27/7/2001 edition

Bet For Value

It was not just at Warwick Farm that punters took under the odds.

Back Pocket thief

This Gerald Ryan trained colt looked very well placed last Saturday at Doomben over 1350 metres in a 2YO Open.

Back Pocket had only raced twice and was a convincing first up winner in a Gold Coast maiden only two weeks earlier over 1200 metres from barrier 12 carrying 57kg. He dropped in weight to 55kg. and also had a significant jockey change. Top Brisbane hoop, Michael Cahill replaced Alan Cowie.

Value is the name of the game. No matter how good a horse looks, punters cannot afford to get carried away and ignore the winning claims of all the other horses.

Back Pocket was a lidicrous $1.70 for the win on the Queensland tote before the jump. He was also at very cramped odds of only $2.35 in the betting ring. However, just a cursory look at the field told you he was not that good a thing in the nine horse field.

De Canny was resuming from a spell. The filly had beaten city winner Palidamah. The Hawkes' trained Revolting, only having his third start and a winner by nearly three lengths 16 days earlier was also in the field.

Jockey Michael Cahill rode Back Pocket perfectly, settled him on the speed and gave him every chance. The colt was found wanting over the last few hundred metres and missed a place.

Big winner - be careful

Seven year old gelding Brother Maya looked really good when he won by five lengths two weeks earlier at Morphettville.

But then he had a good barrier -three- and only 53.5kg. However last Saturday he had barrier 10 as well as a weight rise to 56kg.

Brother Maya raced wide, hooked out five wide around the home turn and looked like he was going to mount a serious challenge. Instead he just plodded to the line and was well beaten. The $4.20 starting price was not value.

Beware the double whammy of a weight increase combined with a poor barrier.

Next pages
Future winners at big odds
More racing media follies
Legalised theft
And more...

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