Paradox of punter’s pal

Winx too sure for a wager

MIGHTY mare Winx is racing’s money-making machine, but she is a paradox for the betting business.

Sydney’s superhorse is such a dominant champion, she stifles betting in races she is competing.

But Winx is also responsible for what bookmakers are calling the “halo effect”, where her sheer popularity with punters and race fans is stimulating wagering interest on other races.

Winx, the world’s highest-rated horse on turf, is out to extend her phenomenal winning streak in the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick today where she is rated a $1.09 chance.

She has won her past 19 races, earning her owners more than $13 million in prizemoney, and is the closest to a sure thing racing has seen since Black Caviar.

Winx is the “punter’s pal”, having started favourite in each of her 19 consecutive wins.

If a TAB punter had the foresight to put $10 on Winx when she started her winning streak in the 2015 Sunshine Coast Guineas and then let the winnings ride on every start since, the return would be a staggering $126,111.

Winx is so dominant she monopolises betting in her races. A TAB spokesman said Winx has held an average of 92 per cent of the total Fixed Odds holds in her past three starts, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes back in autumn, and the Warwick Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes win this spring.

But Winx’s aura of invincibility is such that betting activity on her races is often considerably less than the average holds.

“In terms of bet numbers on Winx they are a lot lower because her price is so prohibitive,’’ leading Sydney bookmaker Grant Palmer said.

“But Winx is such a popular horse, she brings more people to the sport and that helps with betting turnover on other races that day. We call it the ‘halo effect’.

“We also find there is more people just putting a $1 win bet on Winx and keeping their ticket as a souvenir.’’

Rails bookmaker Rob Waterhouse said in today’s George Main Stakes, the runner on which he will hold the least number of bets is Winx.

“She is too short for most punters to back but what she is doing is attracting more people to the races,’’ Waterhouse said. “They come to watch Winx and then bet on other races, so she is helping to stimulate betting.’’