Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Lightning Stakes meeting at Flemington

News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner is taking on the three-year-olds in the Lightning Stakes as he gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for Flemington.

News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for the Lightning Stakes meeting on Saturday.

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FOUR-PLAY: $200 BETTING STRATEGY

RACE 1: BENCHMARK 78 (2000m)

$25 each-way LE ZEBRA (2) at $7.50/2.40

Consistent performer should be ready to peak third-up. Placed third the past two starts in solid form races behind Elphinstone and Smokin’ Princess. Le Zebra has won third-up previously and last campaign bolted in at Flemington. Drawn wide but star jockey Jamie Melham has stuck with the four-year-old gelding, trained by astute Emma-lee and David Browne. REVELARE (3) has won three on the bounce and hard to hold out.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 90 (1200m)

$25 each-way BOSSY NIC (5) at $7/$2.50

Forget she went around in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) last start at Sandown, lost all momentum after being hip and shouldered on straightening around the bend. Certainly entitled to finish a lot closer. Bossy Nic was really good two starts back at Flemington, surged late but ultimately touched off by Major Share. Suited down the straight.

She's Bulletproof bolts in to win the Geoffrey Bellmaine! 🔫

Charlotte Littlefield with her biggest career win to date! 👏@HayfieldsRacingpic.twitter.com/qS2JRQLuaQ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 1, 2025

RACE 7: GROUP 3 CS HAYES STAKES (1400m)

$25 each-way STAY FOCUSED (5) at $11/$3.60

Fitter for first-up effort in Adelaide against the older horses – fifth behind Prairie Flower who has franked the form since with a strong finish in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) last Saturday. Stay Focused showed above average ability as a two-year-old, Group 3 placed and only 1½ lengths fifth in the Blue Diamond last year. Placed behind Growing Empire first-up last campaign and then had excuses in subsequent starts before a spell.

RACE 8: GROUP 1 BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING STAKES (1000m)

$25 each-way I AM ME (6) at $7.50/2.30

Future stud colts SWITZERLAND (11), GROWING EMPIRE (10) and TRAFFIC WARDEN (12) look to have a mortgage on the Lightning Stakes but respect I Am Me, flies fresh and 1000m on a dry deck is right in her wheelhouse. Knocked off subsequent The Everest winner Bella Nipotina last year first-up at 1000m in Sydney. Champion jockey Blake Shinn aboard a vote of confidence. The one to catch but watch for the colts late.

I Am Me does it again! Let the Everest talks begin...

Stefi Magnetica what a run 👀@cmaherracing@mcacajamez@Dynamic_WONITpic.twitter.com/eAICsRwC9T

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 21, 2024

QUADZILLA

LEG 1 – RACE 7

ROYAL INSIGNIA (3) has not done much wrong, won three of four starts including first-up at Sandown. Drawn wide but nothing champion jockey Craig Williams cannot overcome. STAY FOCUSED (7) could cause a minor upset. Solid effort first-up in Adelaide and form franked since. SEPALS (14) rising sharply in grade, respect the booking of Blake Shinn. Include WONDER BOY (9).

1ST LEG 3, 7, 9, 14

Royal Insignia flashes home to win the Manfred Stakes 🏅@jamieleemott@Grahame_Beggpic.twitter.com/G3FTDYJSIm

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 25, 2025

LEG 2 – RACE 8

SWITZERLAND (11) and GROWING EMPIRE (10) the colts to beat in a ripping edition of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Both prepped up really well and drawn alongside each other so ducks and drakes early doors? I AM ME (6) could be the one to catch over the short course. Flies fresh, won four of six first-up, and fast ground her go. Happy to risk the rest.

2ND LEG 6, 10, 11

LEG 3 – RACE 9

ANOTHER PROPHET (1) looks very well placed in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) with a sweet draw. The Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner resumed with a four placing in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) and could easily show up here. CILACAP (5) has residual fitness and plenty of upside. New Zealand Group 1 winner CAPTURED BY LOVE (2) must be included in her Australian debut. HUSK (7) has fitness edge on main opposition.

3RD LEG 1, 2, 5, 7

ANOTHER PROPHET wins the Group 1 Thousand Guineas! 🔥@[e-mail]/RT4kYcnayy

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 16, 2024

LEG 4 – RACE 10

EUGENIUS (14) has raced well at Flemington previously and gets into this race with a fly weight – 51kg after Tom Prebble’s claim. Carried 55kg last start touched off at Sale. SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (9) arrived in time to win at Sandown first-up – four from five and on the up. PORTER (12) going for a hat-trick must be included also after a dominant win at Sale last start.

4TH LEG 9, 12, 14

COST $100 FOR 69%

SKINNY QUADDIE

Start with ROYAL INSIGNIA (3), STAY FOCUSED (7) and SEPALS (14). In the second leg take I AM ME (6), GROWING EMPIRE (10) and SWITZERLAND (11). Then in the third leg take ANOTHER PROPHET (1), CAPTURED BY LOVE (2) and CILACAP (5). Come home with SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (9) and EUGENIUS (14).

1ST LEG 3, 7, 14

2ND LEG 6, 10, 11

3RD LEG 1, 2, 5

4TH LEG 9, 14

COST $100 FOR 185%

Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Lightning Stakes meeting at Flemington