Another night of feature racing is upon us at Gloucester Park harness this Friday, March 22nd.
The Group 2 Western Gateway is the main race on the card as we lead up to the WA Derby on April 7th.
Check out our preview and tips for every race on the card below!
Gloucester Park Harness Tips
Best Bet: Race 6 Lady De La Renta
Value Bet: Race 3 Im Soxy
Race 1
Lot Twenty One has the gate speed to lead, otherwise he will probably take a sit on Waimac Attack. I would expect that they will go with the leading option. It looks a very even race on paper with no standout horse in the race. I would have made an exception for Our Corelli before last start but he didn’t produce his best. Fitness may be an issue so I am happy to steer clear of him at $2.60. Jaxon Fella has been racing well from poor barriers and I’m happy to go with him at huge odds in this race. He will need a lot of luck but can be supported each-way in the race. Soho Wonder is also racing well and the same applies for him here. He is worth backing at anything better than $21.
Race 2
Luis Alberto is airborne right now and I clocked his last half in 54-flat last time when finishing fourth in the Group 2 4YO & 5YO Championship. He was runner up before that behind Sarah Goody. Before his recent two defeats, the horse that was once-likened to Tom Melbourne, had put that to bed with a hat-trick of wins for the new stable. I am concerned with his ability to hold the back of Clarenden Hustler, but whether he trails or has to get off the pegs and sit in the moving line, he should be finishing powerfully. Clarenden Hustler leads and will take some catching but his last start was disappointing and Luis Alberto beat him home despite having a tougher run.
Race 3
Two Gary Hall Snr runners have come up $2.10 and $2.20. Kimani and Herrick Roosevelt are certainly the horses to beat from their good draws but they aren’t over the line with the likes of Runaway Three, Campora, The Art Form and Im Soxy engaged. Kimani has good gate speed, without being quick, and he will need to show his best at the beginning to hold out the early challenge from Runaway Three. Im Soxy was beaten as $1.40 favourite last week over the 2536m and a step-down to the 2130m is more ideal despite barrier 12. Two starts ago he was third behind Caviar Star and Herrick Roosevelt. He will be hoping for some pace, which may not occur once the lead has been decided. Driver Ryan Warwick has been able to put him into the race at times so happy to go that way at $12.
Race 4
The FFA is a very competitive event with Mr Mojito a $3.80 favourite. Five horses are in single figures and another is $10. Talktomeurmattjesty is the leader and should roll along as he likes to run a solid clip out in front. Always Arjay should enjoy the trail with Vultan Tin outside of the leader and Mr Mojito, Caviar Star and Handsandwheels all positioning close in the moving line. Always Arjay is my top pick as he will get a soft run throughout with Vultan Tin likely to keep a strong tempo. Always Arjay won an FFA two starts ago when running down Our Jimmy Johnstone and Vultan Tin. He was then second in the Narrogin Cup behind El Jacko when sitting outside of the leader which isn’t his normal racing pattern. Expect him to be flying home with any luck.
Race 5
The WA Derby draws near and one of the key lead-up races will be staged here with the Group 2 Western Gateway (2536m). Patrickthepiranha leads and will take plenty of beating from that position. He is $1.60 to get the job done and the query on him will be recent tough racing. Two starts ago he had no luck enduring a flat tyre and torrid run. Last start he had a shoe thrown at him mid-race on his way to winning the Group 2 Sales Classic (2130m). If he isn’t feeling any sort of fatigue, he will lead throughout to win another Group 2 feature. Major Trojan, Franco Edward and Eloquent Mach are the other key hopes in the race. Eloquent Mach has the second row this time; his run four starts ago when making a three-wide move to finish second to Patrickthepiranha was excellent and he looks the value in the race as he aims to make it a hat-trick of wins.
Race 6
My best bet comes up in the fillies and mares’ event with Lady De La Renta beginning from barrier two. I don’t have a gate speed rating for Rocknroll Baby and watching replays gives me a bit more confidence that Lady De La Renta may cross her. If she finds the lead she becomes an odds-on chance, however, she can still race with cover in the moving line and her closing sectionals suggest she will prove hard to hold out. Her last-start second to Our Alfie Romeo was good with a 27.6 final quarter making it too hard to catch the winner who was still 4m ahead at the 400m mark. There isn’t a lot between a few of these runners but the barrier advantage will give Lady De La Renta the edge.
Race 7
I will keep this one short and sweet. Dracarys is too classy for her rivals and will win at a short quote. Best to sit back and enjoy her work. I can’t see any place value in the race.
No bet
Race 8
Trying to find the leader is a little tricky on paper according to my figures. Mister Bushido will be trying to hold up, while Waltzingwithsierra, Beltane and Dominate The Dojo have the gate speed to seriously challenge for the pacemaker’s role. Mister Bushido is the horse to beat if leading, otherwise the horse that finds the lead will have an advantage unless it is a hectic tempo early. I’m happy to support both Mister Bushido and Waltzingwithsierra in the race. Waltzingwithsierra can possibly hold out Beltane and Dominate The Dojo which means we either have the mare leading and Mister Bushido trailing, or she helps hold out the early challengers and Mister Bushido can then hold her out.
Value: Waltzingwithsierra $9.00
Race 9
A small field of six to contest the Listed Western Crown Final 2YO Colts & Geldings (1730m). There isn’t a lot of form between them and we also have a first starter for Mike Reed. The market doesn’t appear to offer too much value and this is a race where I need to see the horses compete a couple more times before being able to line them up against one another. Happy to stay out.
No bet
Race 10
The Listed Western Crown Final 2YO Fillies (1730m) has an even smaller field of five. Unbeaten Ross Olivieri filly Double Expresso looks a star in the making and she captured the Group 1 2YO Fillies Sales Classic Final (1730m) last start in 1:55.7. That was the second consecutive 1:55.7 mile rate at Gloucester Park for the filly which is excellent time. She is $1.40 here and I can’t tip anyone into that price. Moon Goddess is probably a length or two behind her at this stage so I can’t see her turning the tables. The unknown is another unbeaten filly; Kim Prentice trains and drives Soho Whisper who won at Northam last time. She hasn’t been required to break 2:00 yet but that will happen here. Her last halves have been run in 56.6 at Pinjarra and 57.4 at Northam. If there is an upset, it will come from this horse.
