Trent’s Tips – Gloucester Park 19th December

Gloucester Park has a 10-race card on Friday night, headlined by the Christmas Belles and Christmas Gift.

Both feature races are worth $50,000 in prize money – the Christmas Gift will be race five on the program and the Listed Christmas Belles for the mares will be the sixth race.

Here is our race-by-race Gloucester Park harness racing preview for Friday, December 19.

 

Race 1

THELITTLE MASTER (9) draws the outside barrier over the sprint journey which is not normally a recipe for success at Gloucester Park. However, the Greg and Skye Bond-trained four-year-old gelding is racing well – his sectionals recently are the best in the race, consistently sprinting home in around 56 seconds. With some early speed in the race, Deni Roberts may be able to find a three-wide cart home in order to sprint over the top of them late.

WHOS THE DAD (1) has not won since August 2024, but his last three runs have been full of merit and draws the inside barrier. There is speed to his outside and he may be crossed early but can figure in the finish whether able to lead or trail with Chris Voak driving. Strong each-way claims.

FLYING RUMOUR (2) was placed three runs back behind Arma Believer which is a good form line. His most recent run was a seventh-placed finish where he was never in the hunt – found the line well in a 27.9 last quarter. Shannon Suvaljko has options from barrier two.

ILLAWONG MUSTANG (3) will need to cross in order to be a winning chance and he is quick, so it definitely could happen. HEAVENLY WAGE (6) is another with winning claims and the first race is very competitive so I would go wide in an Early Quaddie.

Tips: 9-1-2-6

THELITTLE MASTER (9) to win

 

Race 2

PUSHBUTTON ROCK (1) gets the inside barrier and Gary Hall Jnr has picked up the drive for trainer Nathan Turvey. She has won two of her last five starts and looks set to run a big race as she jumps up in grade. I’m giving her the nod but with very low confidence as this is an extremely competitive race and I could make a case for almost everything in the field.

NORTHVIEW DANCE NZ (3) was excellent at his resumption when third to My Watchlist. Trainer Chris Voak elects to drive FAT LOUIE NZ (8) who does look the better prospect if you ignored the draws – from their respective starting gates, I can’t split them. Both have claims in the race.

SWEET IVY NZ (2) should get a soft run throughout and could surprise at a price too. I haven’t mentioned a few other key chances. This is a race where I have little confidence in who to side with so I will not suggest any specific tip for the race.

Tips: 1-3-8-2

No Tip

 

Race 3

SORRIDERE (7) has been runner up twice in a row and drops back in class tonight after his narrow second to Rolling Fire who contests the FFA. Trainer-driver Aiden De Campo will have options from the wide draw as the gelding can fly the gate or go back and come with a mid-race or late run. Either way, his recent form suggests he is ready to win.

SPYGLASS NZ (3) would love to lead for trainer-driver Lindsay Harper, and he will be in the firing line after a pair of bad barriers put him out of play in recent weeks. Like Sorridere, he is an NR 100+, which makes this class suitable. Should run well.

SOHO VESPER LIND (1) has strong place claims as she can hand up to a more fancied runner. They tried leading two starts back which looked the right call on paper, but the mare didn’t perform, so getting back to her preferred racing style of racing with a sit looks optimal to her chances of finishing on the podium.

TIGER ROYAL NZ (6), INSTA GATOR (5), INFINITE SIGN (4), and IMA FIVESTAR GENERAL NZ (9) all have enough talent to win here if the race is run to suit.

Tips: 7-3-1-6

SORRIDERE (7) to win

 

Race 4

ROLLING FIRE (1) has had a good campaign in FFA company and got a deserved win last start from barrier 12 when racing for luck three back on the pegs, getting a late gap and charging home for driver Trent Wheeler. The Justin Prentice-trained five-year-old gelding has the inside draw and will be trying to hold up at the start. Provided he can hold up early, which I think he can, Rolling Fire should prove hardest to beat.

GOLDEN LODE NZ (6) is one of two Bond runners in the race and Deni Roberts reunites after the pair were successful from the breeze two starts ago. Barrier nine was no obstacle on that occasion as they rated 1:55.6, 56.6, to defeat Star Casino and Bettors Pride. Main danger to Rolling Fire in this event.

GEE HEZA SPORT NZ (8) has a stack of class and is the other Bond runner in the race. Stuart McDonald continues to drive the seven-year-old gelding – Golden Lode was fourth and Gee Heza Sport was 10th in the WA Pacing Cup last start. Not sure what they do from the draw but may press forward to give Golden Lode some cover. Each-way claims.

MAGNUS VICTOR (10) trails Rolling Fire and he loves this sort of a run. He has better place claims than a horse like Gee Heza Sport due to the draw, although the other horse is a bit more brilliant. If he gets a crack at them, could be dangerous late.

Tips: 1-6-10-8

ROLLING FIRE (1) to win

 

Race 5

(8) MENEMSHA was an excellent third to THE IRON DUKE (6) and ARMA BELIEVER (10) in the first qualifier of the Christmas Gift. He pressed forward to race outside Arma Believer and finished third, beaten just 2.9m. Before that, Menemsha was ninth in the J P Stratton Cup at Group 2 level. He is versatile and happy to be on at around the $6 mark in another wide-open race for the meeting.

