A New Zealand TAB customer will be watching the Melbourne Cup more closely than others, as he stands to win more than NZ$730,000 from a $7.41 bet if Buckaroo can run in the top three in the race that stops the nation.
The Auckland based customer, who wishes to remain anonymous – “I’m buying enough beers if this wins already without anyone else (knowing)” – put on a 12-leg racing multi back on 31 January, with the first nine legs being run the next day, 1 February.
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He also added three more legs on feature racing events much later in 2025 – The Everest on 18 October at Randwick in Sydney, the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on 25 October, and Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
After the 9th of his legs came in when Sandpaper ran 2nd at the end of the Rosehill card in February, the racing fan has been very laidback about the bet that has been sitting in his Pending Bets tab on his account.
He then had to wait more than eight months for the last three legs of the 12-race multi to be run – Ka Ying Rising to win The Everest on 18 October, Via Sistina to defend her Cox Plate title on 25 October, and Buckaroo to place in the Melbourne Cup.
The bet slip facing one New Zealand punter in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup
READ: Punter in NZ eyes $732k collect for $7 multi
Even when The Everest rolled around on 18 October for the first of the three long-rage, the blood pressure didn’t rise.
“The other two legs (Ka Ying Rising and Via Sistina) I was really happy with.
“Buckaroo almost rolled the other bet, Via Sistina, but I was really happy that it ran well. I needed it to run well to get a start (in the Melbourne Cup) , but I didn’t need it to run that well.”
It’s been a nervous wait as Buckaroo’s connections (including trainer Chris Waller) decided whether to press on to the Melbourne Cup after his great Cox Plate second.
“Yeah, I was convinced Waller was going to scratch it, but I think the owners … they must have twisted his arm,” he said.
“But, you know, the whole thing’s a lottery, eh? This is like a lottery ticket.”
Chris Waller’s decision to run Buckaroo in the Melbourne Cup could pay off for one NZ customer
Bets that include “future” events are not subject to a cash-out offer from the TAB, but the customer said he was always going to let the bet ride.
“We’re not cashing out, mate. Even if we could.”
General Manager of Trading at Entain Nick Conway said: “We’re bookies, we never like paying out this sort of money but if someone can turn $7 into more than $700,000 then all we can do is pay him his dues – and the $700,000! No matter which way the bet goes for our punter, I hope he enjoys the best three minutes in Australasian sport.”
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