Punters around Australia will be scrounging for every available cent while bookmakers rejoice: it’s a typical scenario following a forgettable Melbourne Cup Carnival from a wagering perspective.
Data obtained from SuperTAB confirms what every punter already knew – the 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival was nothing short of lamentable for those having a flutter over the four days of the carnival.
Flying Skipper was the longest priced winner of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, winning at $51.30 on Crown Oaks Day
The Australian public had a taste of how difficult a carnival it was for the punter, with Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon starting at $22.50 – ranked 10th of the 24 runners by SuperTAB gamblers.
Across the four days, only eight favourites on SuperTAB won from 37 races – Zydeco (Wakeful Stakes, $2.90), Fawkner (tab.com.au Stakes, $3.00), Villa Verde (7News Plate, $3.20), Genteel (Schweppes Tonic 1000, $3.90), Unpretentious (MSS Security Sprint, $4.00), Arinosa (TCL 3D TV Plate, $3.90), Sertorius (Antler Luggage Handicap, $3.00) and Puissance de Lune (Queen Elizabeth Stakes, $3.00).
Of those, Fawkner wasn’t the official favourite when he won last week, with Free Wheeling favourite with the bookmakers.
He did start favourite in today’s Emirates Stakes, but was nabbed on the line by $13.10 chance Happy Trails.
The longest priced winner of the week was South Australia’s Flying Skipper, who paid $51.30 when he won the Myer Spring Fashion Stakes on Crown Oaks day.
He was one of nine horses who paid more than $15 when winning over the Carnival, with other long priced winners including Fiveandahalfstar (Victoria Derby, $19.30), Appearance (Myer Classic, $43.80), Kasane (TAB Trophy, $28.70), Koonoomoo (Herald Sun Stakes, $23.30), Green Moon (Melbourne Cup, $22.50), General Truce (Fashions on the Field Stakes, $16.30), Direct Charge (Maribyrnong Plate, $17.90) and Eximius (Hilton Hotels Stakes, $31.80).
The average winning dividend for each race over the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival was $12.49, which was an improvement on last year’s average of $12.53 but not as friendly as the 2010 average of $11.44.
However, last year’s results were skewed by Emirates Stakes Day, which saw seven of the nine winners start at double figure odds. Despite Black Caviar’s win in the Patinack Farm Classic at $1.04, the average winning dividend on the day was $21.46.
This year, Emirates Stakes Day proved the most favourable day for punters with an average dividend of $11.22.
Melbourne Cup Day’s average payout was $11.99, while an average dividend of $12.18 confronted punters on Victoria Derby Day.
On paper, Crown Oaks Day looked the harshest result with an average dividend of $14.64, thanks largely to Flying Skipper’s unexpected win.
In the last three years, only Emirates Stakes Day last year proved rougher for punters.
Of course, as there is every year, there were stories of incredible luck, none more so than the Sportsbet client who turned 8c into more than $77000 when she nabbed the first four on the Melbourne Cup (Green Moon, Fiorente, Jakkalberry, Kelinni).
For the rest of us, we will walk home barefoot, dreaming that our jackpot is right around the corner – hopefully, it may come during the Melbourne Cup Carnival next year.
