CUP SPLITS SIDES
GREAT DIVIDE OVER FANCIES FOR BIG RACE
IT may be the race that stops a nation but it seems it is also t the event that splits a state. Resid Residents of Hobart and Launceston rarely see eye-t eye-to-eye and it seems the Melbourne Cup is no diff different. Hobartians are loading up on last ye year’s winner Almandin to make it back-toba back Cup wins, while punters in the North are a all over favourite Marmelo, according to b betting agency UBET. Paris Jackson, left, daughter of pop legend Michael Jackson, has her money on Marmelo after meeting the English stayer yesterday. But for many, such as Hobart model Holly Mason, right, fashions on the field are more compelling than the racing.
TASSIE punters are already backing their favourite Melbourne Cup runners — and it seems loyalties are being split along the North-South divide.
Hobartians are loading up on last year’s winner Almandin to make it back-to-back Cup wins, while those in the North are all over favourite Marmelo, betting agency UBET says.
Almost 10 per cent of all bets on the Cup in Hobart had been placed on Almandin, UBET spokesman Nick Curry said.
“He’s the best backed in Hobart by some margin, both in terms of bets laid and by volume of money,” Mr Curry said.
“But it’s a completely different story in the North of the state, where Almandin isn’t even in the top three.
“Launcestonians are instead falling in line with rest of Australia and putting their money on the Caulfield Cup eye-catcher Marmelo, who has firmed from $9 into $8 favouritism since the barrier draw.”
The Melbourne Cup still draws all the occasional punters, with the first Tuesday in November attracting three times more bets than a usual Saturday, which is easily the biggest punting day of the week.
Hobart’s Holly Mason was at last year’s Cup and while she enjoys an annual flutter on the main event, she was much more interested in the fashions than the fields.
“It is a fashion style that is like no other,” Ms Mason said.
“It still has the feminine touch to it, the big accessories and everything that matches.
“There are still rules and regulations which don’t really apply in other aspects of life, like the knee length has to be a certain length.
“You can really dress it up with floaty skirts and out-there accessories and it is totally normal at the Cup. The crazier the better sometimes, which is pretty cool.”
A crowd of about 100,000 is expected at Flemington to watch an equal record 11 international raiders take on the best staying horses in Australia for the $6.25 million race.
But the Cup will raise interest much further afield, with a total television audience estimated at 750 million in 163 countries and territories tuning in.
Rich-lister businessman Lloyd Williams is gunning for his sixth Melbourne Cup and has six runners to boot as he shoots for back-to-back triumphs spearheaded by Almandin.
Yet his is just one potential storyline in a field of 23 runners racing for an 18-carat gold cup worth $200,000 in theory but priceless in standing.