Australian Analyst – Gloucester Park Preview 27th March
Race-by-race Gloucester Park harness racing preview.
Gloucester Park hosts 10 races on Friday night and the fourth race on the program is for the FFA mares.
WA’s top mare Penny Black is set to clash with the Gary Hall Snr pair, WA Oaks winner Fakenit and up-and-coming talent Delightful Peg, in the FFA event for mares only. Wonderful To Fly won the Golden Girls Mile last start and also competes in the race.
In addition to all 10 Gloucester Park races, we will cover the Terang Pacing Cup and Terang Trotters Cup.
Gloucester Park Preview – Friday, March 27
Race 1
The 3YO Fillies kick off the card and star filly WISHING BELLE (9) will have the task of overcoming 1730m from barrier nine. No easy task but she has won nine of her 11 career starts and defeated Golden Slipper winner D Mac last start.
Keen on a roughie here in the form of Team Bond’s CINCH NZ (3). She doesn’t have the class of the favourite, but she can run a slick last half, so if she can land somewhere midfield or better, she is capable of finishing strongly. There could be some early pressure with TYPHOON TREASURE (1) and MISS LEOPATRA NZ (6) both horses that may want to lead in the event. IM CATEGORY FIVE (8) resumes and may need the run as she has not trialled.
Selections: 9-3-1-6
CINCH NZ (3) each way
Race 2
BELLY UP (12) was excellent at his return when narrowly second behind Chaco Eagle. He sprinted home in 54.9 seconds and a similar performance to last time will see him go very close. He competed in the Group 1 WA Derby (2536m) last season and should get a few wins against the older horses this season.
TIGER ROYAL NZ (3) continues to race well from poor barriers and could be driven more aggressively here after drawing barrier three. His last win was the Fremantle Cup Consolation (2936m) but he is showing enough to suggest he could nab one soon. Plenty of other hopes in the race with BETTOR ARCADE (6), HALE SAINT LOUIE NZ (7), LINCOLN RIVER NZ (9) and CHIVALRY NZ (11) all boasting each-way claims.
Selections: 12-3-6-11
BELLY UP (12) to win
TIGER ROYAL NZ (3) to win
Race 3
Looks to be good early speed with LINCOLN LOU NZ (3), SOHO SHAKEDOWN (4) and MAD MONDAY (5) engaged. Any early speed battle will suit Group 1 WA Derby (2536m) winner RUNKLE CRUNCH NZ (7) who showed some of his versatility in midweek grade. He was first-up since the Derby, parked outside the leader and won in 1:54.1 for the 1730m. Looks hardest to beat here.
Both LINCOLN LOU NZ (3) and MAD MONDAY (5) would be hard to run down if they are able to lead without burning too much early, while SPITFIRE (1) should get a soft run. SWEET PINS NZ (11) is talented and has trialled well. Same for SOHO SHAKEDOWN (4). Great race with lots of winning hopes.
Selections: 7-5-3-1
RUNKLE CRUNCH NZ (7) to win
Race 4
An exciting mares FFA event with the return of Group 1 WA Oaks (2536m) winner FAKENIT (4) as she competes with PENNY BLACK NZ (9). Throw in up-and-coming DELIGHTFUL PEG NZ (2), along with MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (6) and WONDERFUL TO FLY (8), and we have a thrilling race on our hands.
I’ve changed my mind more than once on who I like the most. Finally settling on MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (6) each way. I am not 100% sure on the speed map besides PENNY BLACK NZ (9) facing the breeze. With that in mind, Stuart McDonald’s MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (6) will sit back and run home strongly. She has been close in all five previous runs and will be good odds against this line up.
Selections: 6-9-4-2
MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (6) each way
Race 5
The barrier draw has made this a competitive event where the entire field could win with the right run. The class runner is JUSTCALLMEMIKI NZ (8) who draws the outside gate and goes on top, but not with a great deal of confidence. It would be all over if he found the front at some stage but not sure that eventuates here.
ALTA TRIBUTE (5) was second in the Group 2 4YO Classic (2130m) and third in the Group 1 Golden Nugget (2536m). He hasn’t trialled but has lots of class and can run a big race. TUALOU NZ (3) and COMO EL VIENTO NZ (2) both have good draws and lots of speed; they could easily capture this type of race.
Selections: 8-5-2-3
JUSTCALLMEMIKI NZ (8) to win
Race 6
A standing start event that sees the return of the Gary Hall Snr pair CHASE ME NZ (7) and FRANCO MOTU NZ (9). Gary Hall Jnr will drive five-year-old gelding FRANCO MOTU NZ (9), the winner of seven races from 11 starts, including the Group 2 4YO Classic (2130m) when narrowly beating stablemate Alta Tribute. This allows Stuart McDonald to take the drive on four-year-old gelding CHASE ME NZ (7) who finished third in the Group 3 Western Gateway (2536m) won by Bettor Fortune.
