Quadzilla, Four-Play: Gilbert Gardiner’s $200 betting strategy for Pakenham on Saturday

Gilbert Gardiner is banking on some Blake Shinn magic to overcome a wide draw for one of his best bets of the day at Pakenham on Saturday.

Gilbert Gardiner is keen to back Romani Ite Domum at Pakenham on Saturday. Picture: cost Barbour / Racing Photos

Racenet and The Herald-Sun’s Gilbert Gardiner presents his $200 betting strategy, plus quaddie picks, for Pakenham on Saturday.

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PAKENHAM FOUR-PLAY

RACE 2: BENCHMARK 74 (1200m)
• $50 win ROMANI ITE DOMUM (1) at $3.40
Won two of four and runner-up twice, including last start behind the smart debutant Refusetobeenglish, since sold to Hong Kong. Romani Ite Domum has drawn wide in barrier 10 but nothing champion jockey Blake Shinn cannot overcome. The Ribchester three-year-old gelding puts himself on speed and should be hard to hold out. SWEETHEARTED (8) trained locally the main danger third start after a pair of second places.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 78 (2000m)
• $25 each-way SAMUEL LANGHORNE (3) $9/$2.90
Super effort first-up 2000m at Ballarat a fortnight ago where he beat all bar hard-fit DUBLIN JOURNAL (1), who again poses a threat on Saturday. Samuel Langhorne, trained by Michael Kent, should be fitter again and hard to beat. Favourite RUAKAKA RAIDER (8) the obvious threat and expect SABAN (7) to run well.

RACE 8: THE SUPERNOVA (1400m)
• $50 win NADAL (6) at $2.90
Cannot fault The Meteorite winner and extra distance – 200m – no issue at all. Drawn wide but suits the racing style of being saved up for a big sprint finish. The big track at Pakenham a bonus and should Nadal be afforded even luck in transit nothing in this field has the motor to go with him late. TUVALU (8) is the only Group 1 winner in the field and 1400m to boot, so must be respected as on best form would be right in the finish.

RACE 9: LISTED PAKENHAM CUP (2500m)
• $50 win SMOKIN’ ROMANS (1) at $4
Ole Smokey has been there, done that and could do it again. The eight-year-old gelding has continued to race consistently, won two back and runner-up last start. Drawn out but has the tactical speed to cross and dictate terms. He’s the one they need to get past in the straight. MURAMASA (3) has attracted strong support the past 36 hours and would not be surprised if VOW AND DECLARE (4) bobbed up.

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PAKENHAM QUADZILLA

LEG 1, RACE 7
NATION’S CALL (3) back in grade and much better suited at 1600m. MATHLETIC (1) stuck on boldly to run third last month at Ballarat second-up, led and only collared late. Could be hard to run down again if allowed to dictate in front. NANA’S WISH (16) has been well supported in early betting and must be included. Include PERFECT PLAY (12).
1ST LEG 1, 3, 12, 16

LEG 2, RACE 8
NADAL (6) has been the horse on everyone’s lips and justifiably so after his slashing win in the $1m The Meteorite last month. First time at 1400m as a gelding some query but based on past performances should not be an issue. TUVALU (8) is the only Group 1 winner in the field and at 1400m, so must be included on best form. ARKANSAW KID (1) was luckless in The Meteorite and is poised to bounce back. CHORLTON LANE (9) next best.
2ND LEG 1, 6, 8, 9

LEG 3, RACE 9
SMOKIN’ ROMANS (1) has wound back the clock and thrived the past four starts in Group races. Makes own luck on speed and the horse to get past. VOW AND DECLARE (4) not to be dismissed either back on top of the ground. MURAMASA (3) raced well in the Ballarat Cup, ninth but only beaten 3.9 lengths after a big gap between runs. Suited at 2400m on a dry track.
3RD LEG 1, 3, 4

LEG 4, RACE 10
FREAK OF NATURE (5) entitled to finish much closer than fourth after being squeezed out of a run in the straight last Saturday at Caulfield Heath. HELIX (15) also on a seven-day back and should be hard to hold out. GLOBAL HARMONY (7) first-up after 10-months but the ex-Hong Kong barrier rogue has trialled up nicely. THE OPEN (3) will need luck from the barrier.
4TH LEG 3, 5, 7, 15

PAKENHAM QUADDIE
Race 7: 1, 3, 12, 16
Race 8: 1, 6, 8, 9
Race 9: 1, 3, 4
Race 10: 3, 5, 7, 15
COST $100 FOR 52%

SKINNY QUADDIE
Start with NATION’S CALL (3) and NANA’S WISH (16). In the second leg take NADAL (6) one out. In the third leg take SMOKIN’ ROMANS (1), MURAMASA (3) and VOW AND DECLARE (4). Come home with FREAK OF NATURE (5), GLOBAL HARMONY (7) and HELIX (15).

PAKENHAM SKINNY QUADDIE
Race 7: 3, 16
Race 8: 6
Race 9: 1, 3, 4
Race 10: 5, 7, 15
COST $100 FOR 555%