WA Media Guild Friday’s thoughts

The $50,000 4YO & 5YO Championship (2130m) headlines a nine-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The powerful Greg and Skye Bond stable have two of the main fancies in the Group 2 feature in Dont Bother Me None, who has drawn ideally in gate two, and Ideal Agent drawn out in eight.

WA Trotting Media Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting polemarker Rockaball in the first race.

“The Caris Hamilton-Smith-trained Rockaball was fairly ordinary at his first start in three months when he finished down the track behind Doc Holliday in early March,” Currall said. “But I’m tipping the horse would have derived plenty of benefit from that outing. The last time Rockaball drew the inside gate he led and was only overhauled in the last bound by Papinik when they covered the last 800m in a slick 55.7. A repetition of that effort would see Micheal Ferguson steering him to an all-the-way victory.”

Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas is keen on Nevermindthechaos in the second.

“Nevermindthechaos is developing into one of the State’s best pacing mares,” Casellas said. “She’s my best bet to extend her winning sequence to four by proving too speedy for her rivals on Friday night. Nevermindthechaos, trained by Michael Young, rated a sparkling 1.53.4 when she worked hard in the breeze before winning over 1730m on Tuesday night.”

TABradio’s Hayden King has made Alta Rhett his star bet for the evening.

“Alta Rhett is drawn to lead and win, as he did here recently,” King said. “A repeat performance should see him victorious again.”

King’s colleague at TABradio, Matt Young, is breaking new ground in this column by declaring Classic Choice in the feature, a horse who opened at odds of $41 in early markets before being crunched into $20.

“Classic Choice is my best,” Young said. “I’m going chips in, like they should for the front. I think if this five-year-old is given the chance off the arm, he could cross and if he finds the front, I think he will win. All or nothing!”

Longshot guru Pat Harding is a fan of Miss Mucho.

“Been pretty tough for tipsters and punters alike at GP in recent weeks,” Harding said. “Got a feeling that trend might continue this week. My best bet comes up in race six with No. 5 Miss Mucho. She was unlucky last week but has good credentials and I think she will prevail in this small field.”

The West Australian’s Ernie Manning and that newspaper’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft have opted for Vespa as their best bet.

“Talented six-year-old Vespa looks primed for a return to the winners’ list after running unplaced at his past four starts,” Manning said. “He finished fifth when facing the breeze last Friday night and there were excuses in each of his previous three appearances. He was trapped back on the pegs twice and his cart had a flat tyre when he ran fourth on March 25. The Michael Young-trained gelding has won six events at headquarters.”

And Havercroft is of a similar mind.

“Vespa is unplaced at his last four starts but gets his chance here to bounce back to winning form,” Havercroft said. “A small field and a middle draw gives Emily Suvaljko the option of being on the speed, or just off it and within striking distance wherever the gelding settles. Looks well placed on handicaps.”

VALUE BETS

WAYNE: Mister Bushido appeals as a sound each-way investment in the third. He ran an encouraging second behind Know When To Run last week and seems likely to get the same run behind Alta Rhett. Can upset the favourite.

KEN: For value, I suggest Bracken Sky, who will be having his first start this year in race three. He had the sparks flying in a most impressive trial workout at Byford on Sunday morning.

HAYDEN: I’ll multi Alta Rhett into Dont Bother Me None, into American Bullitt (place).

MATT: Nullarbor Navajo is going well, perfect draw and if there is any issues with Nevermindthechaos after a tough run on Tuesday then the Great Southern mare could bob up at big odds.

PAT: My double comes up in race nine with No. 4 Major Overs. In this small field, with already two wins, I think the Lewis family can record a good win.

ERNIE: The Kraken is on an eight-run losing sequence and has won only once in his past 27 starts. But the Daniel Costello-trained gelding looked ready to break through when he went forward and fought on to finish third a fortnight ago. He will be driven by the in-form Mitchell Miler.

RYAN: Jaspervellabeach has led and won at all three starts when drawing barrier one at headquarters, including two starts ago as an odds-on favourite. Loves the inside draw.

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

Good punting.

To view the fields for Gloucester Park on Friday click here.

By Wayne Currall for Gloucester Park