Bookies reject big bets on Marmelo
L E A D I N G b o o k m a k e r s Matt Tripp and Rob Waterhouse have handed punters a significant Melbourne Cup lead by avoiding Marmelo at the traditional call of the card.
While CrownBet’s Tripp, Waterhouse and fellow bagmen Mark Sampieri and Warren Woodcock were prepared to take on a host of other Cup contenders, Marmelo was kept safe.
Opening at $ 8.50, Marmelo tightened to $ 8 amid expectation of strong oncourse support for the English raider at Flemington.
Tripp said he was happy to dodge Marmelo, an eyecatching Caulfield Cup sixth, with only small bets allowed at $ 8.50.
“I thought Marmelo was outstanding in the Caulfield Cup,” Tripp said.
“It got off balance and on its wrong leg. Flemington will suit it down to the ground.
“It’s drawn to get a great run in seventh and eighth and as the race momentum builds, his momentum will build.
“I’d be happy with a break even result with him – $ 8 the favourite in any race is probably not a bad price.”
Tom Waterhouse tried to back the Prix Kergorlay winner to win $ 100,000 but the bet was knocked back.
Tripp said he was prepared to risk Max Dynamite and Johannes Vermeer.
“Exposed form now with Johannes Vermeer versus Marmelo, I clearly want to be on Marmelo,” Tripp said.
“While Johannes Vermeer is a class horse, I think there is a query at two miles while the ( ownership) stablemate Almandin has done everything right.
“As you might have noticed, I avoided Almandin.”
Tripp, who is believed to have taken more than double the wagers of the other three bookmakers combined, still expects plenty of support for Johannes Vermeer.
Single Gaze ($ 51-$ 41) will be his worst result ahead of Max Dynamite ($ 16-$ 15) and Libran ($ 51-$ 41).
Tom Waterhouse had $ 4000 on Single Gaze while Cox Plate runner- up Humidor was solidly backed with Steve Bradley outlaying $ 22,000 for a potential $ 250,000 windfall.
Frankie Dettori’s confidence in defending champion Almandin was reflected in a flood of five- figure wagers.
Solid at $ 10, the eightyear- old was the centre of a $ 10,000 bet and several at $ 5000.
Chasing his first Melbourne Cup success, Dettori said: “I wouldn’t swap Almandin.
“He’s won it before, he stays the two miles, we know that.
“He’s been trained for this race, fingers crossed.”
Darren Weir’s Big Duke ($ 21-$ 20) and Humidor ($ 11$ 10) were also popular with punters.
With Tripp tipping Marmelo, Sampieri went for Rekindling, Waterhouse chose Wall Of Fire and Woodcock nominated Boom Time, who is lukewarm in betting at $ 31 despite his excellent Caulfield Cup win.