Melbourne Cup outsider backed in to win $1 million by former bookie

A former bookmaker has thrown big money behind a Melbourne Cup outsider and if the horse salutes he stands to win extremely big.

Former bookmaker Tom Waterhouse has gone big on outsider The Chosen One.

Former bookmaker Tom Waterhouse was once again a major player at the traditional Melbourne Cup eve Call Of The Card, backing a roughie to win a $1 million.

Waterhouse was happy to take the $101 on offer about New Zealand galloper The Chosen One to win seven figures, throwing $10,000 on the outsider.

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The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old defeated Prince Of Arran earlier in the spring in the Group Two Herbet Power Stakes, before finishing midfield in both the Group One Caulfield Cup and Group Three Hotham Handicap.

Backed a few to win a million. Hope it doesn't spook the horses. pic.twitter.com/oVXr6KwtgL

— Tom Waterhouse (@tomwaterhouse) November 4, 2019

The Kiwi outsider wasn’t the only runner to interest Waterhouse, who also invested heavily on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Latrobe at $21.

READ: Ultimate Melbourne Cup form guide

The five-year-old had one run in Melbourne last spring, finishing runner-up to Trap For Fools in the Mackinnon Stakes.

READ: Inside word on every Cup horse

Other Cup contenders specked by Waterhouse on Monday included Magic Wand, Downdraft and Twilight Payment.

Waterhouse tried to get $9 about Finche, but the bookies weren’t having a bar of it, offering top odds of $8.50 about the Chris Waller-trained import.

Tom Waterhouse is on The Chosen One for $1 million at the Call of the Card 😲

Currently $71 with the TAB.#CupWeekRadio

— Matt Nevett (@nevett_matt) November 4, 2019

The Call Of The Card had a significant effect on the Melbourne Cup market, with Finche displacing Mer De Glace at the top of the betting.

Mer De Glace was as short as $6.50 on Monday and is now out to $8.50, with Finche firming from $10 into $8.

READ: Race-by-race guide to Cup Day

Other major moves include Magic Wand ($26 into $19), Twilight Payment ($51 into $41, having been $81 post-draw) and Latrobe ($26 into $21).

Constantinople has been the big drifter, easing from $7.50 out to $10.

BIG BETS ON MELBOURNE CUP HORSES

SPORTSBET

Vow And Declare $20,000 @ $14.50

Vow And Declare $17,000 @ $14.50

Southern France $17,000 @ $21

Finche $8000 @ $9.25

Surprise Baby $3500 @ $18

Latrobe $2500 @ $23

Mustajeer $2750 @ $18

LADBROKES

Mer De Glace $15,000 @ $6.50

Mer De Glace $5000 @ $10

Constantinople $10,000 @ $7.50

Hunting Horn $5000ew @ $34/11

Cross Counter $3000ew @ $17/$4

TAB

Surprise Baby $10,000 @ $26 (October 4)

Mer De Glace $6000 @ $6.50 (November 4)

Mirage Dancer $6000 @ $9.25 the place (November 4)

Constantinople $5000 @ $8 (November 4)

Constantinople $4600 @ $18 (October 6)

Constantinople $4500 @ $7 (November 1)

Mustajeer $4000 win/ $1000 the place @ $21/$6 (October 29)

Finche $4000 @ $13 (September 25)

This article originally appeared on punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission.