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
Front Page $15-$6 (after winning the Creswick Stakes @ Flemington)
Mount Popa inserted at $15 (after winning r4 @ Randwick)
Mount Popa inserted at $51 (after winning r4 @ Randwick)
RANDWICK
RACE ONE
Exhibition wasn’t fancied compared to his better performed rivals in the Magna Grecia New To Coolmore Handicap (1500 metres).
The Richard & Michael Freedman-trained runner was pretty solid at the $6.50 mark for most of the day, however, he held just a fifth of the money the top two in the market did.
Angel Helena ($2.40-$2-$2.15) was the one they came for today and overtook Silhouette ($1.90-$2.80) for favouritism.
The trio had a tremendous tussle down the straight with Andrew Adkins getting everything out of Exhibition to get the verdict over Angel Helena and Silhouette.
The second and third horses accounted for 86 percent of the total investment.
BETS: Silhouette $2,000 @ $2.90, $1,000 @ $2
BETS: Angel Helena $6,000 @ $2.15, $3,500 @ $2.15, $1,000 @ $2 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE TWO
Partners was kept pretty solid in betting for the TAB Highway Handicap (1200 metres).
Hovering between $7-$8 for most of the day, he jumped at the latter quote and was the third most popular runner in the race behind Tejori and Bad Boy For Love.
Leading throughout with Tommy Berry in the saddle, the Scott Singleton runner booted clear to a huge lead and kept running to hold out Bad Boy For Love ($5-$5.50) and Tejori ($3.10-$3.60).
BETS: Tejori $1,000 @ $3.30 TWICE, $1,000 @ $3.20, $1,000 @ $3.10
BETS: Bad Boy For Love $2,200 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5.50
RACE THREE
Witherspoon led throughout for the second straight start to land the money for her admirers in the Grunt Standing At Yulong Handicap (1000 metres).
Rated a treat by Hugh Bowman, Witherspoon jumped a $5.50 second favourite and zoomed along in the lead to prove too strong at the finish.
Trainer Kris Lees landed the trifecta with noted drifter Zaniah ($4-$6) coming out of the pack to finish second while Longbottom ($5-$6) grabbed the minor end of the prize.
While Witherspoon was the second most popular runner in the race, Broken Arrows ($5.50-$5) held nearly 33 percent more.
BETS: Witherspoon $1,000 @ $5
BETS: Broken Arrows $1,000 @ $5, $1,000 @ $4.80, $1,000 @ $4.40
BETS: Zaniah $1,000 @ $6, $1,000 @ $5.50, $1,580 @ $4.40
BETS: Star Of Harada $2,000 @ $6
RACE FOUR
Punters delivered a hammer blow to TAB after Mount Popa was smashed in betting for the running of the Castelvecchio At Arrowfield Handicap (2000 metres).
The Team Hawkes runner was backed from $3.40 in the morning into as low as $2.50 before starting a $2.60 favourite.
Going around with over 60 percent of the money, Tommy Berry had the gelding back in the pack before unleashing a big sprint from the top of the straight.
Overhauling second pick Elaborate ($5-$6.50) in the concluding stages, a number of big bets and multis were landed as a result of the big support for the winner. Birth of Venus ($12) held third.
BETS: Mount Popa $4,000 @ $3.40, $1,000 @ $3.40, $1,000 @ $3.10 TWICE, $2,000 @ $2.70, $4,000 @ $2.60, $3,000 @ $2.60, $2,000 @ $2.60, $1,000 @ $2.60 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2,000 @ $2.50
BETS: Korcho $3,000 @ $19
RACE FIVE
Viridine spared TAB from another big payout as it finished best to take out the Bentley Winter Dash (1200 metres).
The Godolphin runner was $4-$5.5 on the day but was best tried outside the favourite, Southern Lad.
Hugh Bowman ducked and weaved in the straight in search of a clear run, finding it midway down the running before finishing right over the top of the leader Handle The Truth ($6.50).
Southern Lad ($2.20) was the very popular elect and attracted as much money as any other runner across the country today. After doing all the work outside the leader, he weakened slightly to finish a close third.
Southern Lad was four times as popular as the winner and held 60 percent of the money.
BETS: Southern Lad $2,140 @ $2.40, $1,000 @ $2.25, $10,000 @ $2.20, $3,500 @ $2.20, $3,000 @ $2.20, $2,000 @ $2.20, $1,890 @ $2.20, $1,500 @ $2.20 TWICE, $1,300 @ $2.20, $1,200 @ $2.20, $1,100 @ $2.20, $1,000 @ $2.20, $1,585 @ $2.15, $1,000 @ $2.15
BETS: Handle The Truth $2,500 @ $6.50, $1,000 @ $6, $1,000 @ $5.50
BETS: Viridine $1,000 x $2,000 e/w @ $5.50/$2.50, $1,000 @ $4.60
RACE SIX
Stella Sea Sun added plenty of value to the first leg of the Quaddie when successful in the Heineken 3 Handicap (1200 metres).
The Kris Lees-trained runner had some interest at the $15 on TAB Fixed Odds, however, wasn’t one of the fancied runners.
