Australia’s leading bookmaker the TAB gives an overview of today’s betting markets from the feature races and race meetings from around the country. See which races punters cleaned up on and lost on.
FUTURES UPDATES
Trekking $26-$21 (after winning Schillaci Stakes @ Caulfield)
The Chosen One $101-$11 (after winning Herbert Power Stakes @ Caulfield)
Prince Of Arran $51-$26
Shadow Hero $2.60-$2.30 fav (after winning Spring Champion Stakes @ Randwick)
Quick Thinker $9-$15
Battenburg $51-$15
Craftsmanship $51-$26 (after winning Hill Smith Stakes @ Morphettville)
Conqueror $26-$15
Soul Patch $15-$26
Bivouac $11-$9
Meryl $15-$51
Lys Gacieux $5-$4.50f
Avilius $5-$6
Cape Of Good Hope $51-$7 (after winning Caulfield Stakes)
Homesman $8-$11
Humidor $51-$26
Harlem $101-$26
Dream Castle $21-$51
Dalasan $15-$26
Castelvecchio $26-$17
The Inevitable $15-$9 (after winning Silver Eagle @ Randwick)
Fasika $26-$13
Balaabel $51-$26
MELBOURNE CUP
Prince Of Arran $51-$18
The Chosen One $101-$18 (after winning Herbert Power Stakes @ Caulfield)
Cosmic Force $51-$26 (after winning Angst Stakes)
Microphone $15-$26
GOLDEN SLIPPER
Tanker (inserted at $26 after winning r1 @ Caulfield)
CAULFIELD
RACE ONE
Favourite backers were sent packing in the first with Pounce a disappointing commodity in the Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000 metres).
The Team Hawkes runner was backed from $4.80-$4 fav throughout the course of the day and went around with 40 percent of the total investment.
Beginning fast to lead, Pounce was claimed early in the straight with Tanker showing a great turn of foot to win running away.
The Maher & Eustace-trained runner defied a betting drift of $5.50-$7.50 to salute.
Euphoric Summer ($5) and Queen Of Rocks ($5-$7) filled the minors.
Of the others, Rock Of Kryptonite ($4.60) was the best tried runner outside of the fav.
BETS: Pounce $1,000 @ $4.20
RACE TWO
Rox The Castle landed some nice bets when leading throughout to win The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler (1400 metres).
Taken to the front by Luke Nolen, Rox The Castle was the second most popular runner in terms of money held and withstood the challenges of Manolo Blahniq ($15) to get the money.
Renewal ($2.80-$3.20 fav) was the best supported in the event and wound up third. Outside of those, there was good support for Mandela Effect ($4.20-$5.50) and Vassilator ($13-$8).
BETS: Rox The Castle $3,600 @ $4.20 (taken Thursday)
BETS: Mandela Effect $1,000 @ $5.50 TWICE
BETS: Renewal $1,000 @ $3.10 TWICE, $5,000 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3
RACE THREE
Multis were left in tatters after the very popular Loving Gaby was beaten in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200 metres).
Loving Gaby went around a $1.80 favourite and held nearly six times that of any other runner. Overall she was responsible for 71 percent of the total investment.
Forced to sit outside the leader and second select California Zimbol ($3.30-$4.40), Loving Gaby couldn’t quicken when the Team Snowden runner kicked and had to settle for second.
The winner was the only one seriously tried to beat the fav and attracted a few decent bets of her own but most of the big money sat with the runner-up.
BETS: California Zimbol $2,000 @ $4.40, $2,500 @ $4.20
BETS: Loving Gaby $3,500 @ $1.90, $6,500 @ $1.85, $3,000 @ $1.85, $5,000 @ $1.80 TWICE, $3,000 @ $1.80, $2,000 @ $1.80
RACE FOUR
Tofane ($19) rattled home to beat the heavily tried Manicure in the Bass Strait Beef Steaks (1200 metres).
The Mike Moroney runner didn’t have a great deal of support as most of the attention from punters was focused on Manicure ($3.90-$4.20-$3.80), Meryl ($7.50-$6.50) and Gift Of Power ($7.50-$5.50).
Coming with a sweeping run for Dwayne Dunn, Tofane went straight past Manicure which looked as though she was set for victory at the 200 metre mark.
Sweet Scandal ($12-$16-$13) had specking late and grabbed the minor end of the prize. Meryl faded out of it after leading and being pressured throughout.
BETS: Manicure $2,000 @ $4.20, $3,000 @ $4, $2,000 @ $3.80, $2,000 @ $3.70
BETS: Meryl $2,500 x $10,000 e/w @ $7/$2.30
RACE FIVE
The Chosen One had its admirers in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400 metres) but was overshadowed by a few others.
