Big plonk on Krug but one of his rivals has bookies nervous about $100,000 payout

The money has finally started to come for Krug but the TAB bookies have more to worry about than the prospect of paying out on an $11,000 bet on the red hot Cambridge Jewels favourite.

Last night’s punter stands to collect $20,900 on Sunday’s Three-Year-Old Emerald favourite, after launching on the $1.90 odds, but there’s another horse in the race, one you wouldn’t predict, that’s now easily the TAB’s biggest liability.

A series of much smaller bets at outside odds on Steve Telfer’s Alta Wiseguy has the TAB looking at $100,000 in payouts.

The money started to come for Alta Wiseguy long before he beat Copy That in his Jewels workout at Cambridge last Saturday or drew three on the front line two days later.

The first bet taken on the futures market was $500 at odds of 100 to one, followed by bets of $500 at $50, $100 at $34 and $300 at $26, collects totalling $86,200.

And when Alta Wiseguy trialled in 1:53.8 at Cambridge, punters came again with bets of $300 at $16, $300 at $15 and $200 at $15 for another $12,300.

TAB bookie Matt Peden says Alta Wiseguy, winner of four of his last five starts, is now the TAB’s biggest liability on the entire day.

Earlier in the week Alta Intrigue’s stablemate B D Joe was all the rage after drawing the pole, with the intriguing prospect of dictating the fortunes of Krug, drawn on his back.

“We took $2000 at $4.50 and $1000 at $4.50 on B D Joe but the money’s dried up for him now apart fron $3000 at $1.55 top3.

“And there was nothing for Krug all week - people perhaps thinking he can’t get away from the pegs - until last night’s $11,000 bet.”

Early action on the other races:

Race 1: Four-Year-Old Diamond

Amazing Dream’s short quote has seen very little win betting but Peden says 80% of multis during the day start on the mare.

One punter likes pole runner Pearl Harbour, who is set to lead and trail, with $1200 at $2.40 to run top3.

Race 2: Two-year-Old Ruby

Highgrove … dominates betting on the Two-Year-Old Ruby. He has been beaten only twice in seven starts when he galloped early. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.Punters haven’t touched anything else besides $1.75 favourite Highgrove.

“One punter got $600 on at the good odds of $2.60 before the futures market closed last week.”

Other big bets on Highgrove include $4000 at $2.40 and $3000 at $2.40 and $500 at $1.75.

Race 3: Three-Year-Old Diamond

No big bets have been recorded yet with Bettor Twist’s $1.55 not interesting punters.

Off N Gone has been popular in top3 bets with $500 at $2.40 and $2000 at $1.50.

Race 4: Two-Year-Old Diamond

$1.25 favourite True Fantasy is in everybody’s multis.

Second favourite A Bettor You has attracted three bets of $500 at $7 and has been well played in the top3 market with $2727 at $2.10, $1500 at $1.85 and $900 at $1.50.

Race 5: Three-Year-Old Ruby

Peden: “Five Wise Men hasn’t been supported with the authority you’d expect.

“The last couple of times he’s been well backed through the week - there was a push on him all week before the NZ Trotting Derby. Maybe they’re waiting to see if he touches a longer price.”

Again it’s another Hayden Cullen-trained second favourite Regal Attire who has been backed with $500 at $7.50 and $500 at $6.50.

One punter has had a lash at the speedy but unpredictable southern trotter Maui, standing to collect $25,500 with a $500 bet at $51.

Race 6: Two-Year-Old Emerald

Veteran owner Ian Dobson has two outstanding chances on Jewels day in multis magnets Akuta and Muscle Mountain. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.Akuta is in stacks of multis but his $1.20 quote is stifling early win betting, Peden suspecting punters are waiting and hoping for better odds.

Talented southerner You’re So Fine has firmed from $16 to $11 but Peden says that was an adjustment in response to the horse’s excellent Cambridge workout.

Major Perry has been punted in the top4 market with bets of $600 at $3.60, $500 at $3 and $419 at $3.

“There’s also been a tiny push for Franco Mac on the top4 market with $500 at $2.”

Race 7: Three-Year-Old Emerald

(See above)

Race 8: Four-Year-Old Ruby

Surprisingly, with two standout favourites, this is not a race people are favouring for their multis.

Peden says while Muscle Mountain is the $1.55 favourite the TAB is holding more money on Bolt For Brilliance ($3.20).

Big bets include $1000 at $1.70 on Muscle Mountain and $1000 at $3.40 on Bolt For Brilliance.

“But betting on the race is very quiet. There’s been a dip on Midnight Dash to run top3 with bets of $900 at $2 and $500 at $2.25.”

Race 9: Four-Year-Old Emerald

Laver, who paced a mile at Nelson in January in 1:51.9, has attracted a $200 bet at odds of 80-to-one. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.“Copy That is best backed, holding more than any other runner,” says Peden.

“We’ve taken $2000 at $3.40, $500 at $3.40, $300 at $3.40 and $300 at $3.20 on him but punters are happy to be on a few others.

“We’ve had $2000 on Kango at $4.80 and $3500 at $1.85 top3 plus smaller each way bets on Bad To The Bone, Steel The Show, Pembrook Playboy and even Mighty Looee.”

One futures punter outlaid $200 on Laver at $81 for a $16,200 collect - before the barrier draw which sees him start from three on the second row.