The Nova 93.7 3YO Diamond Classic (2130m) headlines an action-packed 10-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The $50,000 Group 3 feature has attracted a full field of quality pacers and finding the winner will be no easy task.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have waded through the form for the meeting and have found their best bets.
Leading tipster, TABradio’s Matt Young, who found seven winners last week, believes punters can start the night off with a bang by supporting the Debra Lewis-trained Goodfellaz in the opening event.
“Goodfellaz finds a suitable race and solid draw,” Young said. “He is a versatile pacer who should kick the night off with a success.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, and Guild president Wayne Currall have settled on Watts Up Sunshine as their best bet.
“Barrier two looks the key for a return to the winners’ list by Watts Up Sunshine, who scored 10m victories at Gloucester Park last month in each of his first two starts after arriving from Victoria,” Manning said. “There has been plenty of merit in fourths after drawing gates eight and six at his past two appearances. He was trapped three-wide two starts ago and last week faced the breeze.”
And Currall agrees.
“Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is gaining a reputation almost as good as William “The Wizard” Pike,” Currall said. “Junior is in red-hot form and he has another stellar book of drives at headquarters on Friday night. Watts Up Sunshine is certain to be sent out favourite and I think he’ll justify his short quote by winning the third.”
Veteran tipster Pat Harding is keen on Jett Star making it three wins in a row when he steps out in race four.
“Another interesting night at GP,” Harding said. “Having successfully tipped my double last week, I am sticking with the same horses to repeat the dose this week. My best bet comes up in race four with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Jett Star from barrier four. Had a great win last week and should win again in this small field.”
Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas believes Otis can return to the racetrack a winner in the night’s only stand.
“Brilliant mare Taking The Miki is in dazzling form and continues to race with youthful exuberance, but I’m making comeback pacer Otis my best bet on Friday night to cause a major upset by beating Taking the Miki in the standing start Smooth FM Radio Handicap,” Casellas said. “Otis has impressed in two recent Pinjarra trials for trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green. They have been firm indications that the five-year-old is fit and ready to produce a powerful performance at his first appearance for 18 months.”
Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, has made Arma Einstein his star bet.
“Arma Einstein has drawn widest in a small field in the Free For All event but does have the gate speed to cross if Maddison Brown desires to use it,” Havercroft said. “If not, his race fitness will count for much given the five-horse field includes some rivals who are earlier into their campaigns.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Allaglow is racing well and is a chance at double-figure odds in the night’s feature.
ERNIE: Wait For The Bell has won only once in his past eight starts and is on a four-run losing sequence. But he has run third on the last two Friday nights and should secure an ideal run from gate two this week.
WAYNE: Fly To Fame was held up at a crucial stage at her last start when an unlucky fourth behind Flametree. Can run a race in an even field at a good each-way quote.
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No. 3 Wonderful To Fly. Had a great win last week and I expect her to win again this week.
KEN: For value, I suggest the Debbie Padberg-trained Name In Lights in race nine in which he will start from the back line. He has managed one placing from his past 20 starts, but I consider him an each-way prospect in a very modest field.
RYAN: Vintage Blu looks an each-way prospect in the last event. Aldo Cortopassi will want to take advantage of the prized inside draw.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.