NATHAN STREET (9) showed some of his eastern state credentials last start when getting his first Gloucester Park win. He sat back and ran home in 27.4 and 28.3 to get the victory in second qualifier. Likely to be driven the same away and will be dangerous with a cart into the race.

MAUNGATAHI (7) has won two in a row, and he will need to be brilliant in order to make it a third despite winning the fourth qualifier. He can run the gate but there is good speed inside with BLAZE AWAY (2) and BLAZING REACTOR NZ (5) expected to show early speed. More likely to restrain early and try to emulate his win last time by sitting back and sprinting home.

Plenty more hopes in the race too – this will not be easy to find the winner.

Tips: 8-9-7-6

(8) MENEMSHA each way

 

Race 6

PENNY BLACK NZ (9) has been one of the premier mares all season and that earned her a spot in the WA Pacing Cup where the barrier draw put her out of commission. She will appreciate not chasing Minstrel or Magnificent Storm around as she competes in the Christmas Belles. Despite the car park, she is versatile against her own sex and gets the nod here.

AARDIEBYTHESEASIDE NZ (8) has been one of the benchmark mares for a few seasons now in WA and she proved too good last time. Both her and Penny Black have a lot of class on rivals here – Aardiebytheseaside will be looking to stay in front of Penny Black throughout to gain an advantage. Can’t back her at $2.10 though.

DAME VALOUR (1) was excellent last start behind Aardiebytheseaside and barrier one is perfect. She led throughout to defeat Infinite Sign and Cordero three starts ago in just moderate time, but her last start showed she can run time when running personal splits in 1:57.2, 55.0, 26.6. Has each-way claims from the draw.

MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (4) and HEAVENLY GIPSY (7) are the other key runners in the Christmas Belles.

Tips: 9-8-1-4

PENNY BLACK NZ (9) to win

Trifecta: 1,8,9 / 1,8,9 / 1,4,7,8,9,10

 

Race 7

QUINTON (2) should find the front from barrier two over the sprint journey and prove hard to catch. He has been racing in harder company and will appreciate facing this line up from a good draw. All his recent form reads well, finishing within a few lengths of the winner each time in good sectionals. Won’t find a better chance to notch his seventh career win.

ROCK ME OVER (1) should enjoy a soft peg line trip, and his recent form has been quite good. His run wasn’t as good as Quinton last time, so will need to find a length or so, but has each way claims from the inside draw.

MIKIS PRIDE (7) and SWEET COCO NZ (8) have drawn the two outside barriers for this contest, and both horses would have been clear favourites if you swapped them with Quinton’s draw. They can still win; it is just harder and relies on Quinton underperforming.

Tips: 2-1-7-8

QUINTON (2) to win

 

Race 8

CHAMPAGNE EVERYONE (6) looks a standout selection if she is anywhere near her peak. She has form around Little Darling, Aardiebytheseaside, Madam Publisher and Penny Black. This is a huge class drop compared to racing those good mares. She is first up for Aiden De Campo after switching from Dylan Egerton-Green and Ray Williams earlier this year. I am making her my best bet for the night.

BENJI NZ (9) has a bit of class on most of the others, and he is also dropping in grade. Drawing outside Champagne Everyone may hurt his chances of success, but he does have Gary Hall Jnr driving and his form reads well enough for this race.

GREVIS (10) will need some luck from this draw – he should have a strong finishing burst with any luck and has good place claims in the race.

SYNCHRONIZER (1) or CHACO EAGLE (4) look the early leader in the race but may relinquish if Champagne Everyone comes knocking with some authority.

Tips: 6-9-10-4

CHAMPAGNE EVERYONE (6) to win

 

Race 9

This race looks extremely hard and will only be watching based on current markets. I will still provide my four tips but take them with a grain of salt as I have very low confidence in the race.

Tips: 10-12-7-1

No Tip

 

Race 10

MASTER LEIGHTON (9) is going to need plenty of luck from the horror draw, but rates well on my sectional data. Has been battling bad draws and tough runs lately and this is likely to be the same once again. A few of the better-drawn horses may not perform well which could help Master Leighton get into the race with top young driver Abbey Vidovich driving.

MALAKIE (12) will appreciate a race like this if she can get some luck. Chris Lewis may consider putting her into the race and driven either way, she looks to have strong claims of bouncing back into some form.

MORE SASS (4) will press forward and the first plan will be to lead. Has been close in recent efforts in this grade and has strong claims once again. Should be there at the finish if she finds the fence.

Tips: 9-12-4-11

MASTER LEIGHTON (9) each way

 

Summary

Best Bet: Race 8 – CHAMPAGNE EVERYONE (6)

Next Best: Race 4 – ROLLING FIRE (1)

Best Value: Race 10 – MASTER LEIGHTON (9)

Best Roughie: None

 

For complete Gloucester Park entries, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink