- Melbourne Cup punter wins $100,000 on $2 bet
- He successfully selected the top four on Tuesday
- Another punter won $900,000 on Without A Fight
A lucky punter turned $2 into $100,000 after the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
A Western Australian player played the first four TAB mystery betting games and it was successful, meaning he walked away with $100,763 on Tuesday.
Other more daring bettors wagered $100,000 on Without A Fight to win the race, which paid out $900,000, while an $80,000 bet saw another player collect $600,000.
A $1 top three trifecta won an additional $10,688 in Western Australia. The quinella brought in $43.20, exactly $89.20, the trio brought in $10,668, and the top four brought in $332,291.
Jockey Mark Zahra was delighted with his victory, having also won the Caulfield Cup with the same horse last month.
A punter won $100,000 on a $2 bet in this year’s Melbourne Cup
The West Australian correctly predicted the top four in Tuesday’s race
“I think winning one helps here, you go into it so much more confident, you know, because when you haven’t won one you’re like I might never get the chance when you do won one, you can relax and say “I still have one at home,” he said.
Zahra was at a loss for words, berating herself for holding up two fingers for winning two Melbourne Cups and calling herself an “idiot”.
“The stars aligned for Gold Trip last year and for this horse this year. Just a few things and the way he won the Caulfield Cup, I was confident he would captain it,” Zahra said.
Speaking later, Zahra admitted giving Gold Trip “a little tap” before the Cup, but said he had let last year’s glory fall by the wayside.
Punters flock to Flemington to watch the race action that stops the nation
“I still wink at him but I’ve moved on. My only goal was to win again on this horse.
Fellow coach Sam Freedman described Zahra’s journey as “extraordinary”.
“He got him on the rail from a wide gate, relaxed, had him swimming and pretty confident, probably for the 800m he was doing. He just needed the brakes to come on. It’s a monster. No doubt about the trip there late. He was excellent.
