There was plenty to get excited about across the week that was. The Warriors picked up an unlikely win over Penrith in Magic Round in a game where Taine Tuaupiki emerged as the hero, the Blues held on to top spot on the Super Rugby ladder in between another full week of racing on both sides of the Tasman. An event that may have flown under the radar was the final week of the Premier League Darts league phase, but one punter made the most of the Sheffield event, pulling off a massive multi to start their Friday the right way.
Night 16 of the Premier League Darts season saw the top four become finalised, as Michael Smith edged out Nathan Aspinall for the final spot in the play-offs, but this punter would have been celebrating just as much as Smith after their $10 multi won them $12,679. Putting together a four-leg multi, containing a Correct Score bet for each of the day’s quarterfinals, this was a darts masterclass. All of the matches were somewhat competitive, with eventual champion Michael Smith’s 6-3 win over Aspinall being the biggest win of the quarterfinals, and that is exactly what this bettor predicted, nailing all four of the quarterfinals’ scores to turn their $10 into a massive $12,679.
As the weekend rolled around and the plethora of racing on Saturday began, one fan had the last at Flemington in their sights. Laying down a $10 First4, this punter finished the day $6,662 better off, nailing all of their selections in a tightly-contested last race. Links ($19.60) surged through the middle to come out on top, with Underpants ($41) the next to pass the post, just 0.35L back. $3.30 favourite Shesallshenanigans ran third and completing the First4 was Diamond Decorator ($18), just 0.75L back from Links, as this punter wrapped up the Flemington card with a huge $6,662 win.
Doomben 10,000 Day brought the first Group 1 of the Queensland Racing Carnival on Saturday, and one TAB customer celebrated accordingly, with a $2 Trifecta winning $2,780. Doing the form for Race 3, this punter included The Instructor ($6.50) and Amur ($47.40) as their selections for both first and second place, leaving Abounding ($10) or Razors ($6.00) to run third – and that is exactly what happened. Amur came from the clouds on the outside to swoop home for the win, while The Instructor held on for second and Abounding finished strongly to complete the placings and help this racing fan land a tasty $2,780 collect from their $2 Trifecta.
One race earlier, another big Trifecta was struck, this time seeing one racing fan turn $2 into $2,720. Despite jumping as a $20.70 outsider, this punter was confident in Ang Pow, including him as the only selection for first place in the Trifecta. Warby ($5.00) and Centre Bounce ($41) filled out both the second and third place boxes, and it was Ang Pow and Centre Bounce who were battling it out in the final 100m. The Marnu Potgieter-ridden Ang Pow ended up winning by a nose, seeing Centre Bounce take second place, while Warby saw off the rest of the field to run third and make this $2 Trifecta a $2,720 winner.
Thursday’s racing at Wangaratta wraps up this week’s Big Winners, with another Trifecta coming up trumps. The $4 bet ended up winning $2,035, as Over Yonder ($8.50) stormed to victory, with Rosary ($81) the next past the post. Dalhart ($3.40) and Sophie’s Award ($41) picked up third and fourth, respectively, and that was exactly what this Trifecta needed to record a $2,035 win.
Big Winners: 13 May – 19 May
Premier League Darts Multi (Fri May 17)
Nathan Aspinall vs Michael Smith – Correct Score – Nathan Aspinall 3-6 Michael Smith ($7.00)
Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross – Correct Score – Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Rob Cross ($6.00)
Luke Humphries vs Gerwyn Price – Correct Score – Luke Humphries 6-4 Gerwyn Price ($5.25)
Luke Littler vs Peter Wright – Correct Score – Luke Littler 6-4 Peter Wright ($5.75)
$10 stake @ $1267.87 = $12,679 return
Flemington Races First4 (Sat May 18) – Race 10
Selections: 9,14:1,9,11,14:1,3,9,11,14:1,3,7,9,11,14
$10 stake = $6,662 return
Doomben Races Trifecta (Sat May 18) – Race 3
Selections: 2,4:2,4:5,13
$2 stake = $2,780 return
Doomben Races Trifecta (Sat May 18) – Race 2
Selections: 1:7,13:7,13
$2 stake = $2,720 return