On The Money 16th July

Matt Rigby | On The Money | Sat 16 July, 2011

Backed Like it was Over the Line:

Black Felix was smashed from $3.80 to $2.30 before easing slightly to $2.60 late in betting. The volume of money was overwhelming and at one point it was just the two horses, it and Timely Queen, skewing our book badly. Eventually some money came for New Image to even out the result. Black Felix faced the breeze and failed dismally.

The Bolter:

Lie in Wait was the longest priced winner of the day at $13. We tried in vain to lay the Ben Pearce trained galloper, but no takers. In a race with no pace, he sat outside the leader Gum Nut Guru and outsprinted him for a good win. Maybe not so much a "bolter" but a bookies result nonetheless.

Under The Odds:

Fridays Girl was touted by all and sundry a "good thing". The opening quote of $2.30 was well under the odds and she was backed in to $2.05 from there. The Fish got back in traffic but got out in enough time to catch Elle Choisit if good enough. She fell short.

Moonbound opened at $3 but was quickly out to a more realistic quote of $4.60 before failing in the third.

Moneghetti is a funny horse who mixes his form quite badly. We were happy to lay him at from $3.40 all the way down to $3. He raced wide but never looked comfortable in the run.

The Good Thing:

Its not often we see one as short as Barakey who stepped onto the track a heavily backed $1.26 shot. Some $1.50 was bet pre-post but that lasted fleetingly. By race day, only $1.40 was available and none of that appeared in the bookies ring. Punters were happy to take the $1.30 on offer and the bagmen were not willing to give away their money for jam. Barakey bolted in and has barely copped a wave of the stick in three career runs. Outstanding animal.

The Plunge:

Gum Nut Guru was specked from $14 to $11 in pre-post markets before being smashed from $11 to $7 at race time. He was always going to lob up front with little pace, but Lie In Wait had his measure, beating the plunge horse home by 3/4 lengths, much to the bookies delight.

False Alarm:

Glen Erin Lad was hammered from $13 to $8 after winning a trial in convincing fashion for Adam Durrant. The seven year old gelding wobbled back to $12 late, led and failed badly after leading. He won't in the Durrant yard for too much longer.

The Drift:

Make Me Blush wobbled hopelessly out from $5 to $13 with no takers in the first. All bar Barakey pretty much doubled in price in the second, for obvious reasons. Moonbound drifted from $3.20 to $4.60 with a little late support. Caves Road eased from $2.20 to $2.80 despite leading and proving too strong in the fifth.

Wide of the Mark:

Like An Eagle was backed confidently from $5 in pre-post markets and then from $4.40 to $3.40 at race time. He had every chance sitting outside the eventual winner Caves Road, and ran fourth.

Where There's Smoke:

There was some late mail on the Jordan trained View The Stars. He had been gelded since his previous run, but this information was not disclosed until after he had been backed from $31 to $21. He was beaten just over three lengths and is not usually a fresh horse. Follow him next start.