pole, can lower the colours of star pacer Magnficent Storm.

“Diego has drawn the revered gate No. 1 and holds the aces,” King aid. “Although he was errant last time he struck this gate, that was an anomaly and I expect him to rebound. As soon as Magnificent Storm moves, Maddison Brown will be moving briskly to make it sectionally strenuous on the Sandgroper superstar. I think she can inflict enough hurt to reveal a chink in the armour of WA’s best pacer.”

And Young agrees.

“Diego has the perfect draw and will have to be good to beat the outstanding Magnificent Storm, but I think he can and am very keen on him,” Young said.

Veteran tipster Pat Harding has made Strauny his best bet.

“Last week was extremely tough for punters and tipsters alike and I have the feeling that this last meeting before Christmas may not bring a lot of joy either,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race two with No. 3 Strauny. He’s had two good wins in a row and with Chris Voak aboard should make it three.”

Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Rockaball in race three.

“The Caris Hamilton-Smith-trained Rockaball is well placed to record his first victory since a short let-up,” Currall said. “His fourth behind Glenledi Chief last Friday night was an encouraging effort. He drops in class and has drawn well in gate three for this assignment.”

Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas has made the consistent Eighteen Carat his best for the night.

“Eighteen Carat is a quality mare who has drawn poorly at her three previous outings when she has been forced to endure tough runs in defeat, and again she has an awkward barrier at No. 5 in the Christmas Belles on Friday night,” Casellas said. “There is an abundance of speed to her inside, and if she is able to find a forward position in the one-wide line, she should unwind a powerful finish and prove hard to beat. She will be at excellent odds and is my star bet of the night.”

Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, believes Glenledi Chief can make it successive wins.

“Glenledi Chief bounced back from a nine-run losing sequence to win last Friday night and barrier one gives him the chance to record his second victory in a week,” Manning said. “There is no doubting the ability of the gelding, who began racing in Perth last year. He notched 11 wins and four seconds in his first 17 WA starts.”

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft will keep his powder dry until the last race on the card.

“Trotter Tricky Ric has been a model of consistency this campaign, going undefeated through five starts,” Havercroft said. “His mobile and standing start barrier manners have been faultless and he has the class to overcome the wide draw to make it 11 wins from 14 starts this season.”

VALUE BETS

HAYDEN: Beat City, affectionately known as Elvis, was the tactical eyebrow-raiser last start, but justified the ingenuity of trainer Michael Young. Beat City could be the cestui que of damage dealt by the inside barriers early. He is versatile and fit. This Elvis will not be caught with his pants down.

MATT: Withoutthetuh is racing well and has a lovely draw in an open race, which means he could fly under the radar.

PAT: My double comes in race seven with No. 1 Glenledi Chief. With a win last start and the inside barrier and only a six-horse race he  should record a convincing win.

WAYNE: The Amber Hare ran a great race in last week’s Golden Nugget. If she can reproduce anything like that then she has to be hard to beat back against her own sex.

KEN: For value, I suggest Sugar Street, drawn out wide at barrier seven in the Christmas Gift. His wins at his first two appearances after a spell have been impressive, and I’m confident he will fight out the finish.

ERNIE: Patronus Star, a winner only once in his past 18 races, is showing glimpses of a return to top form. He ran on to finish a last-start fifth against class opposition in the Village Kid Sprint, after being caught on the pegs and blocked for a run. The gelding has measured up at Group 1 level, being a Golden Nugget and Fremantle Cup placegetter.

RYAN: Whoswhointhezoo grows a leg when drawing the inside gate and often finds his way into the placings under these conditions.

Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week

Good punting and, on behalf of the WA Trotting Media Guild members, have a Merry Christmas.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Wayne Currall for Gloucester Park