WHEN it comes to The Race That Stops a Nation, the punters certainly are not shy.
Our friends over at WilliamHill.com.au are reporting a whopping $41,000 bet on $4 favourite Fame Game to win next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
The bookie’s Tim Ashworth said that was some serious action, so far out from the race.
“We expected a lot of interest in the Japanese stayer after the super run in the Caulfield Cup, but we haven’t seen that amount of money come in for a Cup favourite this far out in years,” Ashworth said.
“He’s already in to $4 and with the weight of money behind him, it’s looking like our worst result by a country mile.”
Fame Game was a fast finishing sixth behind Mongolian Kahn in the Caulfield Cup, but the smart money is trainer Yoshitada Munakata was preparing the gun five year old for a red hot crack at Australia’s biggest race.
And stewards thought that too, after the Caulfield run, which saw them call in to question the tactics employed by Hong Kong based hoop Zac Purton.
Stewards questioned both Purton and Munataka, after Fame Game went back early and then tried to weave its way through the field, rather than go wide and storm home.
They were also concerned at a “lack of vigour” from Purton over the last 100m.
Munakata told stewards instructions given were from barrier one to get back, not to go too wide and to ride between horses.
“This horse tries harder between horses,” Munakata said.
Purton told stewards he was taking runs as they presented but was being buffeted by horses.
“I can’t go over the top of them, I’m not in a helicopter. I had to wait for the runs.”
The stewards did not sanction either jockey or trainer, bit did tell them they expected similar tactics to be employed in the cup.
Over at sportsbet.com.au, Fame Game has also been smashed.
He is in to $4.20, a little better than you can get at WilliamHill.com.au, but was $4.80 less than a week ago.
“Punters continue to roll the dice with Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game, backing the stallion as if unbeatable,” The bookie’s Will Byrne said.
“The Japanese invader is now into $4.20 and will continue to shorten if the trend continues.
“In the past week Fame Game has received nine times the support than Preferment ($11), who is the next best supported runner.
“Who Shot The Barman ($13) and Kiwi Mongolian Khan ($11) are the next most popular with punters.
“We’re a week out from the Cup and it appears the bulk of punters have made up their mind.
“The money just keeps rolling in for Fame Game, who in total holds seven times more money than Preferment.”
Melbourne Cup market:
Trip To Paris ($8)
Mongolian Khan ($10)
Preferment ($12)
Amralah ($15)
Criterion ($15)
Who Shot The Barman ($15)
Max Dynamite ($16)
Snow Sky ($18)
Almoonqith ($19)
Bondi Beach ($19)
Our Ivanhowe ($19)
Gust Of Wind ($21)
Hokko Brave ($21)
Kingfisher ($21)
Hartnell ($26)
Dandino ($28)
Sky Hunter ($28)
Grand Marshal ($35)
Red Cadeaux ($35)
Big Orange ($41)
Secret Number ($41)
The United States ($51)
Quest For More ($61)
Beaten Up ($81)
All others $101+
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
Punters load up on huge day of racing at Flemington
It’s the precursor to the big race, but Saturday’s meet at Flemington is a monster.
AAMI Victoria Derby Day is the most prestigious race event on the Australian calendar, jam packed with group races and the best talent on show in the world.
The million dollar Derby is the jewel in the meet’s crown, but it features four group 1 races, and offers the chance for the winners of the Mackinnon Stakes and Lexus Stakes to make a direct entry into the Melbourne Cup field.
It’s a high stakes event that brings out the best thoroughbred talent the world has to offer.
In the Derby, Mick Price trained three year old Tarzino is the only one punters at sportsbet.com.au want to touch.
The bookie’s Christian Jantzen is calling the race a “one act affair” thanks to the weight of money for the $2.25 favourite.
Tarzino hammered home in the weekend’s Vase at Moonee Valley, settling last before firing off the fastest closing sectional of the race and storming past the post for third.
Jockey Craig Newitt was over the moon with the colt’s performance.
“He got home super,” Newitt said.
The performance firmed Tarzino’s price dramatically, crunching him in from $3.50 into $2.25.
