Surprise support for Kiwi mare Daffodil doesn't sway bookmakers as punters pile into Viewed
The Age
Tuesday November 3, 2009
A STEADY stream of money for New Zealand mare Daffodil stunned bookmakers at yesterday's Call Of The Card at Crown Palladium, with those taking bets at yesterday's event standing to lose about $1 million should the four-year-old win today's Melbourne Cup.Punters were obviously impressed with Daffodil's strong fourth placing in the Caulfield Cup and rallied around the $17 shot to defeat firming favourite Viewed and South Australian up-and-comer Alcopop, with a couple of large bets taking bookmakers by surprise."If you'd have told me Daffodil was going to be the best backed horse today I'd have laughed at you," said Betstar's Michael Eskander."I thought there would be a bit of money for her but I was certainly surprised that she was best backed runner."Eskander said the plunge may have been the result of punters looking to bet outside the square, with Viewed and Alcopop dominating most markets."It's not what I'd call a champagne Melbourne Cup and there are two fairytale type results that stand out; Bart going for his 13th win in the race, and Alcopop coming from obscurity."There was money for Daffodil prior to the Caulfield Cup on the back of an unlucky run in the group 1 Kelt Capital in New Zealand and, judging by the the size of some of the wagers that came for her yesterday, many expect her to improve today.Bookies opened trading at $17 at the Call Of The Card and were immediately inundated with bets, as one punter backed Daffodil to win $320,000 with Winbet, while Tom Waterhouse took a bet to lose $150,000 before betting $100,000 of that back with Eskander.Although several bets between $400 and $20,000 were taken punters could not shift Daffodil from her opening quote of $17 before betting closed as bookies stood firm against the onslaught.Topweight and race favourite Viewed was also the subject of heavy interest and bookmakers took $300,000 worth of bets at $5.50 causing his price to tumble into $5 by the close of play, however their liability on the favourite could have been significantly larger had they been lenient on the price."There was plenty of action at $5.50 but we could have let them on at $6 to win $2 million," said Centrebet's Con Kafataris.Viewed is expected to attract plenty of support on course at Flemington today as rank-and-file punters seek to latch onto Cummings' leading contender and he could start as short as $4.50.Second favourite Alcopop was well supported but not to the extent of Viewed, indicating punters expect the five-year-old to drift from the $6 offered yesterday.Bookmakers are also expecting plenty of action for the second favourite on track as well as other leading fancies Shocking and Roman Emperor, who they laid to lose $450,000 and $500,000 respectively yesterday.Some of Australia's most recognisable punters had an influence at the Call Of The Card with Sean Bartholomew backing Viewed to win $100,000 and outsider Changingoftheguard to win $75,000.Changingoftheguard received strong support despite being the subject of an RVL vet inspection yesterday afternoon and firmed from $26 into $21.The David Hayes-trained import will need to pass a fitness test this morning in order to the take his place in the field.
© 2009 The Age
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