Betting for the race was thrown into chaos when the favourite Steel Prince was scratched at the barriers. He was a $3.50 fav at the time.
The Chosen One began the day at $9.50 and was specked into $8 prior to the scratching of the fav. He jumped a $6.50 equal favourite.
Haky, which was one of the notable firmers in the event, went $12-$6.50 eq fav) but dropped out of it after leading.
Prince Of Arran ($8-$12-$8) and Sully ($$11-$9.50) both were fancied and filled the minors.
BETS: The Chosen One $1,000 @ $8
BETS: Prince Of Arran $1,000 @ $11
BETS: Haky $1,000 e/w @ $10/$3.20, $2,500 @ $8.50, $2,000 @ $7
BETS: Glory Days $1,000 e/w @ $12/$3.60
BETS: Hang Man $1,200 @ $10
BETS: Raheen House $1,000 @ $10
RACE SIX
Favourite backers were celebrating after Hugh Bowman timed his run to perfection on Flit in the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600 metres).
The hot $2.25 favourite was nearly five times as popular as anything else in the race and accounted for well over half the market.
Spearing through a gap midway down the running, Flit powered home to nose out Missile Mantra ($8) and the leader Southbank ($18) which ran a cracking race.
BETS: Flit $4,000 @ $2.30 TWICE, $2,100 @ $2.30, $2,000 @ $2.30 MULTIPLE TIMES, $3,500 @ $2.25, $3,000 @ $2.15
BETS: Missile Mantra $1,000 @ $9, $1,000 e/w @ $8.50/$2.30
BETS: Southbank $1,300 @ $19, $1,000 @ $18
RACE SEVEN
There was constant specking throughout the day for Cape Of Good Hope in the seventh event on the card, however, most of the focus was with Avilius.
The Godolphin runner was one of the best backed horses across the country, commanding 65 percent of the total investment. James Cummings’ stable star held nearly six times what the second pick in the market (Homesman) did.
Cape Of Good Hope hovered from as low as $19 out to $23 before jumping as a $21 pop. Finishing sharply down the centre of the track, Mark Zahra got everything out of the Hayes & Dabernig runner to nail Black Heart Bart ($21) right on the line. Harlem ($31) added plenty of value to the trifecta while Avilius ran on without ever threatening for fourth.
BETS: Avilius $5,000 @ $2.20, $4,000 @ $2.20, $3,000 @ $2.20 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2,500 @ $2.15, $2,000 @ $2.15 MULTIPLE TIMES, $4,680 @ $2.10, $3,250 @ $2, $3,190 @ $2, $40,000 @ $1.20 PLACE
BETS: Homesman $5,000 @ $4.20
RACE EIGHT
Super Seth was one of few firmers in the Caulfield Guineas (1600 metres).
Opening the day at TAB as a $9.50 chance, the Anthony Freedman-trained runner was backed into $7.50 at the jump which put him on the equal third line of betting behind Dalasan ($3.60) and Alligator Blood ($5) alongside Kubrick ($7.50).
Mark Zahra had the son of Dundeel back in the pack and timed his run to perfection, with Super Seth rattling home down the Caulfield straight to nail Alligator Blood right on the line when it appeared the latter had the race won.
Groundswell, which trailed the leaders, battled on well to hold third after being specked at the $14 quote.
Dalasan held just under 33 percent of the total investment and weakened out of it after doing work in the run. Of the others, there was confidence around Kubrick ($8-$7-$5.50-$7.50).
Super Seth had opened $11 Final Field and got out to as much as $12 before being the subject of a big bet from one TAB customer.
BETS: Super Seth $8,500 @ $12 (taken Wednesday), $1,000 @ $7.50, $2,500 @ $7, $1,500 @ $7
BETS: Alligator Blood $2,000 @ $5.50
BETS: Dalasan $6,500 @ $3.80, $2,500 @ $3.70, $2,000 @ $3.70, $3,500 @ $3.60, $3,000 @ $3.60, $3,000 @ $3.50
BETS: Subedar $1,000 @ $16
BETS: Express Pass $1,000 @ $26
RACE NINE
Fierce Impact attracted some eachway money in the market for the running of the Lamaro’s Hotel Sth Melbourne Toorak Handicap (1600 metres).
The Matthew Smith runner opened the day at $13 but got out to $18 at the jump and despite the drift, had his share of admirers at the odds.
Presenting with a big run four and five-wide on the turn, Craig Williams got the best out of the son of Deep Impact to sweep home and secure the win.
The heavily tried Nights Watch ($6.50 fav) hit the line nicely for second in front of Age Of Chivalry ($10) and Sikandarabad ($15-$10) which was one of the better backed runners in the race.
