Racing: Bookies sweat on Fame Game cash

Contributer is a chance in the A$1 million Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington today. Photo / Getty Images

Rivers of money have poured in on the Japanese favourite for Tuesday’s race

Bookmakers throughout Australia and New Zealand are building crying rooms at their offices in preparation for Japanese favourite Fame Game winning Tuesday's A$6 million Melbourne Cup.

Fame Game has been backed for what they all say is "millions and millions" going back two months.

It all turned to further disaster when the bookies' great white hope, New Zealander Mongolian Khan, was withdrawn on Thursday after suffering a bout of colic.

Head New Zealand bookmaker Thad Taylor said the agency's Fame Game liability is substantial and just short of massive.

Glenn Munsie, media manager of Australia's TABcorp, says his agency's loss if Fame Game wins is "scary".

"It's unbelievable what it is," he told the Herald.

Taylor said the New Zealand TAB has been laying bets against Fame Game since before Melbourne Cup nominations. "We originally offered $18 and now he's into $3.60.

"The punt is Australasian-wide. It would be a dreadful result for us, but it's not as bad as what they're facing in Australia. They are really hurting over there." Taylor said our TAB has fielded a significant amount of Fame Game money from Australia, clearly from agencies looking to lay off some of their liability.

"The lucky element for us is the significant amount Kiwis have bet on Mongolian Khan (non refundable), which the Australians don't have.

"There is a decent amount of Mongolian Khan here, but nowhere near enough to offset the Fame Game money." Taylor said there will not be sufficient betting on other runners between now and Cup start time late Tuesday to change the disastrous situation if Fame Game wins.

"There will be money here for Who Shot Thebarman. It's now the only real New Zealand connection we have in the race, even though now trained by Chris Waller."

If there is one race all year to steer clear of as a punt it's today's A$1.5 million Victoria Derby.

Horses who are barely 3-year-olds - some are still unofficial 2-year-olds - running 2500m on Australasia's toughest racetrack in front of 100,000 tanked up racegoers is about the toughest life experience most of them will encounter.

Hearts and brains have been destroyed by this race and the $2.40 on offer for the hot favourite Tarzino looks unders in the extreme. Stay away.

The A$1 million Mackinnon, Race 6, looks a better option. There is every chance of two home-bred horsemen in James McDonald and Opie Bosson carving up the spoils on John O'Shea's stablemates Magic Hurricane and Contributer.

• Connections of French horse Gailo Chop have put his unplaced Cox Plate run down to experience and expect an improved performance in the Mackinnon Stakes.

• Trainer Antoine De Watrigant says Gailo Chop is a better horse than his Cox Plate result indicates and expects him to be more comfortable on the expansive Flemington track.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hopeful Elhaame can win his way into the Melbourne Cup field at Flemington today.

Elhaame is one of three Godolphin runners still in contention for the Melbourne Cup.

Sky Hunter is safely in the field with Secret Number No 25 in the order of entry

Victory in the Lexus Stakes will get Elhaame into the Melbourne Cup as an automatic entry.

- Additional reporting AAP