Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Sandown on Saturday, January 25, 2025

Form analyst Chris Vernuccio gives his top tips and quaddie analysis for the Sandown meeting on Saturday.

Herald Sun form analyst Chris Vernuccio gives his $200 betting strategy and detailed quaddie selections for Sandown on Saturday.

FOUR-PLAY: $200 BETTING STRATEGY

RACE 3: LISTED BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEW (C&G) (1000m)

$50 win SHINING SMILE (4) at $2.05

It’s always risky backing a two-year-old in these early autumn features with several debutants, but Shining Smile has been a standout in his two jumpouts. He’s the only runner in the field with race experience, winning at Caulfield Heath in November at his third start before a spell. He was runner-up on debut and placed third in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate.

RACE 5: LISTED WJ ADAMS STAKES (1000m)

$50 win MRS CHRISSIE at $3.70

Mrs Chrissie was a dominant winner first-up at Ballarat and loomed to win in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield Heath but was unable to run down Ashford Street. There may have been some second-up flatness in that performance so I’m expecting her to bounce back. A strong tempo will also benefit the six-year-old, who has a good record over the 1000m.

Mrs Chrissie bolts in to win the Tonks Plate 💨@CWilliamsJockey gets a double at Ballarat 👏@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/JWvtzMFmZX

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 7, 2024

RACE 8: LISTED JOHN DILLOW STAJES (1400m)

$50 win CHORLTON LANE (4) at $3.20

Consistent galloper Chorlton Lane gets the right conditions here. The 1400m is his best distance with five wins, and he’s finished outside the placings just once over the trip, and he also performs at his optimum on dry ground. He just needs some luck from barrier one.

RACE 9: GROUP 3 MANFRED STAKES (1200m)

$50 win BAND OF BROTHERS (1) at $4.60

Band Of Brothers takes on a field with depth here but he has a lot in his favour. He has a fitness advantage over most of his rivals, has an ideal barrier, and is one from one second-up. The three-year-old gelding also regains jockey Damian Lane, who has ridden him in four of his six starts, winning two including the Group 3 Vain Stakes.

Sweethearted takes out the last at Geelong 🐎@[e-mail]/YxeW6keHld

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 4, 2025

QUADZILLA

LEG 1 – RACE 7

A tough leg to start the quaddie. SMOKIN’ PRINCESS (4) steps up in class and takes on the boys but is in great form with two wins and second, and stays at 1600m where she has three wins from five starts. Two starts back she was runner-up behind Elphinstone, and that form ties in with favourite LE ZEBRA (5), who was held up for a run when third in his return at Flemington behind Elphinstone. FARHH FLUNG (6) finished second in that race. ONE LONG DAY (8) has won four of his six starts and can measure up stepping up in grade. ASPEN COLORADO (9) can improve again third-up.

1ST LEG: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

LEG 2 – RACE 8

CHORLTON LANE (4) is a consistent performer who will be powering home with luck in running, which he didn’t get when a half-length third in The Supernova at Pakenham last start. He won at Canberra the start before from near last. JUST FOLK (1) ran fourth in The Supernova in his first run since winning the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup in Brisbane. AZTEC RULER (5) was runner-up in the Standish Handicap in his Victorian debut and looks better suited stepping up to 1400m.

2ND LEG: 1, 4, 5

Here To Shock wins the inaugural Supernova! 💥@lindsayparkrace get the quinella! 👏@DanielStack33pic.twitter.com/dPL7rhVcSO

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

LEG 2 – RACE 9

Most runners here have a case in a tricky race. BAND OF BROTHERS (1) was run down late by promising sprinter Sweethearted first-up at Geelong. He maps well from barrier four and Damian Lane is back on board. TROPICUS (4) will probably be kept to sprinting trips this time in, and drops in class after taking on the likes of Storm Boy, Traffic Warden and Broadsiding in the spring. The blinkers go on WONDER BOY (6), who resumed in the Standish Handicap. He was Group 3 placed last prep behind Band Of Brothers and Growing Empire. NDOLA (5) finished ahead of Band Of Brothers when they met at Caulfield last July.

3RD LEG: 1, 4, 5, 6

LEG 4 – RACE 10

NEW YORK LUSTRE (13) is chasing a third consecutive win and has the early speed to push forward from his wide barrier. He does look a bit short in the market. OVERACTIVE (12) was runner-up first-up last prep and has looked good in his jumpouts. SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (8) resumes for his second campaign. He won his first three starts before he was beaten in the Bendigo Guineas when favourite. BETTER LINK (11) won first-up after returning from Hong Kong and is three from six at 1200m.

4TH LEG: 8, 11, 12, 13

Cost $100 for 52.08%

Originally published as Four-Play, Quadzilla: $200 betting strategy for Sandown on Saturday, January 25, 2025