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Aussie
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Centrebet Capers TENNIS Betting to win both titles of the Australian Open has been thrown into disarray over the past two weeks following injuries to several of the major chances. The latest possible casualty is Kim Clijsters, who is struggling with a hip injury. Clijsters had been favourite at 3.25 to win the women’s title but hadn't really attracted a lot of support. Neither had the next two in the betting, Justine Henin Hardene and Lindsay Davenport, who were both rated 5.50 chances. Amelie Mauresmo has been backed to take out close to $75,000 at 15.00 and she may never get a better chance to win the Aussie Open. Comeback queen Martina Hingis is a shocking result for us. When it was first announced that Hingis was a chance to play, we opened her at 151.00 and she has been backed to win nearly $150,000, now quoted at 15.00. Veteran Mary Pierce is in a similar situation in our books as she has been backed from 41.00 into 13.00. Rafael Nadal has been doubtful for several weeks but this week he was a confirmed non-starter. Nadal had been the opening second pick at 6.00 but had blown out to 34.00 when it became obvious he wasn't coming. That has seen the price for Roger Federer crash from 1.65 into 1.45, which is the shortest price we have ever had for a grand slam winner. The short odds haven't proven much of a turn off as this week we have taken two bets of $5000 at that quote. Lleyton Hewitt has been displaced as second favourite by Andy Roddick, who has firmed from 17.00 into 11.00, while Lleyton has eased from 9.00 out to 11.00 after he struggled in the first round of the Sydney event currently on. Every match will be covered throughout the two weeks of the Australian Open and most will have set betting available as well. CRICKET Australia finally did us a favour when they put the foot to the floor to get the necessary 287 runs to win the third Test against South Africa in Sydney. Bad weather played a major role in this Test and the draw was backed for bundles throughout the match. We were locked in before the game started with big bets of $10,000 at 4.00, 3.75, 3.25 and 2.85, as well as $40,000 at 3.00 for the draw. Australia had drifted from an opening 1.45 out to 1.80, but there was money for them, including $45,000 at 1.70. We took a $40,000 bet for the draw at 1.23 after South African captain Graeme Smith had signaled his intention to declare and set a decent total. That way he gave himself a chance to equalize the series or of course give the Aussies just enough time to get the runs. The dark surrounds saw further money come for the draw (two bets of $10,000 at 1.42) when the declaration was made but another fine start by Matt Hayden saw the price of the Aussies slashed. By the time the tea interval arrived, they were into 1.09 needing just over 100 runs. At that stage we were happy to lay the eventual winners so as to balance the books and we were accommodated with bets of $18,800 and two of $10,000. Monday's 20/20 match also grabbed the attention of punters with close to $200,000 wagered on the game. Australia was backed from 1.60 into 1.50 but late money came for South Africa at 2.70 and 2.60 when it was announced that Jacques Kallis was back in the side. The Australian batting line-up clubbed the hapless Proteas all over the ground to get an unbeatable total of 209. The one-day series starts this tomorrow (Friday) and Australia have been installed red hot favourites at 1.30 to win the series with South Africa at 4.25 and Sri Lank at 12.00. The Australians take on Sri Lanka in the first match at Telstra Dome and are 1.10 with Sri Lanka at 6.00. GOLF The sunny weather in Hawaii certainly agrees with Australian Stuart Appleby as he made it three Mercedes Championships in a row, after surviving a late rally from world number two Vijay Singh and winning with a birdie on the first playoff hole. As is usual with the season opener betting was a little quiet early as punters were unsure of the form most PGA players were in. History tells us that those who play during the Australian summer usually perform well in this event so it was no surprise to see Appleby as an 11.00 chance, while Michael Campbell was also given a hope at 15.00. Vijay Singh was the nominal favourite at 6.00 from Jim Furyk at 9.00. While there was good money for the top four in the market and some specking for Sergio Garcia at 17.00, there was no doubt punters sensed an opportunity for an upset with Ben Crane, 26.00, Sean O'Hair, 29.00 and Bart Bryant, 34.00 all backed to win in excess of $20,000. It was obvious at the halfway mark that this was going to be a real dog fight with the top five in the betting all within a stroke. At this stage Singh had shortened to 3.25, one shot behind leader Appleby. One our clients from