Al Riffa backed with huge bets after Flemington rain
“We worry about the things we can control and whatever happens to us,” O’Brien said.
He described Al Riffa as a classier horse than his previous runners, which is why he was carrying 59 kilos. “We knew he would carry a lot of weight and when we decided to focus on this race we were happy to accept whatever happened,” O’Brien said. “He’s a huge horse. I don’t see actual weight being an issue. There’s a lot of light weights in there, so obviously some of them are quite handicapped and have good preparation.”
Kieran McManus, Son of Irish billionaire JP McManusFeaturing Goodie Two Shoes as his first runner in the Cup, he got proceedings going early with $5000 a way at $81 on Land Legend. McManus then backed Goodie Two Shoes to earn $1 million and Vauban to earn $500,000, proving that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
O’Brien said such dips are the real reason for big race days.
French import Athabascan was the only horse not supported in Call of the Card. Credit: Janie Barrett
There were the usual punters like Sam Swanell, who made $250,000 backing Smokin’ Romans at $126, who rushed to back Meydaan when offered $31, and jumped on Vauban to win $500,000 at $26.
Gai’s son Tom Waterhouse backed favorite Half Yours to win $150,000 with Hinkley at $7.50 and Lyndon Cleary with Absurde to win $50,000, while well-known poker player Tony Gee, who has stakes in both race favourites, also made $20,000 for Half Yours to win.
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Onesmoothoperator also shortened from $41 to $31 after a few big bets, while More Felons helped one bettor win $1 million. Swiftbet offered $91 for the American Scroll Party, which attracted $5,000 in bets.
Racing Blogger Stephen Power was offered a special price for Presage Nocturne and settled for $1000 at $10, while he also backed River of Stars at $17, making $34,000.
On the other side of the hole, a New Zealand bettor stands to win more than NZ$730,000 from the New Zealand TAB for a $7 bet if Buckaroo’s $10 odds finish in the top three. The last leg of the 12-legged multi-competition held in January.
The Athabascan, who finished second in the Moonee Valley Cup, was disliked. It was the only horse that did not accept the bet despite being offered $101.
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