WA Media Guild Friday’s thoughts

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild believe punters can get off to a flyer at Friday night’s harness racing meeting at Gloucester Park.

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Longshot guru Pat Harding has made High Price in the opening event his best bet on the 10-event card.

“It certainly was a favourites night at GP last week – this week I expect barrier one to see a large number of winners,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race one with No. 1 High Price. With Gary Hall Jr back from suspension, I think he will start the program with a good win.”

And veteran journalist Ken Casellas is keen on another polemarker in Arma Einstein in the second race.

“Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist, solved many problems during his distinguished career, and I’m convinced that star reinsman Colin Brown will solve the conundrum of four-year-old pacer Arma Einstein’s inability to win a race from the prized No. 1 barrier when he drives the gelding from the inside barrier in the 1730m Gold Medal Xmas Ham Pace on Friday night,” Casellas said. “Brown is a great frontrunning reinsman and I’m tipping him to set the pace and score a well-deserved win with Arma Einstein, my best bet on the program. For the record, Arma Einstein has started from barrier one four times for two seconds, one third and a seventh placing.”

Guild president Wayne Currall has moved away from the No.1 horse in race three, but hopes to keep the ball rolling by making Manning his star bet.

“Manning drops in class for this assignment and the longer trip should suit him down to the ground,” Currall said. “The last time he started over the 2536m he drew gate four – the same gate he starts from on Friday night – and put a good field to the sword. I expect Maddison Brown to drive him assertively, like the best horse in the race.”

TABradio’s “whiz kids” – Matt Young and Hayden King – have moved back to the polemarker in race four with Lawrence as their standout bet.

“Lawrence is back to a mobile and has come up with the perfect draw,” Young said. “Should lead and win.”

And King agrees.

“Lawrence meets a strong line-up but, courtesy of gate one, he should be able to lead throughout,” King said. “He was always at it chasing a hot speed last week and it told – prior to that he was a comprehensive victor.”

The West Australian’s Ernie Manning aims to keep the ball rolling in race five with another horse starting from the coveted pole.

“Highly talented Papinik looks set for a successful transition to fast-class ranks after his Pinjarra Cup second and barrier one in the Governor’s Cup is a significant bonus,” Manning said. “The Ross Olivieri-trained six-year-old gelding, with 13 wins from 22 starts, notched an impressive Fremantle Pacing Cup Consolation victory recently. He quickly rebounded from a WA Pacing Cup ninth and seems assured of a bright future in feature events.”

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has made it five polemarkers from six from the Media Guild’s specials. (Maybe Harding’s prediction will eventuate).

“American Monarch hasn’t done anything wrong in her three starts so far, finishing runner-up in her heat then just missing the placings when held up in the Sales Classic Final,” Havercroft said. “Last week she raced in the breeze when third to Flametree and the inside barrier here in a five-horse field presents a great opportunity for the daughter of American Ideal to discard her maiden status.”

VALUE BETS

PAT: My double comes up in race seven with No. 2 C C Chevron. I am sticking with her because I believe she has a win in her and this could be the race.

KEN: For value, I suggest Son Of A Whiz, who makes strong appeal as the pacemaker in the Trotters Sprint. He has the natural speed to make it tough for Tricky Ric, Beefour Bacardi and Majestic Dream.

WAYNE: The Cheyenne King-Davies trained Nullarbor Navajo has been in career-best form in the country with seven wins and two seconds from her past 10 starts. The five-year-old mare is drawn to get a soft run and deserves her chance to shine in town.

MATT: Deeorse is nicely drawn again and if he gets the splits he could upset them here.

HAYDEN: A multi this week; five leaders and winners: Arma Einstein in the second, Lawrence in the fourth, Eighteen Carat in the eighth, Dont Bother Me None in the ninth and American Monarch in the last.

ERNIE: Allwoods Rocknroll has not won in his past 21 starts, but should not be underrated with a gate four draw. The gelding faced a tough task when unplaced from barrier nine two starts ago. He had difficulty getting clear after starting off the second line last Friday night and could have finished better than seventh.

RYAN: Awaitinginstructions has been flying of late, winning the Busselton and Williams cups in his last two outings. It’s harder in town but winning form is good form and 2536m brings the back-line runners into the event.

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

Good punting.