Lucky punter wins $728k after $24 mystery first four bet on the Melbourne Cup
Updated . First published at
Knight's Choice victory in the Melbourne Cup was one of the great boilovers for punters.
Two hours out from the event, Ladbrokes revealed there was a $3 million liability for the bookie if the five-year-old gelding won. That figure changed to a $2.4 million loss after the race.
TAB also had to pay out some significant wins. One punter scored a $728,000 win after mystery first four bet was placed from a $24 wager.
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TAB also paid out $81,000 to one winner after placing a $1000 bet on the horse at $81.
A mystery trifecta bet also paid massive windfall for one lucky punter with TAB revealing a $6 bet landed a $28,491.70 pay day.
Robbie Dolan rides Knight's Choice to win the Melbourne Cup with Warp Speed next to him. Getty
Out of the barriers, Knight's Choice was paying $81 for the win with Ladbrokes and TAB.
Second place went to Warp Speed, who was paying $8 on the fixed odds for a place with TAB.
Okita Soushi finished third at $6 while Zardozi finished fourth.
The quinella paid $806, the exacta was $2,324 while the trifecta was worth a whopping $30,604.70. The first four paid $870,448.60.
Below are the full dividends from the 2024 Melbourne Cup (TAB):
1st: Knight's Choice, $81 (win), $24 (place)
2nd: Warp Speed - $8 (place)
3rd: Okita Soushi - $6 (place)
First 4: $870,448.60
Trifecta: $30,604.70
Exacta: $2,324
Quinella: $806
Knight's Choice had just 1.5 per cent of the TAB hold throughout the market.
Along with the $1000 bet, another punter placed $600 at $151 while there was also a $750 bet at $101.
A $500 bet was also placed on Knight's Choice at each-way at $81/$22.