Great Britain saw that as great value having $8,500 on him. After round three he saw the 1.75 Appleby as good value placing $10,000 on him as he held a two shot lead over Campbell with Singh a further five shots back. This week we remain in Hawaii for the Sony Open with defending champion Vijay Singh favourite at 5.00 over Jim Furyk at 9.00 and Stuart Appleby at 15.00. The betting has been very even again with Bart Bryant and Lucas Glover best backed at 34.00 and 67.00 respectively. Perhaps the highlight for the event is whether local heroine Michele Wie can make the cut at her second attempt in this event. You can get 3.40 if you think she can but she will need to display as much ability as you have imagination if you choose to take it. AUSTRALIAN RULES We continue to see bets roll in for all the AFL futures options that we have open and we have taken a couple of big ones over the past week or so. A West Coast Eagles fan has signed up and placed $20,000 on the Eagles to make the final eight at 1.16. Granted they are probably going to win all of their home games which would nearly get them in anyway but each year there are one or two sides who are supposed to make the eight but don't. It is interesting to note that we haven't exactly been bombarded with bets on the Eagles to win the flag at 5.00. Perhaps the lingering doubt over their form at the MCG is playing on punters minds? Collingwood supporters have been active, as well as Essendon fans. We have taken one bet of $1000 on the Magpies to win the title at 41.00 and a host of smaller bets. The same applies to Essendon at 31.00. There is still no support at all for Sydney with less than $200 placed on the reigning premiers at 8.00. In fact, more has been put on them to win the wooden spoon at 81.00. In Brownlow Medal news, Nick Dal Santo and Chris Judd have been backed to win the coveted award. Dal Santo is now into 21.00 after he was backed to win a total of $100,000 at 34.00, while Judd has had two bets of $500 each way placed on him at 13.00. AMERICAN FOOTBALL The second week of the NFL playoffs begins on Saturday night and Seattle is a hot favourite to progress to the final four. We have posted the Seahawks as 1.22 shots to win and one of our regular NFL clients has anchored them up in $30,000 worth of multis. We have also seen early interest in Seattle a conceding nine point-start, including one bet of $8800. In the second game, we rate New England a realistic chance to beat Denver but the Broncos have been hard to sell. New England is a proven playoffs side and Denver has trouble shutting out opposition. The line has already moved from -3½ into -3 in Denver's favour but we have only seen two bets of $2000 so far. Pittsburgh is unwanted against Indianapolis with plenty of takers for the Colts conceding 9½ point-start (two bets of $10,000) and plenty going through them for an outright win. In the final game, there has been a pretty good early push for Carolina to beat the Bears. The line is into 2½ (from 3.0) in favour of the Bears but there hasn't been a cracker for them yet. Indianapolis still holds sway at the head of Superbowl betting but surprisingly they are a pretty good winner for us. They have virtually been unlayable since they lost a couple of games late in the season when they fielded undermanned sides but on an 'all up' basis, they really can't be any longer than they currently are. Although Denver have been hard to lay in their match against New England we have seen nearly $8000 worth of bets for them this week to win the Superbowl at 8.00. ENTERTAINMENT We are nearing that time of the year again for the Academy Awards. Centrebet have been up for a number of weeks now and with lots of local talent nominated for numerous categories it is sure to be a frantic betting event. Major category of Best Picture has Brokeback Mountain favourite at 1.33 over Good Night and Good Luck at 5.00, with Munich backed to win over $20,000 next in the betting at 11.00 from Crash at 12.00. The Best Actor category has Australian, Heath Ledger on the second line of betting at 3.75 behind little known, Phillip Seymour Hoffman who is 1.36. Other Aussies in the running include Russell Crowe at 26.00 with Eric Bana at the salubrious quote of 101.00 and not without a chance. Best Actress finds Reece Witherspoon all the rage at 1.44 ahead of Felicity Huffman at 4.25 and it’d be a brave man to suggest one of these two was not going to win the Oscar. Australian Naomi Watts is an outsider at 51.00 for her role in King Kong and UK screen legend Judi Dench is a 10.00 chance and would prove to be a popular winner. Finally, Ang Lee is almost unbackable for best director at 1.16 with George Clooney likely to be his biggest challenger at 8.00 for his film Good Night and Good Luck. And on that note…..'Good Night and Good Luck'.
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