Bart's Boy The Shortest-Priced Cup Favourite

Sunday, 31 October 2010 For immediate distribution

Bart's Boy The Shortest-Priced Cup Favourite In 18 Years

Despite being the same price as Makybe Diva in 2004 when winning her second Melbourne Cup, and being the shortest-priced Cup favourite since Veandercross in 1992 ($3.25), punters with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au have hammered the $3.50 on offer about Bart Cummings' wonder horse So You Think creating history on the first Tuesday in November.

So You Think was paying $6 before his barnstorming win yesterday's Mackinnon Stakes, while early favourite Shocking's price has ballooned from $4.40 to $9 after drawing the outside barrier.

"$3.50 for a horse to win the Melbourne Cup in his twelfth start seems ridiculously short, but we are talking about a once in a generation champion," said sportsbet.com.au's Haydn Lane.

"There still has to be questions asked about whether he'll get the two miles, but all indications are he'll answer with a resounding 'yes' on Tuesday."

For punters who get their Each-Way Melbourne Cup bets on before midnight on Monday night, sportsbet.com.au is paying punters the place dividend down to fourth place.

"To finish fourth in a Melbourne Cup is a great effort but is usually bad luck for punters who have backed the horse each way, so this year we've decided to pay down to fourth," said Lane.

In recent years, horses such as Master O'Reilly (twice), Zipping (twice), Leica Falcon, Elvstroem, Pentastic and Vinnie Roe have run gallant fourths in the Cup.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au 2010 MELBOURNE CUP $3.50 So You Think (in from $6 on Saturday morning) $9 Shocking (out from $4.40 on Saturday morning) $9 Mayluckyday $12 Americain $13 Descarado $17 Precedence, Linton $19 Manighar, Holberg $26 Harris Tweed, Once Were Wild $31 Monaco Consul, Profound Beauty $41 Campanologist, Zipping, Shoot Out $51 Mr Medici $61 Illustrious Blue $81 Tokai Trick, Bauer $151 Zavite $201 Buccellati $301 Master O'Reilly, Red Ruler

For information on sportsbet.com.au's Melbourne Cup 4th Place Payout, please visit www.sportsbet.com.au/content/offers/racing-offers

--ends--

© Scoop Media