Bookies Down Under Thrilled With Americain Win at Melbourne Cup

Written by :

Alistair Prescott

Published on :

2 November, 2010

The bookies were hoping that So You Think would not win Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. He was the heavily backed favorite who ultimately ended up finishing third. Instead it was Americain who came in first place. The barely mentioned European-trained horse paid 12/1 odds coming into the race.

So You Think had become a bona fide star in Australian coming into this race, becoming the shortest-priced favorite in a Melbourne Cup since Veandercross in 1992. By the AM hours he was set at $3.20.

Sportingbet Australia communications manager Bill Richmond told Wide World of Sports: "There have been a string of big bets for it over the past 24 hours, including two bets of $40,000 and two bets of $20,000.

"We put up $3.70 after the barrier draw on Saturday night, and the money for this horse has just kept rolling in."

Man down under Greg Tingle of Media Man said this on the biggest horse race of the year, The Melbourne Cup:

"Australia's Melbourne Cup is as much about corporate sponsorship, fashion and celebs these days, as it is about the actually horse race itself. Despite Melbourne raining cats and dogs most of today about 100,000 people showed up to witness the race live, and the majority of Australia took most of the day off to watch it on television or the web.

“Many workplaces run sweepstakes and its the talk between businesses, clients and associates. Real work basically goes on hold for the day. Oh, I have a perfect system that works every year without fail to make sure I don't loose on the hardness race in the year to pick. I don't bet on it, rather, we cover the race and let people know some of the best places to place bets on it. Good system hey. “Insiders call the Melbourne Cup a race for mug punters, but I wouldn't be so harsh. It's a very hard race to pick winners and even places. Enjoy the fun, fashion, drinks and women, and you can't go wrong".

The finishing order in the 2010 Melbourne Cup:

1. Americain

2. Maluckyday

3. So You Think

4. Zipping

5. Harris Tweed

6. Holberg

7. Manighar

8. Precedence

9. Illustrious Blue

10. Mr Medici

11. Once Were Wild