Posted by mapfreeman on 30th April 2010
By Mark Freeman
Mid-afternoon on the first Thursday of May through the 80s and 90s was always an important fixture on my sporting calendar. Slip down the tote, chuck on a 50c box trifecta and settle in for the fascinating spectacle that is Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Steeplechase.
Such a gruelling test … up the hill through Brierly Paddock, over the Cox’s Hill double, down through Granter’s Paddock to the Tozer Rd double, out over Mantrap, up the straight the opposite direction and around they go again. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Racing | 5 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 15th November 2009
by Mark “Makybe” Freeman
True to form, Sandown Classic Day proved a benefit for punters, with very gettable trifectas and first fours in the Guineas and Classic, a very gettable quaddie (even I managed 4 per cent of it!) and even a very gettable Big 6 that paid more than three large. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: punting, Racing
Posted in Racing | 5 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 13th November 2009
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman
Ahhh, Sandown Classic Day.
I think it’s held as a benefit for the year-long punters. It’s almost as if all participants – jocks, trainers, books, horses even – conspire to share with the workaday punters what the once-a-year mugs drop in over the carnival.
“You’ve had to suffer the goons,” they say, “the soap stars, the Myer and Emirates types, now welcome back to the fold, here’s a little something to keep you punting over the summer.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Racing | 7 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 8th November 2009
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman
It was ‘All’ brilliant at Flemington yesterday, punters. The star of the show, All Silent, was breathtaking in the Patinack, bless his superstar heart, and All American, who we’ve stumped up for previously in these pages, finally showed what he can do with the right drag into the race in the Emirates.
With glorious conditions until the wind dropped off and the heat rose, it was just magnificent being trackside. Along with seeing All Silent up close and it being a serious fill-up day pocket-wise, young Rory was interviewed for the box on the topic of his bad fashion sense (chip off old block) and Crio brought along a couple of fresh Almanacs – great job boys, can’t wait for the launch. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Racing | 2 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 7th November 2009
By Mark “Makybe” Freeman
Lovely days racing ahead of us, punters, and plenty to get excited about on the punt.
For my little stable of horses to follow, the Patinack is a cracker. I’ve got All Silent, Mic Mac, Nicconi and the Cat in that order among my top 10, so I’ll be all over the trifectas and first fours.
As mentioned elsewhere, Centrebet has weighed in to rescue our spring assault after the Eskander debacle, and with their kind gift I’ll load up on my best for spring, All Silent. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Racing
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 6th November 2009
My Mark “Makybe” Freeman
Utter disdain – that’s what Eskander’s Betstar treated me with this week, punters. But read on, there’s a marvellous sting in the tail.
Hell hath no fury like a punter who’s missed out on his cup trifecta because of a technicality – and in this case it was the Betstar’s website’s little deceit in which their calculator indicates it performs fractional (aka ‘flexi’) betting on exotics. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Racing | 6 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 3rd November 2009
By Mark “Makybe” Diva
Our wide cup trifecta landed a very nice $1062 return for the hunnert invested after Shocking put paid to Godolphin’s boy – second again for the Sheikh.
So for Daff’s cash we’re now well and truly in the black. I wish I could say the same for myself after today’s result, but it was not so, and I’ve got a massive pot on Eskander’s Betstar because of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: punting, Racing
Posted in Racing | 11 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 2nd November 2009
by Mark “Makybe” Freeman
The big one is all about levering that lovely dead money in the tote trifecta and first four pools, punters.
It’s about taking the opportunity to cream the healthy dividend off all the once-a-year types making selections based on cat’s names, gran’s birthday’s and fave colours. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: punting, Racing
Posted in Racing | 6 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 1st November 2009
by Mark “Makybe” Freeman
Just a pleasure seeing the quality go around today, punters. How good is Typhoon Tracy? Sat three-wide early, but ran away with such authority. Managed to keep out of Hot Danish, having seen her soundly thrashed by Tracy at Caulfield.
And Faint Perfume is also proving a gun. She was nice odds for one of Bart’s given her fast closing effort in the fillies distance race on Caulfield Cup day. The Coolmore was a pulsating finish, with King Pulse pretty impressive at his third start. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: punting, Racing
Posted in Racing | 2 Comments »
Posted by mapfreeman on 29th October 2009
By Mark Makybe Freeman
Clambering to the summit of the racing season, punters, ready to drive our flagpole into the peak… er… to enjoy the best racing has to offer. Our oxygen (cash supply) is running low, but we’re alive and kicking.
Always a fascinating program, Derby Day, all group races, including four group 1s. The Mackinnon is always a trap, never discount anything in it, and the Derby is also generally an unreliable race, given that most of them aren’t ready for the 2500-metres at this time of year. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: punting, Racing
Posted in Racing | 4 Comments »
