WA Media Guild thoughts 10th January

Punters, take heed! Jump on polemarker Braeview Bondi to open his winning account at Gloucester Park when he steps out in race seven at headquarters on Friday night.

Gary Hall Jr jumps in the bike behind the Michael Brennan-trained five-year-old gelding and the champion reinsman looks certain to bid for an all-the-way victory.

Braeview Bondi is a unanimous selection from WA Trotting Media Guild members, with The West Australian’s Ernie Manning, TABradio’s form analyst Hayden King and TABradio’s racecaller Matt Young all banking on the bay as their best bet on Group 1 $300,000 Fremantle Cup night.

“Braeview Bondi should be hard to beat with the advantage of barrier one after he started from gate seven, faced the breeze and finished a close second on New Year’s Eve,” Manning said. ”He has run Gloucester Park seconds in three of his past five starts and is due to open a winning account at the track.”

King agrees.

“Braeview Bondi has been racing superbly and now gets his chance to lead,” King said. ”I would be very disappointed if he didn't win.”

Young rounds out the trio of support.

“Braeview Bondi has come up with the prized pole position and over the 2536m he should lead, roll along and win with a leg in the air,” Young said.

Guild president Wayne Currall thinks punters can bank on Its Rock And Roll in the opening event.

“Colin Brown should have this bloke primed to produce his best against a moderate line-up,” Currall said. “Its Rock And Roll hasn’t been at his dominant best this season, but he loves to roll along in front and will definitely give them something to catch. Can act as a banker for all-ups.”

Longshot guru Pat Harding and The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft are in star mare Our Alfie Romeo’s corner.

“My best bet of the night comes up in race nine with No. 3 Our Alfie Romeo,” Harding said. “While she was a little disappointing last week, I think she can bounce back for a good win. With only a small field of eight, I think she can bring some joy to punters.“

Havercroft agrees.

“Our Alfie Romeo suffered a gear failure at her last outing, a close-up fifth when breezing on New Year’s,” Havercroft said. “She might have to work to get the top here with Talkerup drawn the inside, but her consistent recent form suggests she can still win from the breeze.”

Radio Great Southern’s form expert Warren Wishart has nominated Pick My Pocket as his best.

“My best bet is in race eight with No. 3 Pick My Pocket,” Wishart said. “This looks a good race for her. I thought her last run was very good against the males, so back to a conditioned mares race she looks well placed.”

Veteran trotting man Ken Casellas is keen on Anime in the sixth.

“Honest seven-year-old Anime has managed just one win from his past 25 starts and two wins from his past 50 starts, but he is my best bet on Friday night,” Casellas said. “Shannon Suvaljko should have the Phil Costello-trained gelding dictating terms in front or in a commanding position close to the leaders and he should fight out the finish.”

VALUE BETS

ERNIE: Back To The Beach has been beaten at his past 10 starts, but a second placing last Friday night indicated he is near form which has won him eight Gloucester Park races. Barrier nine is likely to ensure he starts at value prices.

HAYDEN: Crocodile Kid could be at OK odds from the inside of the second row. He is a powerful sit-sprinter who can run over the top late.

MATT: Theo Aviator wasn’t a bad effort last run and this race looks hot early. Could suit him coming down in grade slightly.

WAYNE: Marquisard, a 40/1 winner at headquarters two starts ago, looks set to receive all the favours behind likely leader Courage Tells in the third. Can surprise in an open race.

PAT: My value bet of the night comes up in the main race, the Fremantle Cup. While My Field Marshall will be all the rage, I have a feeling that the Gary Hall-trained Caviar Star from barrier three might just pop up.  Certainly I believe he’s a good each-way bet.

RYAN: Courage Tells grows a leg from this draw and won when last drawing the pole here over this trip. That was a while ago, but history doesn’t lie.

WARREN: Crocodile Kid’s recent form is strong and this looks a weaker race to what he has been competing against in recent runs. With nothing drawn to his outside, he has options and the indicative price of $5 looks great each-way value.

KEN: For value, I suggest Gee Jay Kay, who looms as a major player in race three in which he will start from barrier two on the back line. He had little luck last Friday night when hampered for room in the final lap when seventh behind Hy Leexciting.

To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.

Wayne Currall