Both horses come off a 40m handicap which makes them very well placed against this opposition. FRANCO MOTU NZ (9) had a nice trial and will be ready for the stand as he has won all four races behind the tapes. His stablemate is the obvious danger. Smaller hopes for MY SILVER SPOON NZ (5), MAXIMUM ROCK (8) and THELITTLE MASTER (10).
Selections: 9-7-5-10
FRANCO MOTU NZ (9) to win
Race 7
Not the easiest race to decipher with MY COPY NZ (1), ARETHA NZ (2) and IDEAL TOMADO NZ (5) capable of showing some early speed. ARETHA NZ (2) has trialled well and comes out of top three-year-old fillies’ company last season, often chasing home Fakenit. Her best form looks extremely hard to beat, but she does lose regular driver Chris Voak who knows this horse so well.
MY COPY NZ (1) is honest and can run well from the draw. BAZAAR PACKAGE (11) has been runner up in both her recent starts and DEL BOCAVISTA BAY (12) has had no luck whatsoever recently – could be dangerous with any clear running in this event. With low confidence, I will side with the luckless DEL BOCAVISTA BAY (12) who was excellent three runs ago in slick time behind Chaco Eagle.
Selections: 12-2-1-11
DEL BOCAVISTA BAY (12) each way
Race 8
It was a dominant return for TROUBADOUR NZ (12), who is prepared by the recently inducted WA Racing Hall of Fame pair of Greg and Skye Bond. The four-year-old gelding obliterated midweek rivals by 14.5m in similar grade to this race. He led throughout in 1:56.6, 56.5, and would love to make a mid-race move here in order to find the lead once again. Last season, he competed in the Group 1 WA Derby (2536m) where he finished ninth. He should continue to work through the grades this season.
VINITA ROSE NZ (8) and SUGAR SHAKE (9) are next best in the race, and they will probably work forward from wide draws as going back is not in their recent racing patterns. GOTA GOOD WARHOL (10) and RELLIM (11) are others that could sneak into a minor placing.
Selections: 12-9-8-10
TROUBADOUR NZ (12) to win
Race 9
A LITTLE SILENCE NZ (6) was impressive at his WA debut, winning in 1:55.2 after coming from last at the bell to round them up and win by 8.3m. That was his first run since 2023, as the five-year-old gelding has only raced three times in his career. Looks really hard to beat in this event.
TRUE GRIT NZ (3) relished a change of scenery as the Peter Anderson-trained gelding won by 20.6m at Northam in 1:57.8 for the 2190m. Has each-way claims in the race. LEAVEAMESSAGE (9) is racing well but has the car park draw.
Selections: 6-3-9-11
A LITTLE SILENCE NZ (6) to win
Race 10
The final race on the card is extremely difficult to work out. ARUM (6) was second two starts back at $201 odds before running better than market expectations again, finishing fourth behind Ta In Advance at $126. Wish those odds were on offer here but looks a big contender here and the market reflects that.
SUGAR STREET NZ (9) is the class horse but doesn’t seem to win anymore. The horror draw does not help his cause, but if he is ever to win a race, it will be something like this. LORD PUBLISHER NZ (5) is a big contender in the race and GETN WIGGY WITHIT NZ (8) could also turn up here.
Selections: 6-9-5-8
ARUM (6) to win
Terang
Race 6
The Terang Pacing Cup (2680m) looks to be at the mercy of the Emma Stewart-trained MIKI TO SUCCESS (10) who has won his past two starts. He was simply brilliant winning from outside the leader two starts ago in 1:51.9 before winning the Charlton Pacing Cup (2570m) in track-record time with a flat tyre. Should win this for fun.
Place hopes to JILLIBY NITRO (5), OPERATIVE LINE (6), OLIVER DAN (7) and ISTHISJUSTFANTASY (9).
Selections: 10-5-7-6
Race 7
The Terang Trotters Cup (2680m), much like the Pacing Cup, looks to be at the mercy of one horse. JILLIBY BALLERINI (7) is a star trotter in her own right but is overshadowed by her champion stablemate Keayang Zahara. The 30m handicap should pose no threat; her manners will be the main danger in this contest.
Stablemate IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ (6) has a lot of talent himself and the 20m handicap looks quite good. He is the logical horse to run second.
Selections: 7-6-5-4
Summary
Best Bet: Race 8 – TROUBADOUR NZ (12)
Next Best: Race 2 – BELLY UP (12)
Best Value: Race 7 – DEL BOCAVISTA BAY (12)
Best Roughie: Race 1 – CINCH NZ (3)
For complete Gloucester Park entries, click here.
by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink
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