Welcome to our harness racing preview and betting tips for racing at Bathurst and Gloucester Park on Friday, March 29th.
It's a huge night at Bathurst, with four Group 1 races on the program, while Gloucester Park hosts another solid card in the West.
We've previewed the four features at Bathurst and offered five selections at Gloucester Park below!
Bathurst Harness Tips
Race 4 – G1 Yirribee Stud Gold Bracelet Final - 8.04pm
The Gold Bracelet Final is a race for 3YO Fillies at Group 1 level. Shane and Lauren Tritton train the favourite Brooklyns Best and she looks hardest to beat, even after considering the fact that she has barrier 12. Her career record currently sits at 23 starts for nine wins and seven minor placings. Brooklyns Best won by 14.6m in her heat as she rated a comfortable 2:00.0 with four even 29-second quarters. Four starts ago she was forced to race in the death seat and won by 6.6m with the final half run in 56.5 seconds.
Race 5 – G1 Apsley View Estate Gold Tiara Final - 8.33pm
We move onto the 2YO Fillies with the Gold Tiara Final. This race is competitive with Michelle Lee Mac looking the leader. She was a 1:57.3 heat winner. Happy Cruising has raced twice for two wins and her heat victory came from three back on the pegs as she sprinted strongly. Barrier 10 in the race means that she will follow Jo Dina at the start and racing close to the speed with some cover would be ideal so that she can finish powerfully. I’m really happy with the price about this filly and expect her to go close.
Race 6 – G1 Bathurst Gold Chalice Final - 9:03pm
It’s time for the boys to take centre stage with 3YO Colts and Geldings in the Gold Chalice Final. Shoobee Doo and Lochinvar Art are almost a coin-flip as to who will win and neither represents value in my mind. I prefer Lets Go To Brazil running a place from barrier one with Todd McCarthy driving for Michael Doltoff. He was a 1:57.6 heat winner after racing 1 out 3 back. He will either lead or sit behind the leader in the race and looks a very strong place chance. That’s not to say that he can’t win the race either, but the other two horses have a bit more class, so I would prefer to keep it a bit safer with a place bet.
Lets Go To Brazil (place)
$1.83
Race 7 – G1 Tooheys New Gold Crown Final - 9:40pm
The Gold Crown Final for 2YO Colts and Geldings is the final Group 1 on the card and Emma Stewart has a strong contender in the form of Mach Dan. The gelding will be searching for the lead as he aims to remain unbeaten in his career; so far, he has won three races, including the Group 2 Sapling Stakes (1609m) at Menangle in 1:52.9. His heat win saw him run away in 28.1 and 27.8 splits. Jilliby Nitro looks short from the outside of the front row. He did win in 1:54.5 but having drawn outside Mach Dan, this will be his biggest test. Major Bob was enormous after galloping early but he can’t afford to put a foot wrong here against this field.
Gloucester Park Harness Tips
Race 1 – 5:50pm WST
Hasani has a bit of class and barrier 11 doesn’t look too bad as he follows Ace Bromac at the start. That horse will be trying to lead but Lot Twenty One and Clarenden Hustler both possess good gate speed and one of them could potentially cross Ace Bromac. Hasani comes out of the Group 2 4YO & 5YO Championship (2130m) where he ran sixth. He was a bit disappointing, but they ran home in 54.8 seconds and the high-speed may have proved too much. He should find this race more to his liking. I’m happy to support Hasani as long as he is $3.50 or better.
Race 3 – 6:54pm WST
Keen on two place bets in this race due to the fact that Gary Hall Snr will likely have the Quinella with Herrick Roosevelt leading and winning, while Kimani should take a sit and run second. Runaway Three is racing well and being three back on the pegs in a race like this is a good place to be. He was fourth behind Herrick Roosevelt and Kimani last week. His form is very consistent right now and anything better than $2.50 looks a great place price. Jaxon Fella will drop to the pegs behind Runaway Three and has been finishing strongly in recent starts. He was held up last time and is a sneaky place hope here with some luck. I’d take $6 or better for the place.
Value: Jaxon Fella (place) $17
Runaway Three (place)
$3.10
Race 4 – 7:25pm WST
Another good FFA race where there are a number of winning chances. Whozideawasthis rates highly from barrier four after winning last week in 1:54.3. His last half was run in 54.7 seconds and he has consistently had good last-half numbers. Vincenzo Peruggia will lead and Handsandwheels will be on his back. Whozideawasthis should be handy in the run and with his closing speed, I expect him to be flying home at the finish. He put the writing on the wall with a second behind The Bucket List and looks the horse to beat this week; I have him rated a $3.30 chance.
Race 9 – 10:05pm WST
Class versus handicap is the question here with the best horse Caviar Star beginning off a 30m handicap against Better Scoot off 10m. I will go with the handicap advantage and Better Scoot should be better third up from a spell. He won off 20m at Narrogin in 2:03.1 last start. Ryan Warwick will know that he needs to make Caviar Star work at some stage in order to beat him because if the tempo is slow, Caviar Star will quickly make up the deficit. I have assessed Better Scoot as a $2.70 chance.
Race 10 – 10:35pm WST
The Group 2 Trotter Sprint (1730m) looks an intriguing race and I am happy to back two trotters in the race. The first is Sunnys Little Whiz, a former trotter of the year in Perth. She has won two of five this season, including a last-start 8.8m win against easier company. There is no denying her class with a career record of 18 wins from 43 starts. The second trotter that I like is Mortician. Ryan Warwick opts for the gelding over Sunnys Little Whiz which could be a good lead. I’m happy with Sunnys Little Whiz at $2.70 or better and Mortician at $5.50 or better.
