WA Media Guild Friday’s thoughts

Punters are in for a feast of harness racing with another 11-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild we’re in good form last week with TABradio’s Hayden King and Guild president Wayne Currall tipping nine of the 11 winners.

Let’s hope they can be as successful this week.

Currall believes punters can start the night off on the right note by supporting polemarker Hillview Bondi (Somebeachsomewhere) in the opening event.

“The Ryan Bell-trained and Kyle Symington-reined Hillview Bondi will prove the testing material from gate one,” Currall said. “Put a line through his two sevenths recently and gauge his chances on his previous six runs where he won four and ran two seconds at GP. Symington is driving in great form and will give Hillview Bondi every chance.”

King is keen on Pradason (Shadow Play) in race two.

“Pradason is a quality horse and, although drawn wide, will make his presence felt,” King said. “He has a bit of a class edge on most and will take stopping.”

Longshot guru Pat Harding has opted for Ragazzo Mach (Mach Three) as his best for the night.

“Expecting another tough night at GP with only a few stand outs,” Harding said. “My best bet comes in race three with No. 2 Ragazzo Mach. He has had two good seconds and is due for a win. Tonight should be the night.”

The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and award-winning journalist Ken Casellas, who both found eight winners last Friday night, have settled on The Good Life (Mach Three) as their star bet.

“Barrier one should boost The Good Life’s victory prospects despite a big class jump from when he won at Gloucester Park last Friday night,” Manning said. “The Aiden De Campo-trained four-year-old, who has not missed a place in his past seven races, led when winning at Bunbury two starts ago and then he overcame a back-line draw at headquarters. He looks capable of notching his fifth Gloucester Park victory.”

And Casellas agrees.

“He is smart, versatile, consistent and improving with every run,” Casellas said. “That’s Aiden De Campo’s talented gelding The Good Life, who is my best bet this week to set the pace and win the Kerry Clarke Westbred Classic.”

TABradio’s Matt Young is in the camp of Infinite Sign (Indomitable Saab) in race eight.

“Infinite Sign is dropping into this grade nicely,” Young said. “He is a versatile type and I can see him doing work and getting the job done for Team Bond here.”

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft says brilliant filly Wonderful To Fly (Fly Like An Eagle) will keep building her picket fence.

“She’ll be short but Wonderful To Fly should win when she resumes in the Listed 3YO Fillies Westsired Pace,” Havercroft said. “The daughter of Fly Like An Eagle has an imposing strike rate, including wins at her last six outings, and though I liked Acharne Girl’s first-up effort, it’s hard to see this Shane Young-trained and driven filly losing.”

VALUE BETS

WAYNE: The enigmatic Mattjestic Star could go at huge odds in race two, but don’t be surprised if he runs a bold race. Kyle Harper might be tempted to take up the running from gate two and he has beaten Heez Our Perseus at headquarters after finding the front.

HAYDEN: Lots of short-priced favourites this week so let’s parlay them. Hillview Bondi, The Good Life, Patched, Whos The Dad, Wonderful To Fly and Lavra Joe should all lead and win.

PAT: My double comes up in race eight with No. 4 Flying Rumour. First-up after a spell but should give trainer Mike Reed and driver Shannon Suvaljko a good double.

ERNIE: Veteran gelding Twoandahalf Tigers has not won in his past 29 starts, but he showed zest when recording two thirds and two fourths from four starts in the past few weeks. The 10-year-old followed a Gloucester Park third on June 24 with his fourth from a second-row draw at Pinjarra last Monday.

KEN: For value, I suggest Pocket The Cash in race two. He has resumed after a spell in fine form and looks set for a successful campaign.

MATT: Alta Rhett is going well and if he gets normal racing luck he can bowl them over in the second event.

RYAN: Been Scootin was very brave in defeat at Bunbury and should be fitter for this third-up assignment. The draw gives Kyle Harper options and he looks an each-way prospect.

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

Good punting.