Racing tycoon's whopping $1m collect if fancied runner wins: The ...

2 hours ago

Fox Sports

The Melbourne Cup is almost here, and punters have been saving their cash ready to splash on Australia’s biggest and best thoroughbred race.

The nation’s set to stop at 3pm, and there’ll be some watching with bated breath with some big bets being thrown down ahead of Tuesday afternoon.

At Monday’s Call of the Card, Tom Waterhouse laid down a huge wager that could see him take home $1 million if Chris Waller’s Buckaroo crosses the line first.

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The racing tycoon’s $133k bet was the biggest of the let, with two other punters also hoping to take home $500k and $200k if it wins.

Kingsley Bartholomew from Wolfden is also in line to win $500k if Waller’s other star Interpretation wins, while Waterhouse also backed Zardozi at $12 odds to win $300k.

With the big bookmakers, one punter is in line to win $130,000 if Interpretation hits the line first, while another could take home $171,000.

There was a $9,000 wager placed on Interpretation at a whopping $19, with Teo Nugent the man to potentially hand the lucky winner a life-changing sum of money.

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However, the biggest bet of all? $5k on Just Fine at a whopping $51 — a potential $255k collect with the TAB. Not bad for a day’s work.

Just Fine booked its place in the Melbourne Cup after winning The Bart Cummings, but its last start left much to be desired in the Moonee Valley Cup.

Another punter has thrown $1.5k Sea King, getting on the eventual Bendigo Cup winner at a staggering $101 for a win of $151.5k. The Harry Eustace runner is now paying only $12.

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As for the horse with the biggest share of the market?

“Vauban remains our $7 equal favourite with Buckaroo, although TAB is holding the most on Onesmoothoperator with 11.3 per cent of the market,” TAB’s Nick Smart said on Tuesday morning.

“He is $8.50 into $8, while Buckaroo is our next best backed with 10.3 per cent of the hold and has been strongly backed on Tuesday morning despite the wide barrier and queries over whether he can stay the 3200m.

“Vauban has 9.1 per cent of the hold, although punters appear a little wary of him after last year’s disappointment.”

So what are the biggest bets that the bookies have taken ahead of the 2024 Melbourne Cup?

TAB

$10,700 on Onesmoothoperator to win at $9

$10,000 on Buckaroo to place at $2.80

$10,000 on Zardozi to place at $4.80

$9600 on Land Legend to place at $5

$9000 on Absurde to win at $11

$7500 on Land Legend to win at $17

$6000 on Vauban to win at $6

$5000 on Land Legend to win at $13

$5000 on Just Fine to win at $51