Ponybet CEO Jason Scott lifts the curtain on the wins, the scares and the South Korean volleyball sting
For once, the bookmakers got to enjoy the view from the high ground. Ponybet boss Jason Scott summed it up simply: “It was a bookies weekend and the start-up bookmaker enjoyed our best Saturday in October or November.”
But nothing in bookmaking is ever straightforward. A weekend can turn with one favourite, one multi, one random sporting event on the other side of the world. Scott’s recap is a reminder that every Saturday is a mix of elation, terror and the occasional forehead slap.
A Friday Warm-Up: Mount Gambier Mayhem
The first spark landed on Friday, when one adventurous punter turned a small swing into a serious collect.
“Friday did see one punter start the weekend well with a bet of $250 at Mount Gambier race 5 Scenic Host which paid $79.40 best tote.”
A tidy little hit that set the tone for what was to come.
Caulfield: Punters Come Out Swinging
Saturday began with a barrage. Punters pinged the lids.
“Caulfield proved very good for punters on Saturday,” Scott admitted.
The money landed early and landed hard. Black Run, Different Gravy, She’s A Hustler and Aviatrix all proved incredibly popular and Ponybet felt every punch.
The one that really stung was She’s A Hustler.
“She’s A Hustler was clearly our worst result of the day with two bets of 10k best tote.”
Then came the turning point. Jenni Gone Bonkers ($1.55) got rolled, and the collective exhale from traders across the country could probably be heard from the grandstand.
Scott did not sugar-coat it.
“The defeat of Jenni Gone Bonkers saved us and I suspect most bookmakers from some significant multi liability.”
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Brisbane: A Lip, a miracle, a bookie’s split
If Caulfield was punter territory, Brisbane brought some balance for bookies.
“The best result was Tony Gollan’s Rockribbed in Brisbane beating the stablemate Boomtown Boss a lip to give us a split.”
The betting sheet shows why the result was meaningful for Ponybet:
- Boomtown Boss: one $8500 crack and a couple more at $5000.
- Tuff Tu Mus: $9000 at $4.40 and 10k each way at $4.20.
And in Toowoomba, the money flowed for one of the region’s most reliable names.
“Other decent bets was the ever-popular Bubba Tiley winning the 2nd at Toowoomba where we wrote 10k at $3.60,” noted Scott.
Perth: When the Script Flips
Then Perth stepped in like a guardian angel for bookmakers everywhere.
“Perth was a bookmakers dream with the right favourites for bookmakers being beaten.”
“One notable bet was $25k on Yorga Pride who ended up finishing sixth in race eight.”
The Winterbottom produced another pivotal moment.
“Another split in the Winterbottom with Overpass and Jokers Grin going over. Both favourites garnered considerable interest with Overpass being a particularly nasty result for us.”
Favourites getting rolled in Perth is the equivalent of someone turning the lights back on in the trading room.
Sport: The Unexpected Storm
Just when the bookmakers were settling into a comfortable Saturday glow, sport decided to level the ledger.
“Whilst racing was profitable for us sport was trickier on Saturday.”
The US sports went against Ponybet.
South Korean volleyball proved even more painful.
The line that says it all:
“We lost on the US Sport and ran a very poor second in South Korean Volleyball with a customer taking $10,000 at 1.90 the Stars.”
Only in betting can your best weekend in months include a stinging loss in a volleyball match you never intended to care about.
The Verdict
The weekend had everything. Wild multis avoided, big bets dodged, punters cashing in early and traders sweating late. Brisbane saved the day, Perth delivered the dream, and South Korea reminded everyone that no bookmaker ever sleeps easy.
In the end, Jason Scott was right. It really was a bookies weekend. And for Ponybet, one worth celebrating.
