WA Media Guild Friday’s thoughts

The $50,000 Team Bond 3YO Pearl Classic (2130m) headlines an interesting night of pacing at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The exciting Swingband will start well in the red for the Group 2 feature and appears to be the one they all have to beat after he drew favourably in gate two.

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have bypassed the race when settling on their best bets for the meeting.

TABradio’s Hayden King believes punters can add to their bank by supporting Our Star Watch in the third.

“Our Star Watch has led four times in WA for three wins and a narrow defeat,” King said. “He gets gate one and a big opportunity to lead throughout. His recent form is better than the numerics suggest.”

However, that’s not how longshot guru Pat Harding sees thing playing out.

“Looks like another tough night at GP and we could see a few upsets,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 4 Vespa. He has been very consistent at his last five starts and with Emily Suvaljko aboard could give punters a great sight.”

And, just to make race three more of a conundrum for punters, The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has made Medieval Man his best for the night.

I can’t recall a meeting where three of the Guild’s tipsters have declared three different horses as their star bets – will be interesting to see who comes out on top, or embarrassing if all three get rolled.

“Though racing first-up without a trial, Medieval Man is well drawn for his return to racing after a 14-week spell on Friday,” Havercroft said. “He won eight races last season and rolled to the top three starts ago to lead all the way defeating Whoswhointhezoo. Did salute when first-up in March last year at Bunbury in an all-the-way win.”

And just to continue the theme of differing opinions in the Guild’s column, veteran journalist Ken Casellas and The West Australian’s Ernie Manning have locked horns in race eight.

“Powerful Mach Three mare Miss Boudica will complete her preparation for the $50,000 APG Gold Bullion final at Gloucester Park on Friday of next week when she contests the Anne and Rob Gartrell Pace on Friday night,” Casellas said. “This will be her third appearance after a let-up and she should be close to her peak, and I’m making her my star bet after being impressed by her strong finishing burst, out wide, when sixth behind Savvy Bromac in the WASBA Breeders Stakes last Friday night.”

But Manning disagrees.

“Four-year-old Unconditional looks an appropriate best bet at the meeting sponsored by Team Bond,” Manning said. “The mare, co-trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has shown talent since Pinjarra and Gloucester Park wins in opening stages of her career. Now a winner of six races at headquarters, she impressed with her victory there last month. A second-line draw was against her when she ran seventh a fortnight go, but gate five will be in her favour this week.”

Bringing some sanity back to this week’s column is Guild president Wayne Currall, who is not clashing with anyone.

“Punters will have to be patient with my best for the meeting,” Currall said. “I’ve opted for The Tiger Army in the last as my best. He did all the work in the breeze outside of leader and eventual winner Talks Up A Storm last start and would have derived plenty of benefit from that hit-out. The 2536m is right up his alley and Emily Suvaljko should be able to position him where she likes from the back-line draw. Get on.”

VALUE BETS

HAYDEN: Areu Talkin won the feature mares race at Pinjarra two and a half weeks ago. She possesses an influential turn of foot and should be not easily dismissed.

PAT: My double comes up in race 10 with No. 4 Major Mucha. Although he’s resuming after a spell, Chris Voak seems to have a good record in winning the last race and I think he can do it again.

RYAN: Though the 3YO Pearl Classic looks to be Swingband’s to lose, there is value to be had around him and I think Hoppys Way, aided by the services of Emily Suvaljko, is a maddie at long odds.

KEN: For value, I suggest Soho Broadway in the final event. She should have derived considerable benefit from her first-up effort a fortnight ago when she fought on doggedly to finish fourth behind Talks Up A Storm.

ERNIE: Veteran gelding Tommy Be Good has not won in almost two years, but is showing glimpses of ability that delivered him 15 Gloucester Park wins. Unplaced at his four starts after a long spell, he ran second on April 29.  Barrier one this week is a big bonus

WAYNE: To add more confusion to race three, I think last-start winner Arma Einstein can run a big race at each-way odds. If they go hard in the lead, watch for him powering home.

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

Good punting.