Racing: Smoken Up attracts early money

It didn't take long for the money to come yesterday and it is likely to be only the start.

TAB bookmaker Steve Richardson hadn't had the markets for the opening heats of the series open long when the first wave of money arrived for Smoken Up.

The Miracle Mile winner attracted $6000 worth of bets, including one of $3000, in an hour and moved from $3 second favourite in his heat to $2 top pick yesterday.

"We had so much money for him he is now the favourite for his heat and Mr Feelgood, who was $2.60, is out to $3," said Richardson.

Victorian trotter Let Me Thru was the other big shortener yesterday, moving into $1.80 from an opening quote of $2.20.

However, the New Zealand TAB sees some of the races very differently from their Australian rivals, as has been the case all along in the futures markets for the series.

So punters willing to spend time on the internet in the next two weeks will be able to put themselves into a winning position on many of the favoured runners without too much imagination.