NZers punt $7.5m on Melbourne Cup

New Zealanders cast off the recession to bet a near-record amount on the Melbourne Cup horse race today.

Turnover on the New Zealand TAB was $7.91 million for the Melbourne Cup alone, said TAB racing manager Michael Dore.

"This is the third highest turnover on record, and it was up 4.1 per cent on last year," Dore said.

The record turnover was in 2005, when $8.13 million was spent, and 2006, when the figure was $7.95m. Last year, Kiwis bet $7.6m on the race.

The Cup was won by the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking, which paid $9.90 and $3.60, with Crime Scene second ($10.80) and Mourilyan third, paying $8.20.

The quinella was $230.10, the trifecta $8762.90 and the First4 - with Master O'Reilly fourth - $81,938.30.

One of the biggest New Zealand bets on Shocking was $2000 at odds of $12, returning the lucky punter $24,000.

The best New Zealand bred horses was Master O'Reilly.

The New Zealand trained horses - Harris Tweed (5th), Daffodil (11th), Gallions Reach (13th) Capecover (17th), and Spin Around (20th) - finished down 23-strong field.

The last horse home was Warringah.

- NZPA