Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield on Saturday
Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner’s $200 betting strategy and detailed quaddie selections for Caulfield on Saturday.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Herald Sun form analyst Gilbert Gardiner gives his four-play $200 betting strategy and detailed quaddie selections for Caulfield on Saturday.
FOUR-PLAY
RACE 2: 3YO BENCHMARK 70 (1800m)
$50 win SMOKIN’ GIANT (1) at $3
Up in class but with good reason after obliterating a Pakenham maiden field on debut last month. Settled behind the speed over 1600m and surged clear in the straight to win by 4¾ lengths under star jockey Damian Lane. Drawn to get a similar run at Caulfield and should derive benefit from race experience and fitness. Mindful of CROSSOVERKID (4), unlucky not to win last start at Flemington and raced well the start prior when third at Bendigo.
He's a Smokin' Giant & he bolts in at Pakenham! 💪 @LaneDamian lands an early double âœŒï¸ @moodyracingpgmpic.twitter.com/EhChquLbPB
— Racing.com (@Racing) January 18, 2024
RACE 4 GROUP 3 CHAIRMAN’S STAKES (1000m)
$50 win ENEEZA (2) at $2.50
A serious filly with a bright future, as good as any in the Peter Moody-Katherine Coleman yard right now. The $1.1m purchase should stamp her Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes credentials on Saturday despite the Chairman’s being a potential banana peel race, with only a small field. Eneeza finished second on debut last October at Flemington and bolted in second-up at Caulfield, winning the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes. COLEMAN (1) and EXPRESS YO’SELF (6) the main dangers.
"She's pretty good!" 💥
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) December 2, 2023
Eneeza shows an impressive turn of foot to win the Merson Cooper! @LaneDamian@moodyracingpgmpic.twitter.com/8KJH9sMAJT
RACE 5: BENCHMARK 70 (1400m)
$25 each way MASTERFUL (1) at $11/$3.40
Up in grade but worth a crack after solid efforts at Cranbourne the past two starts. Swamped the opposition late two starts back to win by a length and then last time out just missed winner SIGNAL (16) in a tight finish. Drawn to settle within striking distance and has the services of Michael Dee to navigate a path to victory. Looks to be good speed in the race which should suit Masterful. Respect the favourite PUNCH LANE (7) and second elect ZONDEE (14).
RACE 8 GROUP 3 GEOFFREY BELLMAINE STAKES (1200m)
$25 each-way RICH FORTUNE (2) at $7.50/$2.40
Been around the mark without winning the past four starts behind in-form gallopers including Katsu and Rey Magnerio, fancied in race 9 on Saturday. Rich Fortune has drawn well and 1200m should be ideal. Champion jockey Craig Williams has ridden the mare four times for a win and three minor placings. Favourite WROTE TO ARATAKI (1) was hard fit and airborne when she won the race last year, 12 months on the Matthew Williams-trained mare tackles the race fresh.
QUADZILLA
LEG 1 - RACE 7
The market has got this race right – a lottery! Could make a case for nine of the 13 starters. STAR VEGA (7) deserves to be equal favourite, having won the past two starts. Wide draw the only knock on the hat-trick contender. MOVEFORLEX (10) raced well at Caulfield last campaign, second and first respectively. DUBLIN JOURNAL (5) weighted to be competitive here after lumping 61kg last start sixth, beaten 2.4 lengths behind Star Vega. Include ENOTIS (8) and BRITISH COLUMBIA (2).
1ST LEG: 2, 5, 7, 8, 10
LEG 2 - RACE 8
RICH FORTUNE (2) has raced well without winning the past four starts, get her chance here. Respect last year’s winner, WROTE TO ARATAKI (1) despite the mare going into the race fresh this year and she’s best suited at 1400m not 1200m. The Geoffrey Bellamaine was run over 1300m last year. A LITTLE DEEP (7) has not put a hoof wrong with two wins and two places from her past four starts. Earned her shot in stakes company. PENTHOUSE (5) the knockout contender especially if the frontrunner gets a soft lead.
2ND LEG: 1, 2, 5, 7
LEG 3 - RACE 9
MIDTOWN BOSS (9) won with authority first-up at Flemington and no reason why the four-year-old Street Boss gelding cannot go back to the well, albeit around a bend this time. Midtown Boss has won three of seven starts. Mornington Glory, who finished second behind Midtown Boss at Flemington, has won twice since. REY MAGNERIO (3) has won five of eight starts since July last year and commands respect.
3RD LEG: 3, 9
As easy as you like 😎
— Racing.com (@Racing) January 1, 2024
Midtown Boss gets punters & @mattlaurierace off to a winning start in 2024 💥@DanielStack33pic.twitter.com/DdWjZM0kGs
LEG 4 - RACE 10
WHO DARES (7) is hard fit and should be ahead of short-priced favourite JIMMYSTAR (13) for a long way in the 1400m Benchmark 84. Jimmystar showed good versatility to settle closer to the speed last start last campaign, winning comfortably at Cranbourne but previous efforts were all swooping performances. TONNEOFGRIT (10) the bolter, has winning experience at Caulfield and should be ready to peak fourth-up.
4TH LEG: 7, 10, 13
COST $100 FOR 83%
SKINNY QUADDIE
Start with BRITISH COLUMBIA (2), DUBLIN JOURNAL (5) and STAR VEGA (7). In the second leg take RICH FORTUNE (2), PENTHOUSE (5) and A LITTLE DEEP (7). Then in the third leg take MIDTOWN BOSS (9) one out. Come home with WHO DARES (7) and JIMMYSTAR (13).
First leg: 2, 5, 7
Second leg: 2, 5, 7
Third leg: 9
Fourth leg: 7, 13
COST $100 FOR 555%
Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield on Saturday
Ottobre gives Jenni’s Cox Plate lead-up wish
Ciaron Maher has plenty of options with star mare Pride Of Jenni but owner Tony Ottobre has given his preference for her last lead-up run before the Cox Plate.
Kensington preview: Zouatica out to find Big Dance rhythm
A win on the Kensington can propel Zouatica towards the Five Diamonds Prelude on the path to the Big Dance just as it did for his stablemate Super Helpful last year.