Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park pays tribute to a great mate of the harness racing industry.
Bill Horn, the trainer and part-owner of WA champion pacer Village Kid, passed away this week just a month shy of his 90th birthday.
The majority of the races on the 11-event card have been named in honour of Bill “The Better Butcher” Horn. RIP Billy – you were one of a kind mate.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have mixed opinions on their best bets on Friday night, but one thing is for certain – Swingband is a popular choice with several members.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, longshot guru Pat Harding and Guild president Wayne Currall have all made Swingband their best bet.
“Swingband has returned in dazzling form and appears well placed to extend his winning streak to six when contesting the Gary and Sue Craik Pace,” Havercroft said. “Another two weeks in between runs this campaign seems to be working for trainer Ryan Bell and it’s likely the son of Alta Christiano is still reaching peak fitness.”
Harding agrees.
“Should be an interesting night at GP for the first spring meeting of the year,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race four with No. 3 Swingband. He has been so consistent and winning well and should continue to do so.”
And Currall makes it a clean sweep.
“Swingband is a serious horse,” Currall said. “He’s CV speaks for itself – he’s shooting for eight wins in a row and he has the form and the draw to get the job done. Will be short but can act as a banker in quaddies and all-ups.”
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Shadow Roll in race two.
“Shadow Roll has been crying out for a good barrier,” Young said. “He finally gets one on Friday and looks set to lead and win.”
Young’s colleague at TABradio, Hayden King, believes that Always Fast can open up his winning account in the west.
“Always Fast draws to lead and show what he’s made of,” King said. “This is his last chance to show something in WA and must win.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas is a fan of speedy mare Paroquet in race eight.
“Paroquet managed just one win, by a head, from her first 20 starts before she turned the corner this season during which she has had 11 starts for six wins, two seconds and a third placing,” Casellas said. “She now possesses a splendid turn of foot and she is my best bet this week when she has the ability to overcome a wide draw at barrier seven.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and Sunday Times, is in the corner of Carrera Mach in race nine.
“Carrera Mach appears to be in a race that suits him and should be hard to beat despite having won only once in his past 28 starts,” Manning said. “The gelding, a winner of 12 races, showed he had benefited from a spell when coming off the back line to recently run a first-up third at Pinjarra. He is capable of breaking through for a win after defeats at his last 13 appearances.”
VALUE BETS
RYAN: Alcippes Delight is yet to miss the placings through four runs since arriving from New Zealand. Will likely be each-way odds here.
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No. 4 Lavra Joe. This horse continues to impress and I think he can make it three wins in a row in this small field.
WAYNE: Consistent mare Miss Lamarr has drawn to get an economical run in race eight. Looks like the pace will be on and she can finish hard off a hot speed. She appeals on an each-way basis.
MATT: Pocketful Of Opals has tremendous gate speed and I can see a scenario of her leading here. If she hits the rail they’ll have to be good to beat her.
HAYDEN: Nuclear Poker might be able to slot in behind Woodlea Ragnar. He is racing as well as ever and, over the long trip, will be very dangerous if he gets out.
KEN: For value, I suggest Our Shelley Beach in race one. He looks set to lead over the sprint journey and has a great chance to end Tenzing Bromac’s unblemished record in WA of seven starts for seven wins.
ERNIE: Captured Delight has a barrier-one bonus for her return to racing after a four-month break. The mare was unplaced at her last five starts before spelling, but it should be remembered she has won 11 races, including three at headquarters.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.