Winning or losing on Saturday’s Rosehill meeting for bookmakers around the country will be decided early in the afternoon by the Bjorn Baker-trained Passeggiata after an incredible betting plunge.
The Winning Rupert three-year-old filly out of the mare Saunter won its only start in a midweek Gosford maiden on December 22, but punters were waiting for it when markets went up on Wednesday.
Trainer Bjorn Baker and Rachel King will combine with plunge filly Passeggiata at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit:Getty
The TAB opened Passeggiata at $5.50 and the first bet written $1200. She was backed on the way in at $4.80, $4.20, $3.80, $3.70 and $3.50 to win more than $30,000 before the biggest bets arrived at $2.90.
One punter had $40,000 at $2.90 and another $10,000 at the same quote, and other significant bets took the TAB liability to more than $200,000 in a couple of hours.
“I can’t remember the last time one horse held more on it than all the other bets on a meeting in Sydney on a Saturday,” TAB’s Glenn Munsie said. “It might have happened with Winx and Black Caviar when they were at their peak and really short quotes, but not for a maiden winner having its second start.
“Passeggiata is now shorter than it was when it won at Gosford, and they still want to back it.”
Passeggiata was a $2.30 favourite with most bookmakers on Friday, but they were bracing for another wave of support on Saturday when the majority of betting takes place.
Ladbrokes confirmed that Passeggiata was clearly the best-backed runner for the day anywhere in Australia, while Top Sport and BlueBet, which both missed the early tide of money, are ready to let punters on at the right price.
“We will be the top price tomorrow because it’s not a bad result for us at the moment,” BlueBet boss Michael Sullivan said.
There is no secret what weapon Passeggiata will use over the Rosehill 1100m after she led and won by 3½ lengths at Gosford.
Baker admitted he has been surprised at the improvement in the filly since her debut and is confident that, with only 52kg and Rachel King in the saddle, she will be hard to run down again.
“I thought she was a nice filly, but she might be a lot better than that on what she has done since Gosford,” Baker said. “She is just very fast and Rachel will let her run.
“It’s amazing how much she has improved, and her work was incredible on Tuesday.
“I was confident going to Gosford, and I’m confident going to Rosehill with her.”
Meanwhile, there was a sombre feeling around the Magic Millions grounds as inspections started for the first yearling sale of the year following the death of legendary New Zealand breeder Sir Patrick Hogan at the age of 83.
Sir Patrick made Cambridge Stud the envy of the world. It was there that he stood champion stallions Sir Tristram and Zabeel, which remain major influences on bloodlines today.
“He was more than an icon,” Arrowfield boss John Messara said. “He played a major role in putting New Zealand on the map in world breeding.”
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