The Aussies have it – so say the punters

The Aussies have it – so say the punters

Aussie punters – more to the point those who bet on Australia – have caught the TAB on the hop in the buildup to Saturdaynight’s transtasman shearing test in Masterton overwhelming backing the visitors to win a fourth test in a row.

TAB shearing bookmaker Kieran McAnulty said bets on Australia have totalled more than four times that bet on the Kiwis.

But the TAB was, today at least, unwilting in it’s confidence New Zealand will regain the upper hand in a test which marks the 40th anniversary of the first formal transtasman shearing series staged in 1974-75.

The Kiwi team of Nathan Stratford, of Invercargill, Colin “Mouse” O’Neill, of Alexandra, and David Buick, of Pongaroa, was still favourites, albeit with odds eased from the opening price of $1.40 to $1.60. Meanwhile, the odds on the test being won by Australians Shannon Warnest, Daniel McIntyre and Damian Boyle have been cut from $2.70 to $2.20.

Warnest has shorn more transtasman tests than anyone else and has won two World titles on Merino sheep, while Boyle has won New Zealand's only merino event five times in a row in Alexandra.

There have been 56 tests since in the series, and wins are tied 28-each as a result of Australia winning the last three in Warrnambool(Vic) in 2013 and Masterton and Errowanbang(NSW) last year, and seven of the last eight test.

The shearers will each shear six finewooled merinos, and three ewes and three lambs of the strongwooled breed more common in New Zealand.

Mr McAnulty foresaw New Zealand remaining favourites, with a possible shift to the Australians close to start time.

“If the money keeps coming on the Australians, we’ll have to listen” he said.

A woolhandling test will be held tonight, with New Zealanders Keryn Herbert and Ronnie Goss out to beat Australians Sarah Moran and Tara Smith and defend the honour of a much more successful black-teeshirt record, New Zealand having won 25 of the 33 tests since woolhandling tests started in 1998.

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