TAB review Nov 1

[dave nz]

Bookies win some and lose some in the past 7 days.

It was the weekend of last minute victories. The All Blacks' loss was one for the bookies. It meant the biggest bet of the week was a loser- $27,000 at $1.35. However one punter was cheering another last minute try at Eden Park. Despite taking the +5.5 Points Start on Waikato the punter wasn't a winner until the late try was awarded, Waikato were trailing by 6, and $11,400 turned into $21,318. There was also great interest in the Heartland finals with mixed results. North Otago were well supported in their 39-18 demolition of Wanganui. Successful bets were $10,000 at $1.65 before the match, and Live betting wagers of $10,000 at $1.50, $10,000 at $1.40, and $14,700 at $1.10. Buller's loss cost one person $10,000 at $1.55.

American sport once again proves popular with big bettors doing very well over the past seven days. After losing the opening two matches of the World Series, Texas were expected to bounce back at home, and did. Successful bets were $20,000 at $1.57, $15,000 at $1.50, and $15,000 at $1.45. All other big punts on USA action were winners, $11,935 on Miami Heat ($1.57) against Orlando, $10,000 LA Lakers ($1.50) against Phoenix, and in the NFL $10,000 on NY Giants +3.5 ($1.65).

Spring racing is attracting plenty of money and big turnover is expected on tomorrow's Melbourne Cup. There has been some big bets placed recently with mixed results for the bookies. Champion racehorse So You Think ($1.60) had $20,000 placed on his nose, but Typhoon Tracy's ($1.80) loss two races later was a positive with a bet $18,000 filling the coffers. Also on Saturday were $10,000 bets on second placed Demerit ($4.50) and $10,000 on La Bella (loser). Labour Day Monday was very popular with several big bets. The bets were: $10,000 on Maradona at Woodville (loser), and at Te Rapa $10,000 on even-money favourite Our Ella Belle (loser after losing the jockey), and $10,000 on winner He's Remarkable ($2.60). There was also some interest in midweek racing in Australia with two notable winners being $12,000 on Imagery ($1.70) at Eagle Farm and $10,000 on Dangerous Queen ($1.80) in a maiden 1750m race out of Pakenham.

Tennis once again saw several short priced favourites winning for punters, including $10,000 at $1.10 on Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, and $10,000 on Richard Gasquet ($1.12), although Gasquet had to come back from a set down.