Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for the All-Star Mile, Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington

News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner says a mare can defy her big weight in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington as he gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis.

News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for the All-Star Mile, Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington on Saturday.

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FOUR-PLAY: $200 BETTING STRATEGY

RACE 4: GROUP 3 SHAFTESBURY AVERNUE HANDICAP (1400m)

$25 each-way AZTEC RULER (4) at $9.50/2.80

West Australian raider has raced well in three Melbourne starts, runner-up twice including the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) behind All-Star Mile entrant Rise At Dawn. Wide draw makes things a bit tougher but Aztec Ruler is hard fit and has the in-form Damian Lane to navigate a path to victory. Wary of FANCIFY (6) back on top of the ground. Forget she went around in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes on a shifty and rain-affected surface.

RACE 5: GROUP 2 SIRES’ PRODUCE STAKES (1400m)

$25 each-way BRAVE DESIGN (5) at $8.50/$2.90

Solid debut third at Flemington last start in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m), which has turned out to be a strong form reference through shared winners Shining Smile and Tentyris. Shining Smile won again last Saturday while Tentyris finished second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes a fortnight ago. Brave Design should be better for the debut performance and appreciate the rise in distance.

It's a dead heat in the Talindert! 😱

Shining Smile and Tentyris could not be split! @lindsayparkrace@godolphin@[e-mail]/EA7rdbHpQ2

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 15, 2025

RACE 7: GROUP 1 ALL-STAR MILE (1600m)

$50 win MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) at $2.50

Total respect for up and comers ANOTHER WIL (4) and TOM KITTEN (2) but Mr Brightside is the weight-for-age benchmark for good reason. Impossible to go past the nine-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile winner on class, form and genuine toughness. Another Wil and Tom Kitten will have a crack, six of the seven starters to be fair could run a place, but Mr B is the horse they all need to get past at the clock tower.

RACE 9: GROUP 1 NEWMARKET HANDICAP (1200m)

$25 each-way BENEDETTA (1) at $10/$3.40

Big weight (57kg) but her run in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) screamed Newmarket Handicap contender. The five-year-old Hellbent mare has won two of three starts second-up previously and loves Flemington (6:2-0-3). Placed fourth in the race last year with 52kg on her back but progressed to eventually win her Group 1 in Adelaide. Happy to play at the price, mindful of REY MAGNERIO (6) and JOLIESTAR (5).

IT'S SKYBIRD IN THE BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING STAKES! 🦅

THE THREE 3YO COLTS FINISH OUT OF THE PLACINGS! 😱@[e-mail]/qgXjJ6oJyl

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 15, 2025

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QUADZILLA

LEG 1 – RACE 7

MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) the horse to beat clearly. Tough win last start in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) has steeled the champion for a second All-Star Mile in four attempts. Will be in front at the 200m and mighty hard to get past. ANOTHER WIL (4) collared Mr Brightside first-up in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m), a month between runs but clearly a horse on the up.

1ST LEG: 1, 4

LEG 2 – RACE 8

VRC Oaks winner TREASURETHE MOMENT (1) could not have been any more impressive first-up in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco (1400m) at Caulfield. Stalked the leader and romped to victory under a hold from Damian Lane. Drawn wider here but should be too good for this lot. The Matt Laurie-trained filly has won six of eight starts and been runner-up twice.

2ND LEG: 1

Treasurethe Moment returns in fine style!

She could be in for a big preparation! 👀@YulongInvest@[e-mail]/Kz2WH161c0

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

LEG 3 – RACE 9

BENEDETTA (1) went super in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) first-up to run third and repeat performance should go close to winning the Newmarket Handicap. Won two of three second up and loves Flemington. JOLIESTAR (5) at her best could blow the doors off them. REY MAGNERIO (6) has been a model of consistency the past 12 months and should be in the finish somewhere. Include GATSBY’S (15).

3RD LEG: 1, 5, 6, 15

LEG 4 – RACE 10

MIRAVAL ROSE (4) struck miserable conditions last start at Flemington but stuck on well to run third. Drawn low and back on top of the ground should put the talented mare right in the picture. WISHLOR LASS (5) another improver out of the same race as Miraval Rose. Won two of four second-up previously. SMOKIN’ PRINCESS (7) has four of the past five including three on the bounce. Respect.

4TH LEG: 4, 5, 7

Wrote To Arataki relishes the conditions to win the Frances Tressady Stakes! @mwracing3638pic.twitter.com/Urdm3e0zyJ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 15, 2025

COST $100 FOR 416%

SKINNY QUADDIE

Start with MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) and ANOTHER WIL (4). In the second leg take TREASURETHE MOMENT (1) one out. Then in the third leg take BENEDETTA (1), JOLIESTAR (5) and GATSBY’S (15). Come home with MIRAVAL ROSE (4) and WISHLOR LASS (5).

1ST LEG: 1, 4

2ND LEG: 1

3RD LEG: 1, 5, 15

4TH LEG: 4, 5

COST $100 FOR 833%

Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for the All-Star Mile, Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington