NORTHERN Territory corporate bookmaker Sportsbet yesterday took on its biggest client, who wagered $1 million on Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler to win today's Underwood Stakes.
Sportsbet boss Matt Tripp said the punter, for whom a massive bet is not unusual, stood to win $650,000 after securing odds of $1.65.
"We allow him to back horses to win $1 m in group 1 races, so he hasn't quite done that on this occasion," said Tripp. "We are hopeful things can go our way. There are a few little things there to suggest Weekend Hussler won't get things easy. I expect Light Fantastic and Pompeii Ruler to improve, while Maldivian is a chance, as well."
Meanwhile, Sportingbet Australia chief executive Michael Sullivan also reported a flood of bets on Weekend Hussler to win the Underwood.
"Punters plunged on the horse on Wednesday and again on Thursday," he said. "And they have gone right on with the job. Today we've taken a host of bets on the horse. He's been backed to the exclusion of the others. He is a great horse, great for racing, but we won't be cheering for him."
ANOTHER YOUNG GUN: Trainer Gai Waterhouse unveiled what she thinks will be a sure-fire early season two-year-old winner at yesterday morning's Randwick trials.
Choisir filly Horizons, ridden by Nash Rawiller, scorched over 900m to win in clearly the fastest time of the morning. Rawiller said Horizons "was first in the gate and stood there like an old handicapper, then jumped well and did everything right".
David Hayes prepared a heat winner with More Than Ready filly Arctic Light, and Clarry Conners produced Our Joan Of Arc for a win.
Patinack Farm had two winners at the session, with the Jason Coyle-trained Bargaining scoring along with Onemorenomore, which is prepared by Anthony Cummings.
BIANCA COPS KILO: Newcastle Cup winner Bianca was yesterday issued a one-kilogram penalty for next month's group 1 The Metropolitan and is now set to carry 53kg in the Sydney spring staying feature.
"When assessing the penalty, due consideration was given to the mare's highly impressive credentials beyond 2000m, with her record now reading six starts for four wins, including three of those four victories in black-type events," Racing NSW senior handicapper Greg Pearson said. "She will be aiming to become only the second horse in over 40 years to complete the Newcastle Cup-The Metropolitan double and the first since Hunter back in 1989."
POSITIVE TEST: AJC Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu has returned an irregularity to a banned substance but will still take his place in the Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings in New Zealand today.
Cameron George, chief steward of NZ Thoroughbred Racing, said yesterday that Nom Du Jeu's trainer Murray Baker had three horses, including Nom Du Jeu, return irregularities to Ranitidine, which is used to treat stomach ulcers.
"All three horses ran at the Te Rapa meeting on September 5, on which day Nom Du Jeu resumed from a spell with a win," said George.
Baker said he is devastated by the presence of the drug in the three horses and the confirmatory tests are still awaiting return to NZ Thoroughbred Racing.
The trainer said it was "a staff error" that caused the horses to race with Ranitidine in their systems.
"It's not a nice thing to have this thing hanging over your head," Baker told NZPA. "I have not had a positive test in 30 years training. I like to think I am straight up and down. I'm not a shonky guy, I don't have to be."
George said all three horses would race at Hastings today and Baker is sure they are now drug free. George added that should the confirmatory analysis also detect the banned substance, then the three horses will face disqualification from their respective Te Rapa events. Run a stable of your own … TRAIN your own stable of horses to clean up in the spring carnival in a new virtual training game.
You get $1 million to spend on 10 horses which you think will shine and the more money they win during the carnival, the more chance you have of wining a real racehorse. You also win points that allow you to trade horses during the carnival. "We had 30,00 virtual trainers go head to head in the Sky Channel Star Stable during the 2008 Autumn Racing Carnival," said Sky Channel chief operating officer Brendan Parnell.
The competition commences on October 4, 2008.To enter, visit www.starstable.com.au.
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