The Group 1 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park headlines an action-packed Friday in the world of harness racing. Here are our best bets for Friday night’s meetings. Good luck to everyone following along!
Harness Racing Tips: Friday, May 2nd 2025
Launceston Race 3: 6TY STAKES (2200 METRES) – 6:14pm AEST
(4) Ashante Queen joins trainer Tammy Langley and her recent Hobart trial looked quite good when finishing last of three. She bundled the stand-start and settled last behind Triple Vinnies (NR 71) and Denny (NR 69) before they sprinted home quicker in a 27.9 final quarter. That duo are much higher-graded runners and Ashante Queen tried her best to keep up with them. Langley is having a brilliant season in Tasmania with 50 winners from 235 starters at a strike rate of 21%, so expect improvement this preparation from the mare.
(1) Family Reasons has the inside draw and drops a touch in class from recent efforts. He has finished fifth at his last two starts but can be right in the finish in this grade if he settles better in the run and doesn’t over-race.
(8) Oneofthelads will relish a soft run on the pegs and has won three of his last five starts for trainer Wayne Yole. Lachlan Dakin drove the 258-start veteran to win three starts ago and this maps to be a similar sort of run to that, so the pair will go close with any luck in running.
(4) Ashante Queen WIN
$4.60 (2 units)
Geelong Race 1: HOYTS FOOD MAIDEN PACE (1609 METRES) – 6:30pm AEST
(3) Pistol Pearce was an eye-catching second on debut when racing 1 out 1 back and getting shuffled back. The three-year-old gelding ended up third-last with around 500 metres to travel. He made up a lot of ground late when cutting down a pair of horses in the straight to finish within 8.2m of the winner. The final quarter was 27.4 for Pistol Pearce and he looks hardest to beat in this maiden with a bit more luck this time around.
(8) Ultimate Safari has had seven starts for one minor placing. A couple of recent efforts have been in NR up to 49 and 0-1 win company, while this looks easier. He is going to need some luck from the inside draw on the back row but does rate well on the sectional times.
(4) Midnight Crimes is yet to finish within 16 metres of the winner in three starts to date, however, this isn’t an accurate indication about her chances as I think she is the best roughie in the race. She bumped into a talented one in Pick Up Elvis at Ballarat last start and the 56.6-last half for the race proved too quick for this filly.
Also backing: (4) Midnight Crimes $18 (0.5 units)
(3) Pistol Pearce WIN
$2.30 (3 units)
Gloucester Park Race 5: 2025 RETRAVISION FREMANTLE CUP (G1) MS PACE (2936 METRES) – 7:25pm (9:25pm AEST)
(1) Catch A Wave has had mixed fortunes with the barrier draws in WA this prep. He started from the outside gate in The Nullarbor, a task that proved too tough when finishing ninth of the 10 runners. This time around, the reigning Fremantle Cup winner has drawn the inside barrier and will be searching for an all-the-way victory for Andy and Kate Gath. Two starts back he led from a middle barrier to defeat Mister Smartee by 10 metres. He can lead them up here and should prove hard to beat over the staying journey of 2936m.
(10) Mister Smartee proved he is more than just hype last time out when capturing The Nullarbor from Gee Heza Sport and Minstrel. It was a perfect drive from big-race driver Gary Hall Jnr, who will look to do the same again, albeit from a trailing position on the pegs this time around. Expect Hall Jnr to look to push off at some point and Mister Smartee will be dangerous with any clear running.
(12) Minstrel was brave in defeat in The Nullarbor as Swayzee kept the pressure on throughout with a 27.8 and 28.4 middle half that proved too much for both of those horses. Deni Roberts will likely put Minstrel outside the leader when the time is right, and the eight-year-old gelding will run a bold race.
(1) Catch A Wave WIN
$2.35 (3 units)
