Randwick bookmakers were praying for the Melbourne Cup photo-finish to go the other way, with French-trained winner Dunaden a losing result.
The well-supported Dunaden started second favourite and scored a thrilling win in a photo over Red Cadeaux who started at $31.
“There was a massive difference in the photo-finish,” bookmaker Luke Behrmann said.
“Probably one of the biggest photo-finish differences I’ve had in a long time. It was a losing race the way it panned out, but Red Cadeaux was unwanted in the betting with me and it was a very big result (if he had won).
“But it was not to be.”
Fellow bookmaker Bill Murphy said the difference for him was $20,000 with Dunaden a losing result, but Red Cadeaux would have been a favourable outcome.
“It was no good. I wanted the second horse,” Murphy said.
“The winner was a loser for $10,000 but the other one (Red Cadeaux) was a winner for $10,000.”
Murphy, watching the race from the packed betting auditorium at Randwick, initially thought Red Cadeaux might have got there to win the famous race. But when he saw the slow motion replay he knew he was in trouble.
“I actually thought the second horse had won, but you can’t tell in fast motion,” Murphy said.
Henry Noonan was in the same boat as Behrmann and Murphy as he waited for the photo-finish result.
“The result wasn’t any good,” Noonan said.
“I thought a dead-heat would have been a good result. It would have been a good result for me.
“I was saying prayers with them (the other bookmakers). But the Lord didn’t answer my prayer, looked after punters. So they must have needed the money.”
Behrmann said last year’s winner Americain was “sensationally backed” and would have been a terrible result had he scored back-to-back wins.
AAP TURF
