Melbourne Cup 2021: Verry Elleegant wins thrilling race by upsetting Incentivise
The win of Verry Elleegant was a huge result for bookmakers across Australia. But one was left to wonder just how big the profits could have been.
The win of Verry Elleegant was a huge result for bookmakers across Australia who stood to lose tens of millions if hot favourite Incentivise won.
The TAB held $8 million on the race of which 24 per cent was bet on Incentivise.
Other corporate bookmakers around the country laid Incentivise for millions of dollars so they would have been thrilled to see $18 chance Verry Elleegant sail past Incentivise at the 300m mark.
Betting agency Sportsbet would be second guessing their decision to payout on a Melbourne Cup win for Incentivise on October 20.
They paid out customers a total of $5.6 million but there's a fair chance they got that back and more today.
Spanish Mission was third and Floating Artist was fourth.
The official winning margin was four lengths.
Verry Elleegant, last year’s Caulfield Cup champ, gave champion trainer Chris Waller his first Melbourne Cup.
The six-year-old is the first mare to win the Cup since Makybe Diva in 2005 and also defied history by carrying the most weight (57kg) to win since Protectionist shouldered 56.5kg in 2014. Makybe Diva carried 58kg in her third Cup in 2005.
Recap a brilliant day from Flemington in our blog below.
Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2021: Verry Elleegant wins thrilling race by upsetting Incentivise
Updates
EXCLUSIVE: National tote pool edges closer with shock merger imminent
Two of Australia’s tote pools are set to merge in a significant step towards a national tote. Get the details about the impending parimutuel shake-up.
US racing tycoon eyes The Everest visit
Resolving US Breeders Cup scheduling clashes is the key to American thoroughbred tycoon John Stewart making the trip to Sydney to watch his brilliant colt Storm Boy contest The Everest.