TAB review Feb 1

[dave nz]

It was a week for the Bookies!

It's a happier environment here in Petone this week as the bookies toast a successful week. The three largest bets all went the way of the TAB Sportsdesk, the Rafa Slam didn't eventuate, and the outsiders picked up the features at Trentham.

Starting with the Australian Open, where fourth seed Robin Soderling was expected to account for Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov. The sportsdesk took a $20,000 bet on Soderling at $1.09 before the match, and another $20,000 at $1.03, before the start of the second set, with Soderling up 1-0. Disaster struck for the punter with Dolgopolov fighting back to win in a five set thriller. However Andy Murray did the right thing by punters, defeating the Ukranian in the Quarter Final, and landing a $19,000 bet at $1.09. Another notable loser was a $20,000 bet on Rafael Nadal ($1.08) beating David Ferrer in his Quarter Final. That match also took with it a $5,000 bet on Nadal ($2.30) in the Tournament Winner book. Kim Clijsters was a well-backed favourite in the Women's draw thoughout the Open. One successful bet was $10,000 at $1.33 before the Final, although Na Li did become favourite when she went a set up. Nevertheless the bet was paid out, when Clijsters fought back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Punters were out in force for the annual Wellington Cup meeting, with the TAB Bookies taking some big hits, despite outsiders Booming ($17) and Spiro ($28) winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile and Group 2 Wellington Cup. The two best bets were $8,000 on Innocent Lady (7th) beating Showcause (9th) in a special Head to Head book. The best backed runner on the whole day was O'Reilly's Prize (winner), including a $6,000 bet at $2.60. However one excellent result midweek was laying a bet of $10,000 on Sealign ($2.00) in a three horse field! Sealign tied up last in the piece and was run down, giving the bookies a great result on a low turnover race.