Of the others, Princess Jenni ($8-$6.50-$7.50) went around as the second most popular runner in terms of money held behind Nights Watch while Age Of Chivalry was next best.
BETS: Fierce Impact $1,000 @ $17
BETS: Nights Watch $4,000 @ $6.50
BETS: Waging War $5,000 e/w @ $7.50/$2.80
RACE TEN
Trekking defied the betting drift to take out the Alfa Romeo Schillaci Stakes (1100 metres).
The Godolphin runner went $2.60 out to $3.70 during the course of the day despite him going around with the most money.
Despatch ($10-$4.60) was a dramatic firm and attracted a big bet of $20,000 just prior to the jump.
It was Trekking and Kerrin McEvoy though which gave James Cummings another winner on the day, settling just off the speed and then sticking to the inside lanes to overhaul leader Ball Of Muscle ($8.50) late.
The Bostonian ($6-$7) appeared to have his chance but couldn’t pick up the leaders in winding up third.
Despatch dropped out after trying to match Ball Of Muscle for most of the trip.
BETS: Trekking $4,000 @ $3.70, $2,500 @ $3.70, $2,200 @ $3.70, $2,000 @ $3.70 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2,000 @ $3.20, $2,000 @ $2.90,
RANDWICK
RACE ONE
The money was spot on in the TAB Highway Class 3 over the mile. Emanuela was backed in to clear favourite, shortening from $5.00 to $4.60 on race day, before chalking up her third straight win. The Paul Messara-trained mare worked early to sit second on the fence then slipped through on the inside for a convincing win. But I Know claimed second place and was very solid in the market at $6.50. Another well supported runner was Gunga Din ($17-$11) and it was a much improved effort to come third with the blinkers, but he still has room for improvement after over-racing early. Punters were also keen on Weather Channel ($9.50-$8.00) who loomed as a danger in the straight but could only manage fifth place after a long sustained run.
BETS: Emanuela $1,000 @ $4.60, $1,000 @ $4.20
BETS: Texas Storm $1,500 @ $7.50
RACE TWO
Master Of Wine couldn’t have been any more impressive winning the BM88 by four lengths. The Hawkes-trained gelding was crunched from $2.20 to $1.85 after scratchings, before drifting back to $2.00 and was the best backed runner on the Randwick card. Sayed led on settling followed by Milk Man with Master Of Wine happy to smoke his pipe out the back of the small field. It was game over at the turn when Master Of Wine showed a superior turn of foot and stormed down the outside breezing past his opposition. High Opinion finished second and was backed from $11 in to $9.50 and Re Edit drifted ferociously on the day ($5.00-$12) and claimed the other minor prize.
BETS: Master Of Wine $1,500 @ $2.10, $5,000 @ $2, $3,000 @ $2, $1,130 @ $2,
$1,000 @ $2 (multiple times), $2,500 @ $1.90, $2,000 @ $1.90, $2,080 @ $1.80
BETS: Lord Goddodin $1,000 @ $10
RACE THREE
The Hawkes yard snared a race-to-race double when Grey Worm was too strong for his rivals in the Cerrone Handicap over the 1400m. The five-year-old gelding was solid in the market around the $4.00 mark before drifting to $5.00 in the last hour of betting. The heavily-fancied You Make Me Smile ($11-$7.50) made the running but weakened to fifth. Thy Kingdom Come was beaten under a length for second and was also solid in betting ($11-$15-$11). Third placegetter Quackerjack was the best-supported runner early but drifted back to $5.00 by jump time. Sure Knee was a popular selection ($7.00-$5.00) too but was spotted pulling badly in the run and somehow still managed to finish 2L away in fourth.
BETS: You Make Me Smile $3,500 @ $10
BETS: Quackerjack $1,000win x $2,000place @ $5/$2, $1,000ew @ $5/$2, $1,000 x (2) @ $5, $2,242 @ $4.20, $5,000 @ $4, $1,000 @ $4
BETS: Greyworm $1,200 @ $5, $1,000 x (2) @ $5
BETS: Sure Knee $1,000 @ $5.50 TWICE, $1,830 @ $4.80, $1,000 @ $4.80, $1,000 e/w @ $4.80/$1.90
BETS: Asterius $1,000 e/w @ $14/$3.60
RACE FOUR
The drifting roughie Colada ($10-$19) caused a massive boilover winning the Stan Fox Stakes. Robbie Dolan gave the three-year-old gelding a superb front-running ride and he simply pinched too much of a break in the straight. The favourite Bottega was the one the punters all wanted to be on, shortening from $2.60 to $2.20. He tried hard to run-down his stablemate Colada but to no avail and was lucky to sneak into the placings. When queried about Bottega’s effort, Gerald Ryan was confident Bottega will shine over the 1600m trip. Brandenburg was solid in the market ($8.50-$9) and chased best to grab second but was never likely to win the race.