Threeood ($2.90) was a costly fav in this one after being heavily supported since Wednesday. At that time, $6 was on offer and she was crunched as soon as markets opened.
Going around with well over half the total investment, Threeood was luckless after being blocked for a clear run for most of the trip.
Stella Sea Sun, under the urgings of Jason Collet, overhauled the leader Lillemor ($5) in a great finish with Spanish Dream ($51-$81) getting up for third.
The money runners were all out of the placings with Voila ($10-$6.50) best tried outside Threeood.
BETS: Stella Sea Sun $500 @ $15, $500 @ $14 TWICE
BETS: Threeood $5,000 @ $2.90, $3,000 @ $2.90, $2,000 @ $2.90, $1,250 @ $2.90, $1,200 @ $2.90, $1,015 @ $2.90, $1,000 @ $2.90 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Lillemor $1,000 @ $5 TWICE
BETS: Misteed $1,000 @ $6.50
BETS: Voila $2,000 e/w @ $7/$2.20
RACE SEVEN
Superium and Hulk were costly propositions in the TAB Handicap (1200 metres).
The pair were responsible for half the total investment on the race with Superium ($3.40-$4) jumping favourite just in front of Hulk ($4.20).
It was left to Poetic Charmer ($21) to get up at a price for Tommy Berry, giving him three winners for the day.
Monte Ditto ($6-$4.80) ran right up to the support for it when coming in second in front of Charretera ($8.50-$7), giving Team Snowden first and third.
BETS: Superium $2,000 @ $4, $1,500 @ $4, $1,200 @ $3.90, $1,000 @ $3.90, $1,000 @ $3.20
BETS: Charretera $1,500 @ $7, $1,000 @ $7, $1,000 e/w @ $7/$2.30
BETS: Hulk $1,000 @ $4.20
RACE EIGHT
Agassi finally repaid the faithful by getting the better of Mr Dependable over the concluding stages in the Ranvet Handicap (1600 metres).
A member of the Anthony Cummings stable, Agassi was backed from $11-$8 which was no surprise considering the horse always seems to have support whenever it goes around.
Mr Dependable ($3.70-$4) led for most of the race and wound up second but was easily the most popular horse, while Convinced ($5) was next best backed in terms of money.
My Swashbuckler ($34) had light specking at the odds and flashed home to grab third.
BETS: Chocolatier $1,000 e/w @ $11/$3.40
BETS: Mr Dependable $2,000 @ $4, $1,000 @ $4 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Starspangled Rodeo $2,000 @ $10
BETS: Orcein $1,000 @ $10
BETS: Agassi $2,000 @ $8.50
BETS: Convinced $2,000 @ $5
RACE NINE
Ballet Master gave TAB customers a rough way to end the day at Randwick.
The Chris Hyland-trained runner was $21 and was largely ignored by punters, with most of the money with Bandersnatch ($3.50-$4.20) which went around with three times as much money as anything else.
Jason Collet stuck to the rails with Ballet Master which proved to be the winning move as Bandersnatch was forced to do a stack of work and got nosed out at the finish.
Spencer ($4.60-$6.50) ran a cheeky race out in front and held third in front of Got Unders ($34-$19).
Juventus ($9.50) and Bigboyroy ($4-$4.40) had plenty of support too.
BETS: Bandersnatch $1,000 @ $4.40 TWICE $5,000 e/w @ $4.20/$1.75 $2,000 @ $4.20 TWICE
BETS: Juventus $1,000 @ $9.50
BETS: Spencer $2,500 @ $6.50
FLEMINGTON
RACE ONE
Danon Roman stormed home to defy a slight drift in the market when successful in the David Bourke Provincial Plate (1620 metres).
Trained by Anthony Freedman, Danon Roman opened $4 on Wednesday and was still that quote this morning. Hitting a peak of $5 late in betting, a late rally saw the gelding start $4.60 third elect behind Man Of Peace ($4-$4.40) and Brilliant Concept ($4.40-$3.80-$4).
Jockey Billy Egan had the six-year-old back near the tail turning for home before finding space in the middle of the track, the pair rattling home to nab the leader Man Of Peace with Surreal Image ($18) holding on for third after doing plenty of work.
BETS: Danon Roman $1,000 @ $4.60
BETS: Man of Peace $1,500 e/w @ $4.40/$1.75, $1,000 @ $4.40
RACE TWO
One of the ‘good things’ of the day got the job done for punters in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1420 metres).
Out of the Patrick Payne stable, Cherry Tortoni ($3.60-$3.30) was heavily tried and went around five times as popular as anything else in the race.
Carrying 46 percent of the market, Cherry Tortoni raced midfield before Billy Egan found clear running on straightening and the pair never looked like being beaten.
Rattling home the son of Night Of Thunder was impressive in beating Albarado ($7.50-$10) and Insaaf ($14-$16).
Of the others, Chequerboard ($6.50-$7.50), Alcyone ($5-$6) and South Parade ($15 Wednesday and $5.50-$6 today) were best tried to knock off the winner.
