The Group 1 Sky Racing WA Derby (2536m) highlights a bumper 11-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The $200,000 feature has attracted a star-studded field with barrier draws again playing a major role in markets.
However, members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have steered clear of the main event when assessing the meeting for best bets.
TABradio’s Matt Young is keen on Ideal Agent in the third.
“Ideal Agent has a tricky draw but that will likely add to the price in a suitable race,” Young said. “He can break through for a well-deserved win.”
But that’s not how the former longshot guru Pat Harding sees the race unfolding.
“Could be a good night for favourites at GP this Friday night with the Greg and Skye Bond camp leading the way with some well-fancied runners,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 7 Doc Holliday. He has been very consistent and is due for another win,”
The West Australian and Sunday Times’ pacing expert Ernie Manning has made star pacer Magnificent Storm his best bet.
“Class pacer Magnificent Storm, a winner at 25 of 34 starts, gets the chance to further boost his exceptional record despite having drawn barrier nine,” Manning said. “Trainer Ray Williams can now concentrate on Perth events after scratching his stable star from the Victorian Inter Dominion Championship, which begins later this month. The gelding, who ran a game second when covering extra ground last Friday night, has recorded 20 wins and five places in 28 Gloucester Park appearances.”
Media Guild president Wayne Currall is playing it safe by making the long odds-on shot Eighteen Carat his best bet for the evening.
“Eighteen Carat was always going to be hard to beat in a race of this nature,” Currall said. “However, when this talented mare came up with the pole it was a matter of who will run second to her. Will be deep in the red but can act as a banker for the third leg of the main quaddie and all-ups.”
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft believes Dourado can post an all-the-way victory in race nine.
“Dourado has been in consistent form with two wins and two placings in his last four outings,” Havercroft said. “The Aiden De Campo-trained colt also comes up with the inside draw here and he can repeat his Pinjarra success from 11 days earlier when he pressed forward from barrier six to lead and salute.”
Veteran journalist Ken Casellas and TABradio’s Hayden King have different views on the last race on the program.
Casellas is keen on Ima Rockabilly Rebel, but King likes the chances of polemarker Our Shelley Beach.
“Lightly-raced four-year-old Ima Rockabilly Rebel has resumed after a spell in splendid form and he looks set to notch his 11th victory when he starts from barrier four in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace on Friday night,” Casellas said. “He is my best bet to give trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driver Deni Roberts a welcome change of luck after the gelding’s unlucky efforts on the past two Friday nights when he was hopelessly blocked for a run when fifth behind Eldaytona, and then he was held up before getting clear with 110m to travel before finishing strongly to be fourth behind Rascal.”
King holds a different opinion.
“Our Shelley Beach failed when clearly not 100 per cent two starts back,” King said. “On that occasion, he was heavily fancied when leading. He gets that opportunity this Friday and was terribly unlucky last week.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Machnificent has a wonderful turn of foot and the small field suits. He will be storming home at odds.
PAT: My double comes up in race six with No.1 Whatabro. With two wins in a row and with the ideal barrier he should win again.
ERNIE: The Kraken has won only once in his past 28 starts, but he should not be overlooked with a barrier one bonus. He drew gate nine when a last-start sixth, which delivered his 11th straight defeat. The gelding possesses gate speed and had run seconds after drawing gate one in his previous two races. He appears worth an investment though having won only twice in his last 47 races.
WAYNE: Machs Bettor is going super and could give promising young reinsman Kyle Symington his first Group 1 success in the cart.
RYAN: Heza Head Honcho looks well placed to earn at good each-way odds in the first event. Driver Lindsay Harper has the option of leading or sitting just off the pace but he should be thereabouts late.
KEN: For value, I suggest Hes Never Been Beta, who has drawn out wide at barrier No. 7 in race nine in which he is the least experienced runner, with a record of only four starts. But he has shown admirable toughness as well as good natural speed.
HAYDEN: Loucid Dreams, if driven very aggressively, could bully his way to the top and be tough to catch. He was a strong-closing second last time out.
Click here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting.
