Brad and Gator’s Flemington quaddie for Stakes Day
The curtain comes down on the VRC Spring Carnival at Flemington and Brad Waters and David Gately look to close out with the final quaddie.
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RACE 6
BRAD: Here we are — the final day of the Flemington carnival and four intriguing races making up the quaddie. The Darley Sprint Classic starts off thing for us and I’m happy to back BIVOUAC (3). In fact, I’m making him my best bet of the day. He was dominant in the Newmarket at his last straight run and was terrific again in The Everest last time out. He gets the soft run behind the speed and his turn of foot should help him reel in the leaders. Wary of NATURE STRIP (2) possibly returning to his best back down the straight. TOFANE (8) is also a chance back on her home track.
GATOR: I feel like Judas not tipping NATURE STRIP (2) on top but BIVOUAC (3) ran by him in The Everest. Nature Strip could not control things there and he was a brilliant winner of this race last year when he could control, if he runs to that, he wins, simple!! LIBERTINI (9) had excuses in The Everest and beat the winner prior, she wasn’t far off Bivouac here in a Coolmore last Spring.
RACE 7
GATOR: Leaning to VANNA GIRL (3) here back out to 2000m, she didn’t quicken in the Empire Rose but was race-fastest home last 200m. TOFFEE TONGUE (2) held her ground in Caulfield Cup, beaten a lip by Verry Elleegant prior in Group 1 Turnbull is outstanding form for this. IN GOOD HEALTH (7) and AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (12) are chances, the latter was a length off Toffee Tongue in May in SA.
BRAD: I marked at least eight winning chances at my first look at this race but am going to have something each-way on VANNA GIRL (3) after the way she finished off in the Empire Rose but she’s in a tough race. CHAILLOT (13) also backs up after an excellent run last Saturday and TOFFEE TONGUE (2) was terrific in the Turnbull two runs back and I’m prepared to forgive her Caulfield Cup run. Heaps of chances in a typically tough Matriarch Stakes to pick.
RACE 8
BRAD: We can see what the Hayes / Dabernig camp has done with FIFTY STARS (2) and it’s a great chance paying off. He won the Blamey Stakes before backing up a week later to win the Australian Cup in the autumn. He showed he was working back to his best with an excellent fifth in the Cantala and he’s ready for the 2000m. He’s over the odds at $10. SKYWARD (6) will be fitter for his Geelong Cup effort and could measure up while MUGATOO (5) was huge on the Cox Plate and will again be thereabouts. ARCADIA QUEEN (9) should also run well.
GATOR: Not sacking ARCADIA QUEEN (9) who nearly fell in Cox Plate and did sail by Russian Camelot on dry prior. MELODY BELLE (8) comes off a brilliant win in NZ and was outstanding in this race last year. MUGATOO (5) was wide and terrific in the Cox Plate too.
RACE 9
GATOR: PLAQUETTE (15) is group-class, the closing sectionals she reeled off in Sydney last time were phenomenal. Back to 1100m is ideal. EXPRESS PASS (3) ran well in Group 2 Danehill here as a three-year-old and can win. METEORITE (11) is flying and ROCK PROPHET (18) goes in quaddie.
BRAD: Good luck with this lottery punters! A benchmark 80 race with a full field down the straight, probably racing’s version of football’s hospital handpass. Playing ROCK PROPHET (18) if he gets a run after his unlucky effort at Bendigo last start. He saw plenty of rumps that day but should have more luck down the Flemington straight. He was good in a Group race down the straight two runs back and is in with 55.5kg after Lewis German’s claim. If he can’t win, I’ve got no idea what will! Tough finish to the day, and the carnival.
GATOR’S QUADDIE
2,3,9/2,3,7,12/5,8,9/3,11,15,18 - 144 combinations
BRAD’S QUADDIE
2,3/2,3,7,13/2,5,6,7,8,9/3,5,11,15,17,18 - 288 combinations