WA Media Guild thoughts 17th February

The $50,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2130m) takes pride of place at Gloucester Park on Friday night (Feb. 17).

The Group 3 harness racing event has attracted a quality field of free-for-all pacers and finding the winner will be no easy task.

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have sidestepped the main race in their search for best bets on the nine-race card.

Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas believes punters can start the night off on a winning note by supporting Wait For The Bell in the first race.

“Horse one; race one: That’s a proven formula for success at Gloucester Park in the past few years,” Casellas said. “So, I’ll stick with this theorem on Friday night and declare my best bet as Wait For The Bell, who will start from the coveted No. 1 barrier in race one. Wait For The Bell, trained by Amber Sparks and driven by Aldo Cortopassi, is a good, honest performer who is not a brilliant beginner or a noted frontrunner. But I’m confident he will either set the pace or enjoy a perfect sit behind the leader before producing a typical spirited finishing burst.”

Guild president Wayne Currall is keen on Paroquet in the second.

“Paroquet is a good frontrunner … a fact that was highlighted two starts ago when she scored an all-the-way victory over the 2130m journey,” Currall said. “She’s drawn to lead again on Friday night from the pole and driver Chris Lewis will be looking for another victory on the five-year-old mare.”

TABradio’s Matt Young and veteran tipster Pat Harding have selected James Butt as their best for the night.

“James Butt has the draw to attack for the top and find the rail,” Young said. “In front and in full fitness he should be able to win this race pretty impressively.”

And Harding agrees.

“Again with only nine races on the card at GP this week, Greg and Skye Bond appear to have a mortgage on a number of races,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 2 James Butt. He’s run two close seconds in his last two races and I expect him to record another win this week.”

Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has been taken by the outstanding form of Valentines Brook and is confident he can continue on his winning ways.

“Six-year-old Valentines Brook faces his toughest class jump, but looks primed to score a fifth straight Gloucester Park win,” Manning said. “He has made a steady grade rise in each of his races since winning a Tuesday night event on January 10. The Jocelyn Young-trained gelding, regularly driven by Kyle Symington, was highly impressive in victories by 24m and 11m at his past two starts.”

The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is a patient man and has waited until the last race on the program to unleash his best bet.

“Master Yossi has been a consistent performer since arriving in WA, predominantly in standing-start events,” Havercroft said. “His last three starts have been behind the mobile, including two second placings, and importantly this week he gets the coveted inside draw over a mile. If he can hold the top I’d expect him to be first past the post.”

VALUE BETS

KEN: For value, I suggest Theo Aviator, whose most recent win was three years ago. He will start from barrier two on the back line in race two and should enjoy an ideal passage. He was most unlucky last Friday night when he was hopelessly blocked for a clear run when third behind Pradason and James Butt.

WAYNE: Patched will likely go around as an odds-on favourite in the trotters race, but don’t underestimate the chances of polemarker Chumani. He ran an excellent second behind Patched in the Trotters Cup after being held up for a run. He’s each-way all day.

MATT: Misstiano is racing well and she finally gets a draw. I’m expecting her to be close enough and dangerous late.

PAT: My double comes up in race six, the Lord Mayors Cup and I think the Bond-trained Glenledi Chief from barrier seven can record back-to-back wins.

ERNIE: Barrier one will give Gee Smith the chance to bounce back from a lengthy losing sequence. Narrogin and Northam thirds have been the only places from his past 20 races. He finished sixth after starting from gate nine last week and the pole is his best recent draw.

RYAN: I think Misstiano will be out to improve her form, only having emergency status last week for The Laurie Kennedy mares feature. A favourable barrier brings her into calculations.

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

Good punting.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Wayne Currall, for Gloucester Park