WA Media Guild thoughts 23 October

Looks like a tough night to find winners at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but a few members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have settled on the same best bets for the 10-event card.

Radio Great Southern’s form analyst and leader in the Guild’s tipping competition Warren Wishart and TABradio’s Matt Young have declared Vampiro in race five.

“My best bet is No. 1 in race five, Vampiro,” Wishart said. “Been waiting for this guy to draw a gate and he finally gets that here. He is going well but, as we saw last preparation, he went to a new level leading in the State’s features and finished no further back than second. Should lead and win. Followers of the column have had a golden six weeks – let’s hope that can continue.”

And Young echoes those comments.

“Vampiro has come up with the perfect draw and gets reacquainted with Colin Brown,” Young said. “No question marks over whether he will go forward this week – he will lead and win over the longer trip.”

Veteran trotting journalist Ken Casellas, fresh after a week’s sojourn down south, is keen on Quick Stride in the last race on the program.

“Five-year-old Quick Stride has managed just one win from his past 21 starts, but he should appreciate a drop in class and is my best bet at on Friday night when he will start from the inside of the back line in the final event,” Casellas said. “The Ross Olivieri-trained gelding had no luck at all last Friday night when he raced three back on the pegs and was badly hampered for room in the last lap when fifth behind Lord Rosco.“

However, The West Australian’s Racing Co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and longshot guru Pat Harding don’t abide with Casellas’ summing up of the race. They are both in the camp of Marquisard, who has drawn the pole.

“Marquisard resumed last week from a middle draw and only emerged late to catch a few runners in the closing stages,” Havercroft said. “He does his best racing on the speed and, having the inside barrier, should be right there for his second-up assignment.”

And Harding agrees with his younger colleague.

“Looks like a tough night at GP this Friday night with no obvious standouts,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in the last race of the night with No. 1 Marquisard. He ran eighth to Liam Neil first-up last week, but is ideally drawn here and with Chris Voak aboard, who has a habit of winning the last race, I expect a forward showing.”

The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has opted for the speedy Lord Rosco as his best bet for the night.

“Lord Rosco, looking primed to score his eighth win in nine starts, has become one of WA’s most consistent pacers since joining Stephen Reed’s stable a year ago,” Manning said. “His overall tally in 23 starts for Reed is 12 wins, five seconds, three thirds and two fourths. The gelding was most impressive when he led and won last Friday night.”

Guild president Wayne Currall has settled on Mister Flying Ideal in the stand as his star bet.

“Ryan Warwick, the stable foreman for the Bond stable, had the choice of drives between J B Mauney and Flying Mister Ideal and he chose the latter,” Currall said. “That’s a very good lead for punters and Flying Mister Ideal is quick away from the tapes and can post an all-the-way victory.”

VALUE BETS

WARREN: Best value race 10 No. 1 Marquisard. Looks another good night for saddlecloth 1 and we know Marquisard improves when he’s on the pegs. Doesn’t have the figure form so will be overlooked by many and get out in the market. Will give a great sight.

MATT: The last race is an open affair with a bit of speed in the event. I am going to give Henwood Bay another chance. Even from the awkward draw, he should be value and is capable.

KEN: For value, I suggest Star Fromthepalace in the opening event, in which she will start from the outside of the back line. She is wonderfully consistent and has resumed from a spell in fine style. Her past 10 starts have produced five wins and three placings.

RYAN: Look for Stroke Of Luck to be sitting on Vampiro’s back and enjoying a run which should see him earning a minor cheque.

PAT: My value bet comes in race three with No. 4 Liam Neil. He had an excellent win last week and I expect him to make it three wins in a row. He should be at a good price.

ERNIE: Henwood Bay looked ready to win when placed two starts ago and his eighth last Friday night can be discarded. His sulky locked wheels and sustained a flat tyre. The gelding is a winner only once from his past 13 starts, but he has a total of 15 victories.

WAYNE: Last week I threw out Euphoric Moment as my value tip and he almost got the money at good odds. He’ll be at double-figure odds on Friday night and he can go one better with an ounce of luck in running.

To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.

Good punting. 

Wayne Currall