Punters interest high in the Melbourne Cup

Media Release
3 November 2009

Punters interest high in the Melbourne Cup

The possibility of Australian trainer Bart Cummings snatching a record 13th victory in the Melbourne Cup has New Zealand punters lining up at their local TAB stores to be part of the excitement.

At 12 noon today, the total betting turnover on the Melbourne Cup race was at its highest ever level on record at that time of the day on race day.

TAB Racing Manager Michael Dore says turnover is tracking well and is up nearly 15 per cent at 12 noon today compared to the same time last year.

“Obviously the majority of the betting action is placed on the Melbourne Cup in the two hours before the big race but we are pleased with how things are tracking currently,” he says.

“This biggest bet placed so far has been $5,000 on number 11 Alcopop at fixed odds of $5.50. The major surprise has been the unexpected swing of support to Bart Cummings’ second runner Roman Emperor, who has now shortened to second equal favourite and is paying $6.60 for the win at the tote along with Alcopop. Viewed is still the outright favourite, paying $5.10 for the win.”

“This is literally the race that stops the nations on both sides of the Tasman,” he adds.

There are five New Zealand trained horses lining up in the big race today, which starts at 5pm (NZ time), led by leading hope Daffodil (paying $11.00 for the win). The other Kiwi-trained contenders for the big race are Capecover ($41), Harris Tweed ($81), Gallions Reach ($101) and Spin Around ($101).

In total, there are 11 New Zealand-bred horses in total competing in the big race – Roman Emperor, Master O’Reilly, Daffodil, C'est La Guerre, Capecover, Kibbutz, Fiumicino, Harris Tweed, Ista Kareem, Zavite and Gallions Reach.

Last year, New Zealand punters bet nearly $7.6 million on the Melbourne Cup itself with more than $17.1 million in total passing through the New Zealand TAB on Melbourne Cup Day. Around one in 10 Kiwis has a bet on the Melbourne Cup through the New Zealand TAB.

For those who want to be part of the excitement of the Melbourne but are not sure how to place a bet or don’t know which horse to pick, go into your local TAB store and ask for a $10 Big Race Pack. This will give you the excitement of three bets on the one race – a $3 Each Way bet on one horse (that means $3 to win and $3 to finish first, second or third), a $1 Quinella bet (that same horse plus one other to finish first or second in any order) and a $3 Boxed Trifecta Bet (that same horse plus two others to finish first, second and third in any order) – and the computer picks all the horses for you.

ENDS

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