BETS: Cherry Tortoni $2,000 @ $3.40, $1,500 @ $3.40 TWICE, $1,000 @ $3.40, $2,000 @ $3.30 TWICE, $1,000 @ $3.30, $4,000 @ $3.20
BETS: South Parade $1,000 @ $6.50
RACE THREE
The most popular runner in the race was Great Duchess and she saluted much to the delight of her backers in the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420 metres).
Although going $4.40-$4-$4.80 on the day, Great Duchess was easily the most popular runner in terms of money held and was responsible for 25 percent of the total investment.
Jye McNeil gave the Greg Eurell runner a gun run behind the leader before issuing a strong challenge on straightening, hitting the front inside the closing stages before holding out Kings Brook ($$7.50) and Music Bay ($23-$15). Of the rest, So You Swing ($8-$7) had admirers once again.
BETS: Great Duchess $1,000 e/w @ $4.80/$2, $1,000 @ $4.80 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: So You Swing $1,000 $8, $2,500 @ $7, $1,000 @ $7
BETS: Kings Brook $1,000 @ $7.50, $1,000 @ $7
RACE FOUR
It was a favourites affair for the running of the Sir Henry Bolte Handicap (2000 metres) with the top three in the market filling the trifecta spots.
Persan ($5) held slightly less than his rivals Right You Are ($4.20) and Coolth ($4.60) but the trio were easily the ones TAB customers wanted to beat on.
Knock Knock ($9.50-$7.50) was next best and continued to have support today after being backed at $17 on Wednesday.
BETS: Persan $2,000 @ $5
BETS: Coolth $2,000 @ $4.60, $1,400 @ $4.60, $1,200 @ $4.60, $1,040 @ $4.60, $1,000 @ $4.60
BETS: Right You Are $2,500 @ $4.20, $1,400 @ $4.20, $1,000 @ $4.20
BETS: Knock Knock $1,000 x $3,000 e/w @ $7.50/$2.40
RACE FIVE
N/A
RACE SIX
Lord Belvedere had good specking throughout the day for the George Watson Handicap (2540 metres).
The Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace runner was $18-$15 on the day and ran right up to the support by finishing over the top of the most popular horse, Chapada ($4.40-$4.20).
Sin To Win ($6.50) ran on from the rear to grab third in front of Mahamedeis ($7.50-$15) which was a big drifter.
BETS: Chapada $4,500 @ $4.20, $1,000 @ $4.20, $1,500 @ $4
BETS: Sasko $1,000 @ $11 TWICE
BETS: Alfarris $1,000 e/w @ $5.50/$2
RACE SEVEN
A long range move which started on Wednesday paid dividends when Front Page was ultra impressive in taking out the Creswick Stakes (1200 metres).
TAB went up $13 about its chances and the gelding came in for backing pretty much straight away. Bottoming out at $8.50 this morning, Front Page got back out to $10 but was pretty popular with TAB customers with only King Of Hastings holding more.
Lewis German rated the Geoff Duryea-trained runner a treat, with the pair exploding over the concluding stages to record a brilliant win over Hi Stranger ($41) with Merited ($41) grabbing third.
King Of Hastings ($2.50 fav) was very disappointing from a betting perspective. Holding over half the money on the race, he was more than six times as popular as Front Page but went around as the best supported runner across the country today. No horse held more money than the Anthony Freedman galloper.
BETS: Front Page $1,500 x $1,000 e/w @ $11/$3.30
BETS: Broadwayandfourth $2,000 @ $6.50, $1,000 e/w @ $6.50/$2.20
BETS: I Am Eloquent $1,500 @ $11
BETS: King Of Hastings $10,000 @ $2.50, $2,000 @ $2.50 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,500 @ $2.50, $1,000 @ $2.50 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE EIGHT
Despite a big betting drift, Heptagon was able to take out the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420 metres).
TAB had the six-year-old as a $3 favourite in the morning but $4.20 was being offered by the time the race rolled around.
Fighting doggedly under Dean Yendall, Heptagon beat off Haunted ($5-$4.80) with Curragh ($34) adding value to the trifecta.
Never Again ($13-$8.50) wound up fourth and had its usual support while Vassilator ($6.50-$5.50) was carrying a number of big bets and was third most popular behind the quinella pairing.
BETS: Haunted $1,500 @ $5
BETS: Vassilator $1,000 @ $6.50 TWICE
BETS: Heptagon $2,000 @ $4.20, $3,800 @ $3.30
BETS: Rich Itch $2,000 @ $15
RACE NINE
I Am Someone was one of the first horses backed when markets first opened for the Adam Lindsay Gordon Handicap (1100 metres).
On Wednesday, TAB went up $10 and he immediately firmed while today, the Paul Preusker-trained galloper hovered around the $7-$7.50 mark.
Finishing best under Declan Bates, I Am Someone beat Prezado ($5.50-$7) with the very popular Order Of Command ($3.80-$4.20) only getting warm late in grabbing third.
BETS: I Am Someone $3,000 @ $7.50, $2,000 @ $7.50
BETS: Order Of Command $5,523 @ $4.20, $2,000 @ $4, $1,280 @ $4, $1,000 @ $4, $1,700 @ $3.80, $4,000 @ $3.70, $1,000 @ $3.70 TWICE
