07 December 2017 | Wayne Currall
What a night of harness racing at Gloucester Park!
The best Inter Dominion Championship Final we’ve seen in many years and three other high-quality Group 1 events on a stellar 11-event card.
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have identified classy New Zealand four-year-old Ultimate Machete and star Victorian mare Ameretto as stand outs in the Golden Nugget and Mares Classic respectively.
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning, Sunday Times columnist Robbie Dewar, the West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and yours truly have labelled Ultimate Machete as the best of good things.
Manning spoke for his colleagues when he said Ultimate Machete was shaping as the next rising star in Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s stable. “Ultimate Machete already looks a strong 2018 Inter Dominion hope,” Manning said. “He won the New Zealand Free-For-All from Tiger Tara on November 17 and only a week later scored in the Four-Year-Old Classic at Gloucester Park. Probably would have started favourite from any draw and barrier one is a big bonus.”
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe, TABradio’s Matt Young and longshot king Pat Harding are keen fans of Ameretto.
Lowe echoed the thoughts of his fellow tipsters when he waxed lyrical about the Kerryn Manning-trained mare. “My best bet on a star-studded night is the brilliant Victorian mare Ameretto,” Lowe said. “She was too strong when winning the Norms Daughter Classic two starts ago. Covered a lot of extra ground when a close-up third in the Parliamentarians Cup last week. Draw favours her this week.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas has settled on Mighty Mr Sharkey as his best for the night. “Leading trainer Skye Bond has Mighty Mr Sharkey racing keenly and the four-year-old looks a star bet when he starts from barrier four in the third heat of the Sky Racing Drivers series,” Casellas said. “He has been unplaced at his past four starts against quality opposition, but has the ability to return to the winning list at good odds.”
Veteran tipster Bill Brindley has earmarked A Piccadilly Princess as his star bet. “Mark Purdon is set for a big night on Friday with live chances in three of the four Group 1 events,” Brindley said. “I think A Piccadilly Princess could start the night off on the right note for him.”
VALUE BETS
Ernie: Sea Me Smile has run unplaced in her past four races, but a return to mares company will suit her. She is a winner of five Gloucester Park races.
Robbie: Devendra has had a disappointing campaign but could pay expenses with victory in the Inters Consolation.
Ryan: Lisharry, from inside of the back-line, would be a great each-way prospect if Skippy Rascal is able to hold the lead in the first of the Sky Racing Drivers heats.
Wayne: Bettor Bling is drawn to get the run of the race in the Invitation Ladies Drivers race and looks to be each-way all day.
Stuart: Ohoka Darcy was luckless last week when unplaced. He won well at two previous starts and is drawn better here.
Matt: Shes Artful was very good on resumption in a top-class race. She steps down in grade and is nicely drawn with Deni Roberts to do the steering.
Pat: The Bucket List will give punters a good sight in the Inters Consolation. The Brennan/Grantham combination should see punters on the winning end.
Ken: The Bucket List caught the eye last Friday night when he ran home solidly from sixth on the home turn to finish fourth behind Chicago Bull.
Bill: Shes Artful is drawn well in the ladies event and can feature at odds.
To view all of the Media Guild tips for this week click here.
Good Punting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
