Bookmakers nationwide are bracing for a $50 million multi-liability as superstars Ka Ying Rising and Autumn Glow head to Randwick on Saturday.
While the $1.35 about Ka Ying Rising in The Everest and the $1.40 about Autumn Glow in the King Charles Stakes isn’t likely to attract the run-of-the-mill punter, the multi will approach $2 and will be heavily supported.
If another shortie comes in, which punters can couple with two stars to get odds toward $5, it will make bookmakers quake.
“We expect both Ka Ying Rising and Autumn Glow to be exceptionally popular with punters at Randwick on Saturday, with many looking to include them in their multis,” Entain’s Industry & External Affairs director Andrew Hannan told Betsy.
“Both horses have proven to be extremely reliable, with Autumn Glow featuring in three of the four largest racing multi payouts ever recorded at Ladbrokes.
“We’ve already seen plenty of big bets come in for Ka Ying Rising, with many sharp punters opting for fixed odds over the tote on raceday.”
The biggest multi payout came when Observer won the Australian Guineas and was coupled with Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Tempted in the Surround Stakes as punters lapped up the short odds.
“Punters won’t want to take $1.40 but they are happy to take horses like Ka Ying Rising and Autumn Glow in multi into others, and it can quickly get out of control if they all start winning,” Palmerbet’s Grant Palmer said.
“They just want a ticket with the best horses’ name on it, and the multi is a way for them to make some money out of them.
“They see it as a way to cheer for the best horses and they love to be on them.”
Caulfield Guineas day was an example of how bookmakers’ day can turn on a couple of results, with Sheza Alibi at $1.35 and Lindermann at $1.70 going under.
“The rank-and-file punters won’t take short odds about one horses these days, but they are more than happy to have the multi with the good things of the day,” Betr head of trading Tristian Merlehan explained.
“It was looking bad on Saturday, when the favourites started winning early in the day, but Sheza Alibi and Lindermann getting beaten saved the day for us.
“The multis are what can really hurt us when the favourites start winning.
“Next weekend is going to be huge because they know Ka Ying Rising and Autumn Glow and trust them, so it could be a huge if they do what is expected and a couple of other favourites win.”
Bookmakers privately think each corporate could lose up to $10 million each if Everest-Caulfield Cup Day turns into Black Saturday.
