The Brisbane Winter Carnival rolled on over the King’s Birthday long weekend with the Queensland Oaks taking centre stage, while closer to home the middle day of the Swan Hill Carnival ensured there was no shortage of action for Ponybet bookmaker Anthony ‘Juppy’ Jupp.
As usual, it wasn’t a day for the faint-hearted.
The morning started positively enough at Ellerslie during breakfast time.
However, is didn’t come without a scare when a punter attempted to land a $1,000 double linking Cosmic Dream (who won Ellerslie r7) and Deepfloat Diva at $13.33.
Fortunately for the book, the punter barely gave a yelp with Cosmic Dream beaten into third.
“We got off to a winning start at the four main states but the first blow came in the first race at Newcastle.”
That blow arrived courtesy of Vingt Neuf Noir, with Ponybet laying bets of $1,000 and $850 at $5.50. When the horse saluted, punters were celebrating and the traders were left searching for a response after more than $8,800 left the bag.
To their credit, they found one.
The book worked its way back into positive territory before another familiar face appeared.
One of Ponybet’s professional punters stepped in on Norheim (race 3) at Morphettville, taking $4.60 to win $2,000.
The result wasn’t ideal.
Neither was what came next.
At Swan Hill, the Nathan Hobson-trained Monix attracted strong support both online and on course. Ponybet laid the gelding twice to win $1,000 at $7 before taking additional money at shorter prices.
By the time Monix crossed the line first, another $2,500 had disappeared as the local saluted, no doubt to the cheers of punters on course.
The same professional punter then returned at Morphettville.
“The same pro got us again backing Harsh each-way at $6.50 and $2.10 to the Minimum Bet Limits (MBL’s). Another $2,000 dusted.”
While the country meetings and professionals were making life difficult, the bigger metropolitan meetings proved far kinder.
“Flemington, Randwick and Eagle Farm were very kind to us.”
The standout result came in Eagle Farm’s War Eternal race (race 7, $26), which Juppy described as one of the highlights of the day.
“War Eternal winning at Eagle Farm and the race being a skinner was the highlight.”
A skinner meaning the bookie didn’t write a single ticket on the gelding.
Fireball Miss Delivers In The Oaks
The Queensland Oaks was the highlight race of the afternoon and, from a bookmaker’s perspective, it wasn’t without concern.
Panova headed the danger list after attracting the biggest bet of the race, with one punter investing $1,500 at $4. Chispa, Solid Gold, Zvleika, Panda’s Spectrum and Highgrove Rose were also among the runners Ponybet wanted beaten.
Thankfully for the traders, Fireball Miss had other ideas.
“Fireball Miss was a good result.”
The Group 1 victory helped steady the book at a crucial stage of the afternoon.
Not every venue was as cooperative.
Ponybet finished behind at Swan Hill, Grafton, the Gold Coast, Longreach and Toowoomba, ensuring the regional meetings continued to chip away at any gains being made elsewhere.
By the time the afternoon racing concluded, the book was in front but still searching for a meaningful result.
“We were ahead in the book but not in profit territory heading into the evening. We were grinding away.”
A $1,000 wager at $3.20 on Hawkesdale Deed at Globe Derby then landed, handing another collect back to customers and keeping the pressure on.
Derby Day Delight Before The UK Bites Back
Overnight betting produced more swings than a playground.
It was a dramatic Derby Day at Epsom with stewards making themselves the headline! But, for Ponybet, the meeting proved one of the best of the weekend, collecting around $10,000 from the card.
Unfortunately, the celebrations were short-lived.
Doncaster, Goodwood and Fairyhouse all turned in favour of punters, wiping away those gains and leaving Juppy with a familiar feeling by the time the final race was run.
“Sadly we gave all of that back on Doncaster, Goodwood and Fairyhouse.”
After another day of relentless turnover, winning and losing runs, and countless nervous moments, the final verdict from the Ponybet boss summed things up perfectly.
“Another Saturday of being a tax collector for the government without actually making much money.”
