Racing: Record-breaking punt adds spice to Millennium's win

No, the record-breaking successful $90,000 punt on Millennium at Tauranga on Saturday was not the horses owners.

"I wish, said ownership syndicate member," Auckland Racing Club chairman Lyn Stevens.

"I've rung around all the owners and it wasn't our money."

Mid-morning on Saturday someone attacked the TAB's $6 price on Millennium, putting on $15,000 to win $90,000.

"It is the biggest single-horse payout the TAB has paid," said head bookie Paul Lally yesterday.

"We've had bigger payouts on multiple bets, but not on one horse."

Whoever it was had a couple of nervous moments, one of them when the siren sounded indicating a protest against Millennium by the connections of the runner-up Magnetism.

From what you saw of the race it looked a long shot, but for someone sitting a bet like that you don't need to be antagonised.

The other nervous moment was when Magnetism, looking to be travelling well, was momentarily held up behind Millennium at the 350m when Grant Cooksley on Sedecrem on his outside rode competitively to keep Magnetism boxed in behind the leader.

Had it not been for Sedecrem and Cooksley, Magnetism probably would have won the race.

It's difficult to say Millennium didn't deserve to win.

The old fellow had such twisted legs as a yearling he could not possibly have made the sales series.

He was retained by his breeders, syndicated and the result is 14 wins and more than $450,000.

With his new-found ability on firm ground there is clearly more to come.

"On behalf of the owners I'd like to acknowledge the work done on this horse by Trevor and Stephen McKee.

"They have managed him beautifully to the point he has won a stakes race in each of the five seasons he's raced," said Lyn Stevens.

The Avondale Cup is an option, but the hefty weight Millennium would be required to carry concerns his connections.

There was a weight-for-age race at Ellerslie in two weeks and the $150,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, said Stevens.

The big crowd at Tauranga gave Millennium a huge hand as he came back.

The fact that he has won five races from 10 starts on the track helped and so did commentator Darren Tyquin announcing the $90,000 TAB bet on the horse before the race.

"The Tauranga punters club have had some huge wins off the horse and no doubt some remembered that," said Stevens.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that Tauranga, per capita, suddenly attracts more racegoers than any racing club in the northern area, probably in the country.

If you are looking for a long-range tip for the summer cups it came in the form of Filante Etoile, who made ground nicely into fifth behind Millennium.

She was badly off under the weight-for-age scale, was not entitled to be competitive at the 1600m as a staying mare, yet was only 1.4 lengths off the winner.

She should figure when she gets to middle-distance handicap events.