Last week saw a resounding victory for the punter after multiple betting plunges landed successfully, leaving the bookies running for cover.

This week – we gave it all back – punters thoroughly destroyed following a card of failing favourites.

The donations to the bag-men started with three close results, all going against the punter – starting a trend that we all should have seen coming.

Verdello Blue ($3.00 fav) seemed to have the Festival of Perth Racing BM72+ 2100m sewn up before Ask Me Nicely ($3.80) came from the clouds to nab the favourite on the line by a long neck, and in the Book Now At Perthracing.com.au BM60+ 2000m, Magna Cat ($3.20 fav) met the same fate when bloused in the shadows of the post by Ancient Spell ($13.00) – a short neck the margin.

When Low Tide ($6.50) stormed down the outside late to claim August Knight ($6.00) and Petals ($5.00 fav) by a neck in the Become A Perth Racing Member 1MW 1300m, alarm bells were sounding in the direction of the punter – but did we heed the warning – absolutely not…

And that was about as close as the main fancies would get to saluting, as total carnage was about to envelope investors – sparing no-one.

The Widder ($7.00) came from seventh on the turn to destroy rivals by two lengths in the Wolfetones Aust Tour January BM60+ 1400m, before Testamezzo ($4.60) continued its unbeaten run when claiming the Stef Mangan Racey Ladies HCP 1000m by ¾ length.

Teen Idol ($9.00) returned to the winners list with a grinding nose victory in the Crown Perth Opening 9/10 BM60+ 1000m, while Platinum Rocker ($7.00) crushed opponents in the Listed Birthday Stakes 1200m feature by 1 ¾ lengths.

And just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, Passion Cantata ($21.00) – winless for 308 days and the only mare in the Melbourne Cup Packages BM72+ 1400m – did the girls proud when leading all the way for a spirited 1 ¼ length upset.

As the “Last Post” sounded to the bookies scurrying away with bags full of currency, the remaining survivors huddled together – a beaten lot.

But we all know such cruel twists of fate are common to racing – and despite losing our collective shirts, we will all be back next week to hopefully round off the Belmont season on a successful note.  

The Hoops / Trainers

Natasha Faithful (Ancient Spell & Teen Idol) and Peter Knuckey (Testamezzo & Platinum Rocker) both had multiple successes in the saddle, while the trainers divided up the card.

The Tipsters

Blackie zero / Bookies lots – enough said…

On the east coast, Shane fared a lot better – finding the $407.70 trifecta in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington, the Group 1 double at Randwick with Boban ($6.00) in the Epsom and Seville ($10.00) in The Metropolitan, while going down in the last leg of the quaddie at Doomben after Raeburn ($8.50), Londehero ($3.80 fav), and Listen Son ($4.60) all won.

The Black Book

The runs of Coruscation, Wink And A Nod, and Full Steam Ahead were full of merit and worth following.

Chris Blackwell