Gloucester Park headlines a fantastic night of harness racing this Friday, the 8th of March and we have you covered with a preview and betting tips for every race on the card below!
Gloucester Park Harness Tips
Race 1
Bronze Seeker should be able to hold out the early challenge from You Gotta Have Faith and Bronze Seeker. This will leave Kimani racing behind the leader with A Boy Named Rosie and/or Jaxon Fella racing on the pegs behind them. There isn’t a strong breeze horse in the race which will help the leader.
Gary Hall Jnr drove Bronze Seeker to win a L5$ LT $20,000 race back in January when leading throughout to defeat Benhope Rulz in 1:56.5. This race is similar to that field and Bronze Seeker should prove extremely hard to run down with Hall Jnr making sure Kimani doesn’t get clear running late.
Race 2
I don’t have a good gauge on Caviar Star’s gate speed which makes this race a little harder than it would be if you knew for certain that he could hold the lead. Caviar Star will lead and win if he isn’t crossed by The Art Form. If that horse crosses, then it is well and truly race on with Mattjestic Star testing him last start.
Mary Catherine comes out of open-class fillies and mares’ grade with consistent form. She has been placed or won at her past five starts. Defeats have been by 3.5m or less behind Lady De La Renta, Gotta Go Gabbana, Miss Sangrial and Our Alfie Romeo. Her victory was against WA Pacing Cup placegetter Maczaffair. She is big odds here and represents each-way value in the race. I believe James Butt and Clarenden Hustler are worth small win bets also if you can get $11 and $21 or better respectively for the duo.
Race 3
This should be a great race over the 1730m with Mattjestic Star, Mister Versace and Argyle Red all capable of showing gate speed. Argyle Red is the quickest and most natural early speed horse in the race, but that doesn’t mean he is guaranteed to cross. Most of these horses are in good form which makes the spectacle even better, however, trying to find the winner is much more difficult. I would side with Mattjestic Star or Argyle Red if I knew either was the definite leader but I am not sure.
Based on not knowing the speed map, I think it is best to stay out unless you really like one of the contenders.
No Bet
Race 4
The FFA is a Listed event with a field of nine runners set to compete over 2130m. Our Jimmy Johnstone looks the leader with Vultan Tin racing outside of the leader. Im Full Of Excuses, Whozideawasthis and Simba Bromac will also be handy – that looks your race with other horses set to struggle from wide draws.
Our Jimmy Johnstone is a good frontrunner that generally wins when able to lead and I have him on top here. His numerical form doesn’t read well but you have to look at his form closer to see that he is racing in good form at the age of 10. He was held up in the Pinjarra Cup on Monday and was beaten only 3m three starts ago.
Whozideawasthis has the best raw sectionals and can also be backed at double figures. His fitness will be some concern but he is up to this level and could be dangerous late.
Our Jimmy Johnstone
$2.50
Race 5
Group 1 racing at the best harness racing track in Australia as the 2YO Fillies compete for $100,000 in prize money. This should be a one-act affair with the very smart Double Expresso for Ross Olivieri and Chris Lewis. She belted her opposition by 11.4m in her heat when rating 1:55.7. It was clearly the fastest heat, much faster than the boys’ division too, and she should comfortably capture the 2YO Fillies Sales Classic Final (1730m).
Bookmakers haven’t missed her at $1.30 so I can’t tip her at that price. Brave Lady looks to have strong place claims in the race from barrier 10 and she will likely race three or four pegs. We will need some luck but Shannon Suvaljko is driving and he will give her the best possible chance to land into the placings.
Race 6
Next up is the colts and geldings’ Group 1 event and Manning looks a strong chance of making it back-to-back wins. His debut win came in a heat when trailing Team Mascot and running him down. He looks a good chance of finding the lead and will prove hard to run down from there. Stablemate Major Martini is the main danger and Gary Hall Jnr made his choice by electing to drive Manning instead.
Manning is an odds-on chance and I can’t talk anyone into backing him at that price. I may look silly because he could bolt in, however I also don’t want to be taking him on. I’d prefer to watch him go around at this stage as black figures have already been snapped up and we will see if he gets back out towards the $2 mark.
No Bet
Race 7
First up over 2536m and without any trials is not always an easy task to face. This is what Sarah Goody faces when she returns to the track after a seven-month absence. She has the strongest form in the race and will lead from barrier one with Gary Hall Jnr driving. Two starts ago she was beaten 1.1m by Maczaffair and Eden Franco in the Group 2 WASBA Breeders Stakes (2130m). If she is fit enough for Friday night’s race, then Sarah Goody should be leading throughout to record a 14th-career win at start number 38.
Race 8
A wide-open fillies and mares race over the 1730m. Cut Above and She Could Be Good both have gate speed and would love to find the front. Mileys Desire has a change of trainer and I’m not sure if that means she will be looking to take a trail. Rock N Roll Delight is another that may show early speed here.
My confidence is low with this race. I am putting Cut Above on top from barrier four. She would be a very strong chance if able to fly across and lead. She can also race well with a sit and has won four of her past six starts. This is a step up in class for the four-year-old mare; she is trained by Matthew Scott who is in red-hot form and could get another winner with this consistent horse.
Race 9
Frostyflyer doesn’t win out of turn and he will have to be good in order to succeed in this L5$ LT $20,000 race. Barrier two doesn’t look too bad if he can find some cover in the race. Brookies Jet will be looking for an all-the-way success and race favourite Mister Spot will either come with one run or make a move to the breeze. Frostyflyer was held up last start in a similar race and he shouldn’t be too far away from the action during the race and at the finish. Double figures is worth a play with Chris Voak in the cart.
Race 10
Courage To Live was devastating last time and a repeat performance sees him a comfortable winner once again. He is $1.30 from the inside of the back row so there isn’t much value for him. Machrie loves the pegs and can finish well with his last-half sectionals rating well in this field. He will be looking to take shortcuts over the 2536m. At his latest start, he was fifth, beaten 6.2m by Mister Bushido. I really like him for a place at big odds but will suggest something small on the win just in case the favourite doesn’t turn up or gets held up if Gary Hall Jnr doesn’t come away from the fence early on.
