3 minute read

Star mare Winx was just one of a string of well-backed runners to salute in a good day for punters at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx opened at a champion’s quote with the TAB in the 2016 Warwick Stakes but punters were keen to back her whatever the odds and she firmed from $1.30 to $1.26, holding 80 per cent of all bets.

Her rivals were easy with runner-up Hartnell $14 to $18, Rebel Dane $8 to $10 and Lucia Valentina $6 to $10.

Bets: Winx $10,000 @ $1.28, $7000 @ $1.30, $7500 @ $1.26

Omei Sword did the right thing by punters with an impressive resuming win in the 2016 Silver Shadow Stakes.

Backed in to $2.20 at one point, she eased slightly late to start at $2.30 and held half of all bets on the race.

Manaya was the other well-backed runner during the week, firming to $4.20 after opening at $7 but was unplaced after a tough run.

Second favourite Calliope was a late scratching after again playing up at the barrier.

Bets: Omei Sword $4000 @ $2.60, $3000 @ $2.30

Pearls came in for support late in betting on the 2016 Toy Show Quality and it proved spot on with the Godolphin mare winning first up.

Pearls firmed from $7 to $5.50 but did the bookies a service by holding off the heavily tried favourite Dixie Blossoms, who shortened from $4 to $3.40 and held 40 per cent of the money, nearly three times that of the winner.

Bets: Elle Lou $5000 @ $5, Dixie Blossoms $3000 @ $3.30.

Punters went within centimetres of landing a plunge in the last, smashing Haptic in the betting before that runner was grabbed on the line by Southern Legend.

Haptic was crunched from $3.30 to $2.70 and looked home until Southern Legend ($3.50) launched late.

The result proved an important one for the TAB with Haptic holding 2.5 times more money than the winner.

Bets: Haptic $5500 @ $3.30, $3000 @ $3.30; Southern Legend $5000 @ $3.50.