Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for The Valley on Saturday

Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner’s $200 betting strategy and detailed quaddie selections for The Valley on Saturday.

Akrotiri can start his campaign with back-to-back wins. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Herald Sun form analyst Gilbert Gardiner gives his four-play $200 betting strategy and detailed quaddie selections for The Valley on Saturday.

FOUR-PLAY

RACE 2: BENCHMARK 64 (1000m)

Bet: $50 win RHETORICAL (13) at $4.20

Not won for a while but has speed to burn and Melbourne’s leading jockey Damian Lane to get the job done on Saturday. Narrowly beaten last start at The Valley, wedged between horses in a driving finish and missed by a long head. Drawn to be outside opposition and has a weight advantage on key chances, including equal favourite KEANE ENUFF (5) and third elect CHANGE IS COMING (7).

⚜️ #Grunt strikes again!

3YO filly Our Cracklin Rosie (ex Rosie's Command) puts in a gutsy performance @TheValley to record her third victory in a row for @shanenicholsrac under @WILLPRICE50.

Bred on-farm, we sold her @inglis_sales Premier to her trainer.

Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/2YzBQs7qGc

— Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) December 8, 2023

RACE 3: BENCHMARK 64 (1600m)

Bet: $25 each-way AKROTIRI (4) at $8/$2.60

Good win first-up at Mornington and should only be improved by the performance. Has carried weight before and won second-up last campaign, leading all the way at Sandown. Drawn low in an open race but should be prominent and hard to hold out. Respect favourite HARBIN (3), runner-up in stronger grade last start.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 78 (2000m)

Bet: $25 each-way EPIC CENTRE (3) at $6.50/$2.20

Yet to win first-up from three previous attempts but has jumped out nicely and won three of six starts last campaign – all at 1000m. Epic Centre finished second behind Rich Fortune in a recent jumpout and that horse came out last Wednesday to run third in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington. Should be a fast-run race with the speed horses and fancied runners drawn in barriers one to four. Race fitness could be a factor late but expect Epic Centre to be right in the finish.

Epic Centre charges to his third victory this prep 💥@c_douglasracingpic.twitter.com/MuAlVK7RTQ

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 19, 2023

RACE 9: BENCHMARK 78 (1600m)

Bet: $50 win FEARLESS WRITER (10) at $3.50

Impossible to knock a track and distance last-start winner, especially with Damian Lane glued on to the Adrian McGregor-trained mare in form. Fearless Writer has won, placed twice and finished fourth twice the past five starts and from barrier three should get every chance to upstage the boys on Saturday. The four-year-old Written Tycoon mare has a weight and race fitness edge on second favourite TURBEAU (1). Mindful of CAPTAIN BRITAIN (5), a good winner at The Valley two starts back before a forgive run on heavy ground at Ballarat. Watch for FLASH FEELING (2) late.

QUADZILLA

LEG 1, RACE 7

MATRON BULLWINKEL (1) back in grade and suitably on top of the ground. Drawn perfect and has the benefit of in-form Celine Gaudray aboard. KETTLE HILL (2) is yet to win in Australia but been around the mark the past four starts beaten between 1¼ and three lengths in better grade. Will need luck at the right time and momentum to come from behind and get an early Christmas present. Respect favourite WHAKAMANA (10) but only raced on good tracks twice in 13 starts and placed once. Best form has been saved for wet ground, two wins and four places in 11 starts. Ploughed through Heavy ground a fortnight ago to run third at Ballarat.

Selections: 1, 2, 10

LEG 2, RACE 8

FIRE GLO TOO (5) cannot be faulted. A model of consistency the past eight starts, with two wins, five places and two fourths. Drawn to be prominent and unlucky not to win last start. KAILASH (9) has won twice at The Valley and placed once in six starts on the tight-turning circuit. Up in grade but hard fit and drawn low. GLENTANEOUS (1) wound up strongly to win last start, his first on Australian soil although stablemate CADMUS (3) could be the better shout at The Valley, won and run second there previously. Include VALLEY FORGE (2) to run a cheeky race.

Selections: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9

Ruling up the inside pinches it! 🤏@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/gtgQWGWfbZ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 2, 2023

LEG 3, RACE 9

FEARLESS WRITER (10) is a last-start track and distance winner with Damian Lane aboard. Raced well without winning previously but capable of going on with it now. CAPTAIN BRITAIN (5) won well at The Valley two starts back before a complete forgive run at Ballarat on an extremely heavy surface. Back on top of the ground, could be in the finish. FLASH FEELING (2) yet to place in four starts first-up previously but jumped out nicely and could show up. The backmarker always needs luck with racing pattern.

Selections: 2, 5, 10

LEG 4, RACE 10

SANDY PRINCE (1) has won third-up previously and recent form franked with Boldinho a strong winner at Caulfield last Saturday. Big weight to contend with, 61kg after Celine Gaudray’s claim, but bolted in with 59.5kg last campaign on a Heavy track at Warrnambool. VELOCE CARRO (6) has won two of his past four starts. Include ALONG THE RIVER (4) and NO DRAMA (7).

Selections: 1, 4, 6, 7

THE VALLEY QUADDIE

First leg: 1, 2, 10

Second leg: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9

Third leg: 2, 5, 10

Fourth leg: 1, 4, 6, 7

COST $100 FOR 55%

SKINNY QUADDIE

Start with MATRON BULLWINKEL (1) and KETTLE HILL (2). In the second leg take CADMUS (3), FIRE GLO TOO (5) and KAILASH (9). Then in the third leg take FLASH FEELING (2), CAPTAIN BRITAIN (5) and FEARLESS WRITER (10). Come home with SANDY PRINCE (1), VELOCE CARRO (6) and NO DRAMA (7).

First leg: 1, 2

Second leg: 3, 5, 9

Third leg: 2, 5, 10

Fourth leg: 1, 6, 7

COST $100 FOR 185%

Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for The Valley on Saturday