A punters diary 9th July 2020... 

In race 3 at Grafton today Simply Sacred was heavily backed and duly saluted... 

However this story starts on June 11 2020 at Grafton...

Simply Sacred was having her first run for new trainer Edward O'Rourke since transferring from the Toby & Trent Edmonds stable last campaign. After somewhat scintillating performances at the Gold Coast and a solid trial for the new camp she opened a firm $3 favourite for the BM66 event. 

All was well leading into fifth race however she was a savage drifter in the market. From her $3 opening quote she drifted all the way out to a completely unwanted $7 fixed price, she may have even touched $8 on betfair at some point late from memory. Many things can influence drifts such as syndicates backing other runners (which I believe did happen on this occasion), or perhaps it was the trainer stats which show team Edmonds being in white hot from compared to O'Rourke at his previous set up. However the savage nature was a little alarming for those of us who decided to 'go on with it' despite the lack of support. Surely north of $6 as extreme value? It was, kinda. 

Simply Sacred had the cosiest of runs sitting outside the lead on a slow pace and duly saluted head on chest. You can watch the replay here. 

After the numbers were put in the frame all was well. I backed a drifter that won. Extremely satisfying and was much needed I can tell you! Just after the race I received a phone call from a mate who is one of the biggest players on Betfair and a very sharp one too. He told me about the savage drifter he had backed (to win over $12,000 in his case!) in the last at Grafton and couldn't understand it. Anyway we virtually patted each other on the back, regaled in our fortune that we landed on the same horse and reminded each other how great we are etc etc (as you do at times after good collects). 

2 minutes later our moods had changed. Refer to the below stewards report. 

Tragedy had struck! The new numbers flashed up on the screen and Simply Sacred was no where to be seen! All for being 100g over the allowed margin for error! Did it matter that the jock had literally nursed Simply Sacred up the entire Grafton straight, not at all. Not to the stewards. Not under the rules of racing. 

Any punter who placed a bet on Simply Sacred had done their cash. That includes any of those poor souls who were taking the $2 in run, the $1.50, the $1.10, the $1.02 in run!! Every cent gone! And you were never a chance! On the other hand... Those who laid the horse from $3... out to $8... and in run down to $1.02, well you didn't have a worry in the world, free money! I hope you spent it well! 

Fast forward to today, July 9 2020

So here we are July 9. Simply Sacred returned for its 2nd up run.. Or was it first up? Our horse racing form is funny when it comes to handling situations like a DQ. Here's two examples from popular form sites today

Racenet

"Failed to finish last start at Grafton when first up and placed at trial since last race 28 days ago....."

TAB.com.au

"Resuming was 8th 35L, Macchina Volante at Grafton (BM-66) 1430m. Second run last time finished very strongly 1st 1L, Desert Knight at Gold Coast"...

Despite this punters didn't miss today! Savvy punters were on the ball with the TAB putting up $4.60 early doors (less 11 cents) early, then as we watched Tycoon Street compete at Doomben yesterday we had to wait for the next deduction, this time a generous at best 18 cents and probably 22 cents at some joints for the next pick in the market. I started looking at the form yesterday morning and although I wanted to wait to race day I could see the ship had sailed and was able to get something through at $3.30 which was more like $2.50 after deductions. 

So what happened? Described in the Rant chatroom by one person last night as 'the bet of the century' Simply Sacred did pretty much walk in again despite a late scare. Correct weight was declared this time. It was nice to get a collect but also a sick feeling for those who were on last start and were not waiting by their laptops for early prices to go up or hanging at their local TAB to sneak some tickets on. 

Simply Sacred gets the job done at the odds-on quote. Now for correct weight ... 😬

— Punters.com.au (@Punters) July 9, 2020

In fact, that reminds me. It wasn't all smooth sailing for Simply Sacred punters. I was told this afternoon a Victorian based bookie who's been online for a while now in fact cancelled some head to head tickets on the Simply Sacred under some rude unfair T&C's involving a scratching despite him or his website automatically adjusting the prices to make his three way market into a head to head market. Apparently it doesn't count. Seems a bit rude but that's the nature of the game isn't it.

Here's a replay of today's race at Grafton

So what's the point? There's none really. O'Rourke copped a fine back in June. Punters around OZ probably invested at least $200,000 on the horse that day. Confetti. I don't believe there was any mention of an enquiry into the betting on the day. I would have assumed that would have been the right thing to do but alas not on this occasion, we just play on in Oz. The next spin is only 2 minutes away, get your bets on!

It can be a brutal game the punt. Every horse has a story that will follow you for life. The game doesn't stop for anyone, it rolls on. Who knows what will happen Friday. 

Authors note: I apologise in advance for the many many many grammatical errors in here. I am not a journo of any sorts and will never claim to be. I'm just a humble punter doing his Mark... I mean Colin Best.