“While Tarzino dominates betting, there is very little support for Extra Choice at $9,” Jantzen said.
“Pay Up Bro has tightened into second favouritism at $8 and Kia Ora Koutou ($9) is the only other runner under double figures.
“Tarzino ran a slashing third behind Jameka at the Valley and ticks a lot of boxes heading into the 2500m of the Derby.
“He holds double the money compared to the second best backed, Kia Ora Koutou and Extra Choice is friendless.”
VRC Derby market:
Tarzino ($2.25)
Pay Up Bro ($8)
Extra Choice ($9)
Kia Ora Koutou ($9)
Lizard Island ($13)
Shards ($13)
Etymology ($15)
Man Of Choice ($15)
Jadeer ($17)
Ayers Rock ($21)
Iron Boss ($21)
Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au
A look at the Coolmore, Carbine Club Stakes and Myer Classic
They may as well not run the Coolmore, with Godolphin gun Exosphere the odds on favourite to win the race.
Sportsbet punters reckon Exosphere is going to be a superstar, smashing the three year old Lonhro colt into $1.40.
Keen Array and Mogador, both $8, are the only other runners under double figures.
The Peter Moody trained Bassett is the $3 favourite for the Carbine Club Stakes.
Montauk ($5), My Poppette ($6), Mahuta and He’s Our Rokkii (both $7) round out the chances, under double figures.
“Exosphere will be making his first appearance in Melbourne and will appreciate the wide expanses of the Flemington straight,” sportsbet.com.au’s Will Byrne said.
“This race should be a walk in the park, his Waterloo comes in Saturday week’s Darley Classic.”
In the Myer Classic, sportsbet.com.au has a great money back bonus for punters.
The bookie will refund bets on its futures market if their horse does not start.
“This is great news for punters looking to bet early,” Byrne said.
“They can hopefully grab some top odds and not be concerned about losing their money if their horse doesn’t start.
Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me as the $4.40 favourite, but more experienced mares Royal Descent and May’s Dream are breathing down its neck on the second line on $6.50.
Azkadellia ($7.50) and Miss Rose De Lago ($8.50) make up the runners under double figures, for the Flemington Group 1.
Coolmore Stud Stakes
Exosphere ($1.40)
Keen Array ($8)
Mogador ($8)
Hellbent ($12)
Japonisme ($14)
Kinglike ($14)
Super One ($18)
Sebring Sun ($18)
Ready For Victory ($18)
Carbine Club Stakes
Bassett ($3)
Montauk ($5)
My Poppette ($6)
Mahuta ($7)
He’s Our Rokkii ($7)
Loyalty Man ($11)
Takedown ($13)
Tivaci ($13)
One For One ($15)
Marky Mark ($15)
Others quoted
Myer Classic
Stay With Me ($4.40)
Royal Descent ($6.50)
May’s Dream ($6.50)
Miss Rose De Lago ($8.50)
Fenway ($11)
Abidewithme ($11)
Solicit ($13)
Slightly Sweet ($13)
Politeness ($13)
My Poppette ($15)
La Passe ($15)
Jessy Belle ($15)
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Cox Plate winner Winx favoured to go back-to-back
CHRIS Waller’s suprstar Winx dominated the field, getting the rail’s run in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on the weekend.
And sportsbet.com.au reckons it is the best chance to go back to back in 2016, installing it as the $5.50 favourite.
Winx heads Criterion, who opened at $11, with Alpine Eagle and Press Statement – both $13 – next in betting.
Stay With Me is $17 ahead of a host of runners priced at $21 which includes the likes of Hartnell, Stratum Star and Fawkner.
In the weekend’s race Winx cruised to the front before the turn and then shot away from the field to break the track record in the weight for age championship.
Criterion came home in second and Highland Reel third.
2016 Cox Plate market:
Winx ($5.50)
Criterion ($11)
Alpine Eagle ($13)
Press Statement ($13)
Stay With Me ($17)
Bow Creek ($21)
Turn Me Loose ($21)
First Seal ($21)
Galio Chop ($21)
Hartnell ($21)
Stratum Star ($21)
Fawkner ($21)
Magic Hurricane ($21)
