In an incredible stroke of luck and intuition, a Victorian family has turned a $100 Melbourne Cup bet into a stunning $3.2 million win after boxing the first four finishers of the iconic race. Their picks—Knight’s Choice, Warp Speed, Okita Soushi, and Zardozi—delivered a life-altering payout that the family received within just an hour, courtesy of Ladbrokes.
For this family, betting on the Melbourne Cup is an annual tradition steeped in fun and family bonds, with each member selecting horses based on “good feelings” and lucky numbers. “We only bet on the Melbourne Cup once a year,” shared the anonymous mother, who described how each family member contributed to the winning combination. “My son and my husband both liked Knight’s Choice (number 11), and my daughter liked Warp Speed because number four is her favourite number.” She herself was drawn to Zardozi after noticing the number 14 repeatedly on social media. “I chose 14, but also 12, because I was folding washing on Saturday, watching Derby Day,” she explained, noting Jamie Kah’s inspiring comeback.
Initially, the family thought they had won a significant $780,000, only to realise the true scale of their fortune moments later. “My husband was already in tears, thinking I had just won $24,000… but then I noticed all four of our horses had come in,” she said. The excitement only grew when they learned their total prize exceeded $3 million. “When Ladbrokes called to confirm I’d won over three million, my husband literally fell to the floor,” she recalled. “He was just sobbing… We asked [Ladbrokes] to say it again. It was complete shock.”
With the funds deposited quickly into their Ladbrokes account, the family’s first priority was to pay off a mortgage they had carried for nearly two decades. “It was looking like our kids might have ended up having to finish off the mortgage because it was so high,” she said. Now debt-free, she described the relief of “seeing no minus on the account.”
The family celebrated humbly, surrounded by close friends and loved ones. “My husband was outside with his brother and a whole group of mates,” she noted, adding that they are known for their generosity within their tight-knit community. “You live humbly and be a good person and help other people as you can.”
Ladbrokes CEO Dean Shannon expressed his delight at being part of the family’s story, describing it as “truly special” to see such a win come through their Melbourne Cup tradition. “This is a life-changing win,” Shannon said. “We’re thrilled to have played a role in helping this family secure their future. They seem like great people, and it was a nice call to get to make.”