Here are the SuperTAB results over the Melbourne Cup Carnival:
DERBY DAY
| Race | Winner | Favourite |
| Carbine Club Stakes | Lunar Rise ($7.90) | Al Aneed ($4.20, 6th) |
| Lexus Stakes | Kelinni ($8.60) | Gatewood ($3.00, 6th) |
| Wakeful Stakes | Zydeco ($2.90) | Zydeco |
| Coolmore Stud Stakes | Nechita ($5.00) | Snitzerland ($3.80, 5th) |
| Mackinnon Stakes | Alcopop ($5.20) | Ocean Park ($1.70, 3rd) |
| Victoria Derby | Fiveandahalfstar ($19.30) | It’s A Dundeel ($2.70, 7th) |
| Myer Classic | Appearance ($43.80) | Streama ($3.10, 8th) |
| Yellowglen Sprint | Fontelina ($13.90) | Howmuchdoyouloveme ($2.90, 8th) |
| TAB.com.au Stakes | Fawkner ($3.00) | Fawkner |
CUP DAY
| Race | Winner | Favourite |
| 7News Plate | Villa Verde ($3.20) | Villa Verde |
| TAB Trophy | Kasane ($28.70) | Shihabi ($5.00, 5th) |
| Lavazza Long Black | Verdant ($7.30) | Garud ($3.80, 2nd) |
| Herald Sun Stakes | Koonoomoo ($23.30) | Whateverwhenever ($5.70, 9th) |
| Schweppes Tonic 1000 | Genteel ($3.90) | Genteel |
| Lexus Hybrid Plate | Walk With Attitude ($6.50) | Angelic Light ($4.30, 6th) |
| Melbourne Cup | Green Moon ($22.50) | Americain ($6.20, 11th) |
| Diamond Jubilee Plate | Eclair Surprise ($10.30) | Tribal Rock ($5.00, 3rd) |
| MSS Security Sprint | Unpretentious ($4.00) | Unpretentious |
| Headquarters Tavern Plate | Mahisara ($10.20) | Aeronautical ($5.20, 7th) |
OAKS DAY
| Race | Winner | Favourite |
| Visit Victoria Plate | Keep De Rose ($9.90) | Gladius ($4.80, 9th) |
| Swisse Wellness Trophy | Niconoise ($9.20) | Commanding Time ($4.60, 2nd) |
| G.H. Mumm Stakes | Honey Flower ($11.40) | Serene Star ($4.90, 7th) |
| Gucci Icons of Heritage Stakes | Shamal Wind ($13.50) | Meidung ($4.50, 4th) |
| TCL 3D TV Plate | Arinosa ($3.90) | Arinosa |
| Crown Oaks | Dear Demi ($4.90) | Zydeco ($2.40, 2nd) |
| Myer Spring Fashion Stakes | Flying Skipper ($51.30) | Scapolo ($4.20, 2nd) |
| 50 Years of Fashions on the Field Stakes | General Truce ($16.30) | Golden Archer ($3.80, 2nd) |
| Grazia Ultimate Style | Lord of Brazil ($11.40) | New York ($2.80, 4th) |
STAKES DAY
| Race | Winner | Favourite |
| Maribyrnong Plate | Direct Charge ($17.90) | Crack a Roadie ($3.40, 2nd) |
| Momentum Energy Trophy | Good Value ($11.30) | Galah ($2.80, 2nd) |
| Antler Luggage Handicap | Sertorius ($3.00) | Sertorius |
| Hilton Hotels Stakes | Eximius ($31.80) | Generalife ($5.30, 5th) |
| Patinack Farm Classic | Mental ($6.50) | Sea Siren ($4.30, 2nd) |
| Emirates Stakes | Happy Trails ($13.10) | Fawkner ($4.80, 2nd) |
| Matriarch Stakes | Midnight Martini ($7.60) | Silent Achiever ($2.00, 4th) |
| Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Puissance de Lune ($3.00) | Puissance de Lune |
| Emirates Airline Handicap | Launay ($6.80) | Tokugawa ($4.00, 3rd) |
AVERAGE DIVIDENDS
| Meeting | Average Dividend |
| 2012 Victoria Derby Day | $12.18 |
| 2012 Melbourne Cup Day | $11.99 |
| 2012 Crown Oaks Day | $14.64 |
| 2012 Emirates Stakes Day | $11.22 |
| 2012 Overall | $12.49 |
| 2011 Victoria Derby Day | $7.00 |
| 2011 Melbourne Cup Day | $9.40 |
| 2011 Crown Oaks Day | $12.26 |
| 2011 Emirates Stakes Day | $21.46 |
| 2011 Overall | $12.53 |
| 2010 Victoria Derby Day | $9.21 |
| 2010 Melbourne Cup Day | $13.83 |
| 2010 Crown Oaks Day | $12.30 |
| 2010 Emirates Stakes Day | $10.42 |
| 2010 Overall | $11.44 |
