The finals of the rich APG Gold Bullion series for the two-year-old and three-year-old pacers highlights Friday night’s card at Gloucester Park.
Each of the four finals – two in each age division over 1730m for the colts and geldings and for the fillies – will be run for $50,000 with the winner taking home a healthy cheque for $29,000.
The four finals, the last four races on the 10-event program, will see four favourites sent out in the red.
The majority of the WA Trotting Media Guild members have elected to look elsewhere when assessing their best bets on the program.
However, Guild president Wayne Currall couldn’t resist marking down the Gary Hall Snr-trained Star Lavra as his best for the night.
“Star Lavra, with Stuart McDonald in the bike, should prove too strong for his five rivals in Friday night’s first final,” Currall said. “He sat outside Lord Titanium last start and put a similar field to the sword. I’m expecting McDonald to send Star Lavra to the top this time and from there he’ll dominate this field.”
TABradio’s Matt Young and award-winning journalist Ken Casellas believe punters can get the night off to a flyer by supporting Faster Than Dad in the opening event.
“Faster Than Dad performed bravely last time out with the race not run to suit,” Young said. “Friday’s race appears far more suitable and looks to start the night off nicely.”
And Casellas agrees.
“Faster Than Dad is ready to burst back into wining form at his third appearance after a spell, following splendid efforts from unfavourable barriers at his past two starts,” Casellas said. “His second to Raven Banner and last week’s fourth behind Wait For The Bell, both over 1730m, were full of merit. He will be better suited over 2130m this week and will certainly appreciate a reasonable barrier at No. 3. He is my best bet this week.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft is keen on Kimble in the second race.
“The first leg of what looks like a Michael Young-Gary Hall Jnr race-to-race double is Kimble in the second event,” Havercroft said. “The son of Western Terror won from this draw four starts ago and has been thereabouts at his last couple when racing midfield on the pegs. He should be closer to the speed and winning this time, and you could all-up with The Mustang in the next race to help increase the odds-on quote likely to be offered.”
Veteran tipster Pat Harding is a fan of The Mustang.
“Should be an interesting night at GP, although very disappointing to see so few entries in the two and three-year-old races,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 1 The Mustang. Should repeat his last-start win with Gary Hall Jnr aboard.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, has opted for Lamandier in the night’s only stand as his best bet.
“Widely-travelled Lamandier will be suited by a standing start on Friday night and gets the chance to open his Gloucester Park winning account,” Manning said. “He impressed when winning from a stand at Pinjarra last month, but galloped away when starting behind the city mobile a week ago and there was merit in his effort to finish third. The gelding has won three races in Victoria and three on Queensland tracks.”
VALUE BETS
WAYNE: I’m following on from Ryan’s early double of Kimble into The Mustang, but being a little more daring by throwing the winnings from that double into Star Lavra.
MATT: Acuto is racing well and could sneak under the radar in the standing-start event. He’s a solid each-way player.
KEN: For value, I suggest Firerockfireroll from the No. 2 barrier in race five. He is a smart frontrunner and is poised for a powerful effort at his first appearance for 17 weeks.
RYAN: On a night where value looks hard to find, Miss Boudica was too good last time out to not consider in a race like this. She’s hard to catch but will likely be at a price that I would be prepared to speculate.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Dont Bother Me None from Barrier 1. With only a small field he should win well.
ERNIE: Five-year-old Tiger Royal was beaten at his past five starts and has won only twice in 15 Perth races. But the Ryan Bell-trained gelding drew attention when a Pinjarra runner-up and Gloucester Park third placegetter at his last two appearances.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.