WA Media Guild Friday’s Thoughts

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have all come up with different best bets for Friday night’s nine-event card at Gloucester Park. See fields here.

TABradio’s Matt Young believes Mandy Joan is drawn to record an all-the-way win in race seven.

“Mandy Joan has found a perfect race to show her class,” Young said. “She is third up from a break and should lead and win.”

Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas has made Vampiro his best bet.

“Vampiro is a tough stayer who has been impressive in his current campaign, improving with every outing,” Casellas said. “I predict he will have the strength to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier in the 2536m August Cup, and am happy to make him my best bet.”

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is keen on Alta Intrigue in race two.

“Alta Intrigue has been close to a win lately, evidenced by finishing runner-up at four of his last five outings,” Havercroft said. “One of those was a narrow defeat in the John Higgins Memorial Final and this doesn’t look any harder than that.”

Longshot guru Pat Harding believes polemarkers could reign supreme on Friday night.

“Barrier one looks like it might again produce a few winners at GP this Friday night,” Harding said. ”My best bet of the night comes up in race three with No. 7 Queen Shenandoah. She is so consistent and ran a good second last week and is due for a win.”

The West Australian’s Ernie Manning has selected Carrera Mach as his best for the night.

“Six-year-old Carrera Mach presents one of the rare cases when a horse can be declared a best bet after being beaten at his previous 14 starts,” Manning said. “The Ross Olivieri-trained gelding, who ran a close second despite having been trapped three-wide last Friday night, now has the gate one bonus. He has won six Gloucester Park races and looks primed to bounce back into the winners’ list after placings at his past two starts.”

Guild president Wayne Currall says punters can line their pockets early doors by backing Our Star Billing in the opening event.

“Our Star Billing won’t go out at any fancy price, but he should start the night off on the right note for favourite backers,” Currall said. “Should be leading and winning here for trainer/driver Donald Harper. And brother Kyle can land the quinella on Star For Me, who is trained by his older brother and drawn directly behind the hot-pot.”

VALUE BETS:

MATT: Jesse Allwood is going well, he has a lovely trailing draw and with some luck, could bob up at big odds.

KEN: For value, I suggest Caruba from barrier six in the 2130m Retravision Pace in which she will be having her second start after a spell. She is capable of improving on her moderate first-up seventh at Narrogin last Saturday night.

RYAN: In a field with the depth of the WASBA Mares Race, you often get value about less favoured but talented runners. Smooth Rye is one you can have a small play on at liberal each-way odds.

PAT: My double comes up in race six with Carrera Mach, who is looking for a good win from barrier one. Chris Voak could have a good night.

ERNIE: Free To Air has won only once in his past 21 starts, but should be considered after looking unlucky when he became blocked from a second-line draw last Friday night and finished eighth. He has won 11 races and was placed at Gloucester Park twice in the last three weeks.

WAYNE: Henwood Bay scored an overdue win last week after a terrific battle with Bettor Be Oscar in the home straight. Bettor Be Oscar franked that form on Tuesday night when he sat outside Copy N Paste and beat him. Henwood Bay should be at each-way odds again and is capable of making it successive wins.

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

Good punting.