The halcyon days of Lloyd Williams, Kerry Packer, Mark Read and Co betting in telephone numbers at the Call of the Card are long gone.
However, after a few quiet years, the event had a renaissance of sorts on Monday with a flurry of big bets. The bookie at the centre of those bets was Chris Lester, who walked away with a potential $5 million payout after just three minutes of spirited betting.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained import Al Riffa was the third-last horse in the call, and there was an air of anticipation in the room as betting started. You see, a rumour had been circling for days that a huge bet on the last-start Irish St Leger winner had been ‘tee’d up’.
Chris Lester had the call, offering $8, and quickly the hands went flying – the first bet being $500,000 on the nose to collect $4 million, placed by Easygo.
Lester contemplated for a moment, but quickly the bet was struck. That was followed by another bet to win $1 million from Kingsley Bartholomew’s Wolfden.
Whilst most would be sweating bullets or curled up in the foetal position at the prospect of such a liability, Lester was upbeat when Betsy spoke with him.
“An amazing day, I certainly didn’t plan to walk out today standing a horse to win $5 mil. It’s touch more than I would like, let’s hope the rain keeps coming, with that weight I think it will only get tougher for Al Riffa.”
Lester likes Vauban in the race, suggesting punters got him for more than he wanted on the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper.
“I liked Vauban, we’ve certainly layed it for more than I would have liked, if the real Vauban presents tomorrow, we’re in trouble.”
Lester also took good bets on both Meydaan and Royal Supremacy.
“Meydaan, was one we were happy to lay, it one of our larger positions, see if JMac can work some magic.”
“Royal Supremacy, there was a ton of money for it, very surprised we were standing it for as much as we did.”
Two of the favourites going into the Call of the Card were largely friendless in betting.
“We would have like to have gotten more out of Valiant King. Thought we offered some good value on Half Yours as it was something we wanted to lay, but there wasn’t a lot of big money for it – very surprising.”
