Cashing in

A Kiwi punter has won almost $100,000 after splurging out on the Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, but has been eclipsed by an Australian who has won A$500,000.

The Kiwi punter outlaid $8700 on the New Zealand TAB at odds of $11 to win $95,700.

The Aussie punter was a bit more confident – or richer – and laid down $50,000 with a TAB agency there to claim half a million dollars. The New Zealand Racing Board said it had a record 1.7 million bets on the Cup, with 2529 of them on Cross Counter.