Another blockbuster week of action is in the books, headlined by Game 1 of State of Origin, the beginning of the NBA Finals, Super Rugby quarter finals, the business end of Roland Garros, Queensland Oaks Day and much, much more. TAB punters were on their game across the week, recording a slew of big wins, but none was more impressive than a near-$30k collect at New Plymouth.
The Thursday thoroughbreds meeting welcomed an eight-race card, and this punter took on all eight races with a $25 eight-leg multi winning a massive $29,174. Dresse’ Par Joli ($2.25) got the multi off to the ideal start, cruising in for a comfortable win in Race 1, and Indian Gold ($3.90), Lazio ($2.20), and Librarsi ($2.90) all followed suit in the next three races. Smartroad ($2.05) simply needed to place in Race 5, but he went one better, winning the race, before Ravenna Rose ($2.05) ran second to keep the multi alive with two legs remaining. Needing Malborough Bay and Sandy Lane to place in Races 7 and 8, respectively, it was a nervous watch. Malborough Bay was gutsy on the Heavy9 track, holding off Mr Twinkletoes to run third but there were no such close call in the last, as Sandy Lane ran home strong to see this $25 multi win an enormous $29,174.
That isn’t where the New Plymouth triumphs end, with another punter turning $10 into $4,639 through their seven-leg multi. Also combining win and place bets in the multi, this punter also turned to the evening’s action at Alexandra Park Harness to finish off their inclusions. Dresse’ Par Joli’s ($2.25) win in the first at New Plymouth was the perfect tone-setter, and as Brigit ($2.15), Librarsi ($1.50), Smartroad ($1.80), Zeefa Zed ($3.00) and Malborough Bay ($1.60) all placed in Races 2 and 4-7, it was over to Alex Park to see if Stone Cold ($3.70) could pull off a stunner in a Race 3. That he did, winning by 2.7L to see this $10 multi result as a tasty $4,639 winner.
The makings of another big win began one day earlier, with a five-leg rugby league multi turning $7 into $12,028. Starting with Wednesday evening’s Origin I and ending with the last of Saturday’s three games, this league multi focused on the Anytime Try Scorer markets – doing so with great success. Ben Hunt’s ($6.20) try inside the first five minutes of Origin I gave this multi the dream start, and the good fortune continued into Friday and Saturday’s NRL action. Luciano Leilua ($4.40) crossed the chalk midway through the second half of the Dragons’ domination of the Tigers, before Richie Kennar’s ($3.40) first half try in the Rabbitohs’ big win over the Titans made it 3/3. Rocco Berry ($3.90) scored in the Warriors’ big first half against the Cowboys, leaving this multi in the hands of Siosifa Talakai. The second-rower was involved early on and that saw him cross the chalk just 18 minutes into the game, seeing this $7 multi land a monstrous $12,028 collect.
Earlier in the week, it was another racing fan’s turn to draw in a massive $6,026 collect, this time at Monday’s Te Aroha Races. The six-leg multi included FF Win bets from the beginning – including the first three jumps races – and the end of the card, starting with Jesko ($3.10) in the first, who gave a scorching finish to claim victory. Helena Baby ($1.80) was dominant in his Race 2 triumph, before Auld Jock was scratched in the third. Trouvaille ($3.00) emerged from the pack in the final 100m of Race 4 to continue this bettor’s hot start, leaving the action in Races 9 and 10 to round out the multi. Nigella Lane ($4.50) turned on the afterburners on the outside late in Race 9 to win, and as Talentoso ($4.00) snuck home by a hair from First Eminent in the last, this racing guru found themselves $6,026 better off from their $20 outlay.
Saturday’s racing rounds out this week’s Big Winners, with a $6 Trifecta landing a $6,106 return. Saturday’s card at Ruakaka featured nine races, with this punter waiting until the last to strike. I’m Lulu jumped as the $4.70 favourite in what was an open field, but none of the four runners under double-digit odds could muster a placing, making this an elusive Trifecta, and making for a hefty win for this punter. Grace ‘N’ Glory ($22.90) claimed the win, and less than a length back were Sonofabutcher ($26.40) and Confiance ($18), as they took home second and third, making this racing fan $6,106 better off to finish the day at Ruakaka.
Big Winners – June 3 – June 9
New Plymouth Races Multi (Thurs June 6) – 8 Legs
Race 1 – FFWIN – Dresse’ Par Joli ($2.25)
Race 2 – FFWIN – Indian Gold ($3.90)
Race 3 – FFWIN – Lazio ($2.20)
Race 4 – FFWIN – Librarsi ($2.90)
Race 5 – FFTOP3 – Smartroad ($2.05)
Race 6 – FFTOP3 – Ravenna Rose ($2.05)
Race 7 – FFTOP3 – Malborough Bay ($1.60)
Race 8 – FFTOP3 – Sandy Lane ($1.55)
$25 stake @ $1166.96 = $29,174 return
New Plymouth Races and Alexandra Park Harness Multi (Thurs June 6) – 7 Legs
Race 1 – FFWIN – Dresse’ Par Joli ($2.25)
Race 2 – FFTOP3 – Brigit ($2.15)
Race 4 – FFTOP3 – Librarsi ($1.50)
Race 5 – FFTOP3 – Smartroad ($1.80)
Race 6 – FFTOP3 – Zeefa Zed ($3.00)
Race 7 – FFTOP3 – Malborough Bay ($1.60)
Alexandra Park – Race 3 – FFWIN – Stone Cold ($3.70)
$10 stake @ $463.93 = $4,639 return
Rugby League Multi (Weds June 5 – Sat June 8) – 5 Legs
New South Wales vs Queensland – Anytime Try Scorer – Ben Hunt ($6.20)
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers – Anytime Try Scorer – Luciano Leilua ($4.40)
Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Anytime Try Scorer – Richard Kennar ($3.40)
North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors – Anytime Try Scorer – Rocco Berry ($3.90)
Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks – Anytime Try Scorer – Siosifa Talakai ($4.75)
$7 stake @ $1,718.22 = $12,028 return
Te Aroha Races Multi (Mon June 3) – 6 Legs
Race 1 – FFWIN – Jesko ($3.10)
Race 2 – FFWIN – Helena Baby ($1.80)
Race 3 – FFWIN – Auld Jock (SCR) ($4.00)
Race 4 – FFWIN – Trouvaille ($3.00)
Race 9 – FFWIN – Nigella Lane ($4.50)
Race 10 – FFWIN – Talentoso ($4.00)
$20 stake @ $301.32 = $6,026 return
Ruakaka Races Trifecta (Sat June 8) – Race 9
Selections: 12,13,14
$6 stake = $6,106 return