19 September 2019
by Wayne Currall

In last week’s column we sang the praises of Matt Young for tipping the card at a recent Saturday night meeting at Bunbury. What we didn’t report was that The West Australian’s Ernie Manning also tipped the card at the same meeting.

Apologies to Ernie for that oversight and belated congratulations to him for realising the dream of every tipster.

Now to dissect tomorrow night’s meeting at Gloucester Park by members of the WA Trotting Media Guild.

TABradio racecaller Hayden King and Radio Great Southern’s form analyst Warren Wishart are keen on Warfare.

“The Justin Prentice-trained Warfare is drawn to lead and should be too good off a let-up,” King said. “He can progress through to FFA class.”

And Wishart agrees.

“My best bet comes up in race three with No.1 Warfare,” Wishart said. “Very talented type who gets a good draw. I think he should lead all the way.”

Leading tipster Young believes El Jacko is poised to return to the winners’ list.

“El Jacko has drawn to receive the perfect run and has a good turn of foot and should finish over the top of the leaders in the Navy Cup,” Young said.

Longshot guru Pat Harding is a fan of the Ray Williams-trained Walkinshaw.

“After last week's tough meeting there might be a few more wins for punters this week,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in the second race with No. 6 Walkinshaw. This is his third run back after a spell and I think he can prevail in this small field. He’s due for a win and this might be his best opportunity.”

Guild president Wayne Currall has made another Williams-trained pacer as his star bet for the meeting.

“Major Pocket has been nothing but consistent this campaign with six minor placings from his past eight starts,” Currall said. “Expect him to be driven more aggressively from gate three and he just might prove too strong at the business end.”

Manning and his colleague, The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, have settled on Arma Indie as their best.

“Arma Indie has emerged as one of WA’s most promising pacers when winning clearly at her past three starts and looks set to confirm she is a summer carnival prospect,” Manning said. “The four-year-old, who joined Mike Reed’s stable after two New Zealand wins within eight days last January, has shown she has the gate speed to take advantage of barrier one. She won by 13.2m and 23.1m in Gloucester Park races before her 6.8m victory at Pinjarra  last week. She looks an ideal proposition for the Mares Classic in December.”

Havercroft agrees.

“Arma Indie has resumed from a spell in devastating fashion, winning at all three starts since her injury-shortened Oaks campaign,” Havercroft said. “In two of her three wins she found the front and from the inside draw this week she will likely lob into the lead and be hard to run down.”

On-course announcer Ken Casellas believes punters would be wise to get on Vincenzo Perrugia.

“Septuagenarian owner-trainer Tony Svilicich has New Zealand-bred six-year-old Vincenzo Peruggia racing with admirable enthusiasm and the gelding is my best bet this week after drawing favourably at barrier three,” Casellas said. “Vincenzo Peruggia looks like founding the top and is capable of leading his rivals on a merry dance. He put the writing on the wall last Friday night when he raced without cover and finished a desperately close second to Bettor Party.”

VALUE BETS

HAYDEN: Sea Me Smile is flying lately and will sit off the pace in the first. She could soar home over the top with the speed on.

WARREN: James Butt is in a much more suitable race tonight. Some of his runs last preparation were very good and at each-way odds. I think he can win.

MATT: The old timer Maximum Demand will get a soft run and if he gets any luck he will be sprinting home powerfully at double-figure odds. He’s getting better with every run.

PAT: I think Chris Voak can have James Butt well placed to come home strongly and give punters some value.

WAYNE: On a night where there doesn’t appear to be too much value, I think Waylade could get a soft run behind likely leader Thereugo and run a race at huge odds.

ERNIE: Presidentmach has not won in his past seven starts, but the gelding should not be overlooked from a pole draw. He started from barrier seven when unplaced last Friday night. A winner of 16 races, he recently ran second to the talented Wildwest.

RYAN: Jaxon Fella will drop out to last from the wide draw. He erupted late four starts ago and in a small field here he won’t be far from them if there is any speed on.

KEN: For value, I suggest Athabascan in the final event. He’s tough and is overdue for a change of fortune.

To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.

Good Punting