BETS: Bottega $1,500 x (2) @ $2.25, $2,850 @ $2.20, $2,000 @ $2.20, $1,500 @ $2.20 (multiple times), $1,400 @ $2.20, $1,000 @ $2.20 (multiple times)
RACE FIVE
Cosmic Force did it all from start to finish to salute in the Roman Consul Stakes. The Snowden-trained colt drifted from $2.50 to $2.90 and proved too strong with that race fitness on his side. The talented Microphone ($2.40-$2.90) was first-up after a long break and drifted but should be better for that first-up third placing. Standout was far from disgraced in this class of race ($8.50-$7.50) running a gallant second. True Detective ($11-$6) was a massive shortener but the blinkers didn’t quite do the trick, as he finished in last place.
BETS: True Detective $2,000 @ $6, $1,000 @ $6, $2,500 e/w @ $6/$2.60
BETS: Microphone $2,000 @ $2.90, $1,500 @ $2.90, $1,000 @ $2.40
BETS: Cosmic Force $3,000 @ $2.80, $1,000 @ $2.70, $2,000 @ $2.50, $4,200 @ $2.40
RACE SIX
It was a well-deserved win for the in-form mare Nettoyer back to her own sex in the Angst Stakes. The Wendy Roche-trained galloper got in as far as $3.40 but drifted to $3.90 late, so overall very solid in the market. It was a tight finish but Nettoyer managed to nose out Delectation Girl ($17-$14) in the closing stages. The best backed runner since markets opened on Wednesday was Amangiri ($5.00-$3.50) and she finished a solid third.
BETS: Amangiri $1,000 @ $5, $300win x $700place @ $4.40/$1.85, $2,000 @ $4.40, $1,000 @ $3.40 (multiple times), $3,000 @ $3.30
BETS: Organza $1,000 e/w @ $11/$2.80
BETS: Noire $1,000 x (2) @ $4.40
RACE SEVEN
The Mark Newnham stable took out back-to-back Spring Champion Stakes’ when the brilliant stayer Shadow Hero arrived at the post in the nick of time. This up-and-coming three-year-old opened $1.75, drifted out to even money before being supported back in to $1.90. Castelvecchio ($4.00-$3.10) was well spec’d to beat the favourite and ran a close second. Special mention goes to the roughie Battenburg who finished third and opened a whopping $101 and was heavily backed each-way as soon as markets went up on Wednesday.
BETS: Castelvecchio $1,200 @ $3.90, $2,000 @ $3.70, $2,500 @ $3.20, $2,292 @ $3.20, $2,000 @ $3.20, $1,900 @ $3.10
BETS: Shadow Hero $8,000 @ $1.95, $4,000 x (3) @ $1.95, $25,000 @ $1.90, $6,700 @ $1.90, $4,000 @ $1.90, $3,000 @ $1.90 (multiple times)
BETS: Battenburg $1,500win x $500place @ $101/$12, $500 @ $81, $500win x $100place @ $81/$9
RACE EIGHT
The Tasmanians went berserk when the Scott Brunton-trained The Inevitable took out the Silver Eagle in fine style and as a result, goes straight through to the $7.5M Golden Eagle! It was a fantastic ride by Nash Rawiller, as he timed the run to perfection rounding them up down the outside. Also going straight through to the prestigious race are the second and third placegetters, Fasika ($4.60-$3.30) and Mizzy ($6.50) respectively. The punters favourite Fasika ran an eye-catching second and Mizzy just doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
The Inevitable held 37 percent of the total investment and was a losing result for TAB.
BETS: Fasika $1,500 @ $4.40, $6,000 @ $3.50
BETS: The Inevitable $2,250 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3.00, $4,000 @ $2.90
RACE NINE
Agent Pippa was largely ignored by punters in the Drinkwise Handicap (1100 metres).
Opening the day as a $12 chance, she got out to $14 at the jump and although attracting some interest at the eachway odds, was overshadowed by the several others.
Sam Clenton took the Kris lees runner straight to the top and the pair were never headed, booting clear midway down the straight to record an effortless win.
November Man ($14-$16-$15) worked home nicely for second after being wide throughout while Miss Invincible ($5.50) grabbed the minor end of the prize.
There was a late move for Ballistica ($11-$9) while Black Magnum ($5.50) and Poised To Strike ($9.50) carried significant investment.