On The Money - Belmont Newmarket 10th August

Matt Rigby | On The Money | Mon 12 August, 2013

Race 1: 

The prepost betting told a story in the first with Thateldo pelted off the boards from $3 into $2.20 with most corporate bookmakers. In betting proper, the 3yo colt was further belted into $1.80. Camporella opened at evens on Thursday and got out to $4.20 on most books and was unlayable. Spin Da Wheels was steady throughout at $6 but was never going to be a match for Thateldo over the 1000m. The heavily backed favourite did as it pleased while last year's champion 2yo couldn't even get past the rank outsider, Czarina Express at $101.

Race 2:

Once again, pre-post betting told the story with Uncle George steadily backed from $3.30 to $2.80 at start time. There was a spattering of money for other runners Ask Me Nicely ($11 - $9), Classique Ivory ($4.80 - $4.40) and Will To Win ($16 - $14). Starlight Lady was friendless ($8 - $14). It was always going to be one of those races where anything could win and the top four finished within a length of each other. Unfortunately for the bookies, the two best back runners finished one two. 

Race 3:

Lee Rani ($4.80 - $4.20) was the one they wanted in the sprint. After lowering her colours at Kalgoorlie the week before, she was back in distance and would most likely be leading. There was specking for Penski Material ($26 - $19) while Resetgold and Black Magic Miss drifted. Berk Phar was specked early at $31 and remained at $21 throughout. Another poor result for the bookies.

Race 4:

The big news in the fourth was the specking at $101 for the hopelessly out of form Huegill ($101 - $61). Accrual is a real bookies horse and while he punished us last week, he left the money in the bag this week ($4.20 - $3.50). Keepers Court was a big drifter, as was the top weight Trustee Brown and Orbital Motion for the second week running. Fanicio drifted slightly from $3.60 to $3.80. Huegill surprised everyone by looking the winner at stages in the straight, only to go down to The Alleged, who was steady througout between $6 and $7.

Race 5:

In probably the most even race of the day, the punters came out on top again when they picked out Right Honorable ($6 - $4.80). I See Luck, Flying Time and Days Like these were all fairly steady in the market. The big drifter was He's Starkers ($4.80 - $7) which was probably under the odds in opening markets. You Say So ($6 - $5), another bookies favourite, left his supporters hanging yet again. 

Race 6:

In another even race, they picked one out, backed him confidently and he got the job done from the outside gate. It's a Merc ($9 - $6) skipped along in front, drifted out (presumably to the better going) and held off all comers. Cyclonic Halo, Crown of War and Recode all drifted. There was specking for Pure Adrenalin ($19 - $15). Kemilee was steady throughout betting. 

Race 7:

The feature was one of the better betting contests of the day. Settle Strada was firming early in pre-post markets, only to drift late in betting from $2.20 to $2.40. Betfair prices offered much higher late in betting. The competition came from Dueton ($4.80 - $4) and Kalahar ($5 - $4.80) who were both well supported on an each way basis. The Entourage had some friends at $26 and the rest were out the gate. This result ofcourse was the mother of all disasters for the each way bookies as they finished in price order with the each way runners filling the placings. 

Race 8:

It was a similar story to last start for When We Were Kings, steady throughout the main part of betting at $3.70 - $3.80 and then a late drift that saw him spiral out of control to $4.80 and even longer on Betfair. Just what has caused the alarming drift about the worthy favourite, late in betting, is anyone's guess but it was certainly no reflection on his performance. Dash For Home, Flashy Doll and Dangerously were unwanted as the favourites closest competition, outside of Grand Crusade, who was $6 into $5. Galoubay was also specked from $6 into $5.50. Embarrassed ($26 - $17) is probably how his supporters were feeling after he led and went like a busted trolley. 

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