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Aussie
Rules
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Centrebet Capers
CRICKET The Boxing Day Test is one of the best events on the sporting calendar and although South Africa bravely held on for a draw in the first Test in Perth, there were enough signs there to say that the Protea's will again be competitive in Melbourne. The Boxing Day Test has already seen a very good spread of money. Melbourne's weather can always be a bit dodgy this time of the year even though it is summer, there has been some interest in a draw at 3.50, including bets of $4000 and two of $2000. South Africa is the outsider at 6.25 but there has been genuine interest in them with some of the bigger bets being $6000, $3000 and $2600. Justin Langer has been ruled out for the Aussies but they still go in warm favourites at 1.55. Australian punters just love it when we play at home and there has been an endless stream of bets for them to win. The biggest to date has been $40,000 at the 1.60 and another two bets of $20,000 at 1.55. All of the usual betting exotics will be up on the game as well as throughout play. The match itself will be open at each of the breaks, including drinks and change of innings. YACHTING Some very large yachts will charge the start line off Steele Point come Boxing Day and no less than 10 of the vessels entered are 60ft or bigger. Neville Crichton has had Alfa Romeo in the water since July. During this time he has managed to co-ordinate and prepare his elite crew so that they may add to his 2002 line honours trophy. The smaller punters are happy with the 2.50 available and have steadily wagered close to $15,000 on Neville’s crew. Bob Oatley and his ‘baby’ Wild Oats XI had been assessed to be the fastest boat in the fleet, albeit with not much more than four weeks in the water. Punters haven’t shied away from Wild Oats and have had over $25,000 worth of bets on the newest boat in the fleet, firming the price into 2.35. Sean Langman has “borrowed” Ludde Ingvall’s “Nicorette” from last year, replaced some rigging, renamed it AAPT and believes that if conditions suit, has a real chance to sneak down the Derwent first. Currently at 12.00, last year’s winner has yet to attract a bet over $20. BOXING We still don't have a date or a venue for the much awaited Super Middleweight bout between Anthony Mundine and Danny Green, but it does look like it is finally going to happen and it may be in Sydney in mid-February. Both boxers had comprehensive victories over inferior opposition on the same card in Perth last week and following those fights, and weight of money, Mundine has firmed in the betting. Close to $15,000 was plonked on 'the Man' late last week, which saw his price cut to 1.72 from 1.75 with Green easing out to 2.05. All the way through betting on this fight we have seen plenty of support for Green and we have taken two bets of $2000 at the new price. Opinions are divided on this one but as we’ve said before, it will be the biggest ever boxing bout (from a betting perspective) held in this country. Nicolai Valuev, the 'Beast from the East' gave punters a good result when he won a controversial points decision bout against American Johnny Ruiz on the weekend. Ruiz held the WBA crown but went in as underdog at 2.25 against the 213cm man mountain. We took several big bets from Eastern Europe for Valuev, including $USD 5000 and $USD 4000 from Russia, both at 1.60. That gave Valuev his 43rd consecutive win and his size is going to be a big factor in any fight. ACADEMY AWARDS Last week we opened six Academy Award categories and not surprisingly there was a very good response. The most popular Oscars are always the best picture, best actor and actress and that is where most of the early focus has been. Brokeback Mountain has been widely acclaimed by all and was the opening 1.57 favourite to be best picture. We have already seen close to $3000 invested on Brokeback Mountain and that will ensure that it goes in a short priced favourite when nominations are announced. Munich (7.00) has been a well backed third pick and we did see plenty of early money for King Kong at 11.00, but the movie has already been panned after a disappointing first week at the box-office. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the opening 2.50 favourite to be best actor but Australian punters have got right behind Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain). Ledger has a 'bad boy' image in this country but has attracted nearly $2500 in bets so far, which has seen his price cut from 2.75 to 2.25. Reece Witherspoon is our 2.40 favourite for best actress after her performance in 'Walk the Line'. While there have been a few early bets for her punters have shown a distinct liking for Judi Dench, a perennial Oscar nominee, who is 4.00. The action will heat up after the final fields are known and this looks like being one of the better years as there are very few 'unbackable' favourites. ELECTIONS Just when we thought that the Coalition had plenty of in-house turmoil that might affect them at the next election up bobs a punter who fancies them to get back in. We eased the Coalition out to 1.85 equal favourites with Labor on the back of John Howard's workplace reforms, and while those reforms have been receiving plenty of criticism, one of our election clients disagrees. This week he placed $10,000 at 1.85, $20,000 at 1.75, then another $20,000 at 1.65. That's where the price remains for the moment and it does appear very short odds given what has been going on. Labor meantime has drifted out to 2.10. Until next week, good punting For further information contact Gerard Daffy at Centrebet on 02 9206 8715 or centrebet@centrebet.com
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