SPORTSBET is being cleaned out this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, handing more than $2.7 million back to punters on the weekend’s Caulfield Cup meet.
On Caulfield Guineas day, the bookie gave back $1.65 million to punters with its first four special, giving it a grand total of $4.35 million in returned bets across the two days of racing.
Punters whose horses finished second, third or fourth in each of the first four races got their money back.
“What a massive payout but we’re more than happy to see the punters who missed out on a win in their race be winners with sportsbet, with real cash back into their accounts,’’ sportsbet.com.au’s Will Byrne said.
And Sportsbet isn’t the only one smarting after being cleaned out, with punters very sore after splurging more than $5 million on failed Japanese stayer Fame Game.
Rider Zac Purton and trainer Yoshitada Munakata copped a pasting from racing stewards over the tactics used in the Caulfield Cup, in which Fame Game ran a fast finishing sixth.
Stewards believed the race may have been used as a sighter for the Melbourne Cup.
Chief Steward Terry Bailey said he couldn’t understand why Purton didn’t take the horse outside, rather than trying to negotiate through the field, but the jockey said he was following instruction from the owner.
“From our point of view, the ride lacked some purpose and the instructions provided were a low-percentage play,” Bailey said.
“When the horse did get clear inside the final 100m it wasn’t the same sort of vigour that we’re used to seeing from Zac Purton.
“Weighing it all up and the fact the horse was having its first run in Australia, its first run at the track and considering the instructions and the fact the horse did get held up at a vital stage of the race, the stewards didn’t take any direct action but we were certainly mindful of reminding the connections that we hope the same instructions were given in the Melbourne Cup.”
And, if that wasn’t enough, even respected race caller Greg Miles had a dog of a day, calling winner Mongolian Khan as “Magnolian Khan”.
”It was a train wreck and I apologise,” Miles said.
“I’ve copped my whack on social media and I understand that.
“People have the right to have their say.
”If I was a listener I’d be belting the broadcaster around the ears as well.”
Miles blamed sickness and said if he had his time again, he might not have made it to the big race.
“I hadn’t been well during the week and I got some medical assistance to get me through the day and I felt I was pretty right,” Miles said.
”When the pressure of the main race came on, I think it was a mile out (from the finish) that I knew I was in trouble.
“I just wasn’t in control of the race as I normally would be and breathing was a major issue.
“I probably shouldn’t have been there but for the grand final, you do everything to be there on the day and it wasn’t the right thing to do.”
In the big race New Zealand trainer Murray Baker took home the Caulfield Cup thanks to the brilliant run from Mongolian Kahn in the $3 million race.
After finishing in the placings in three previous tries, he finally broke through, with jockey Opie Bosson enacting the perfect ride on the dual Derby winner.
The four year old kicked into gear at the 600m mark and never looked like losing, its superior staying power carrying it home ahead of Trip to Paris and Our Ivanhowe.
The favourite was just a cut above, leaving a joyous trainer and rider to bask in the glory of its win.
“It’s one I’ve always wanted to win,” Baker said.
“Opie rode him perfectly.
“The plan was to go early and make it a stayers’ race in the straight.
“We know he can run 2400 metres and it worked out.
“You’re never confident in a race like this but he was as well as we could have him.
“He’d had no setbacks and had done the mileage.
“So we thought if he could get to the front, nothing would get past him.”
Bosson was typically excited after the huge win.
“He has taken me to my biggest heights in racing and this is my biggest thrill,” Bosson said.
The New Zealand horse of the year has now been penalised one kilogram for the Melbourne Cup after the victory.
The gun stayer will now be forced to carry 56 kilograms for the $6 million Cup at Flemington on November 3.
Fame Game, after its barn storming run home, is the punters’ pick for the Melbourne Cup, at $4.80 with WilliamHill.com.au, with Trip to Paris at $7.50 and Mongolian Kahn at $8.50.
English raiders well backed for 2015 Cox Plate
A pair of English guns have been hammered by punters to win the Cox Plate.
Arod and Highland Reel have been crunched in at sportsbet.com.au for the weekend’s huge race at Moonee Valley.
Highland Reel’s price has been wound in from $13 to $6 and Arod has gone from $21 into $9.
Winx and Criterion share favouritism on $5.50. Kermadec is also well in the mix on $6.
“There’s plenty of money to say the European invaders are right in the mix, let’s hope punters don’t hit a snag,” the bookie’s Will Byrne said.
“Highland Reel is the best backed of the trio, but Arod is tracking okay too.”
2015 Cox Plate odds
Winx ($5.50)
Criterion ($5.50)
Highland Reel ($6)
Kermadec ($6)
Arod ($9)
Preferment ($11)
Hartnell ($13)
Complacent ($17)
Happy Trails ($17)
The Cleaner ($21)
Gailo Chop ($21)
Pornichet ($26)
Mourinho ($26)
Royal Descent ($26)
Contributor ($34)
Rising Romance ($51)
Stratum Star ($51)
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Srikandi best backed in 2015 Manikato Stakes
Ciaron Maher trained five year old Srikandi has been the best backed horse for Friday’s Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Srikandi ($4.60) holds more money than any other horse at sportsbet.com.au, but gun Chautauqua ($1.90) is a short priced favourite, despite being the second most popular runner with punters.
The Moir Stakes winner, Buffering, is firm at $8, while Terravista ($5.50) and Angelic Light ($10) have admirers.
“Chautauqua is obviously the one to beat, but Srikandi is the horse that is attracting the money. She wintered in Brisbane and has a great first up record, so she has to be one of the main chances,’’ the bookie’s Will Byrne.
2015 Manikato Stakes odds
Chautauqua ($1.90)
Srikandi ($4.60)
Exosphere ($4.60)
Terravista ($5.50)
Buffering ($8)
Alpha Miss ($9)
Angelic Light ($10)
Rebel Dane ($11)
Counterattack ($15)
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
2015 Melbourne Cup market
Fame Game ($4.80)
Trip To Paris ($7.50)
Mongolian Khan ($8.50)
Preferment ($12)
Snow Sky ($13)
Amralah ($15)
Max Dynamite ($16)
Our Ivanhowe ($16)
Who Shot Thebarman ($16)
Kingfisher ($17)
Bondi Beach ($19)
Gust Of Wind ($21)
Hokko Brave ($21)
Criterion ($26)
Dandino ($26)
Hartnell ($26)
Hauraki ($26)
Big Orange ($28)
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
