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Betfair racing review: Sick beats, biggest odds and in-play heroics
Tom Haylock • August 1st, 2025 4:23 pm
Stuff the niceties and romanticism of the season past; the fairytales and heartwarming winners.
We don’t need to hear about how Chris Waller and Yulong won multiple millions and Group 1 after Group 1. It’s all about the punt. The reason we have these rich races. The reason jockeys drive Mercedes.
What about the sick beats and the roughies who got off the canvas to score miraculous wins!? That’s what it’s about.
Season 2025 Sick Beats
Speaking of bad beats, the sixth worst for the season in terms of volume came only a few days ago as Jimmy The Bear had close to $3000 traded at $1.01 at Caulfield. He loomed up, hit the lead before peaking on his run at the 2400m to go down narrowly.
There were a total of 339 horses to trade at $1.01 and go on to lose in-play. Honestly, it feels like I backed most of them!
For those in twitter wars - or just keen to understand the math, there were just over 17,000 thoroughbred races settled at Betfair this racing season. So, 339 horses trading $1.01 and losing from roughly 17,000 events and 165,000 individual starters. You can do the math. What I will make mention of though is that where you are in the betting queue at the price point is incredibly important here.
Amazingly, the horse with the most traded volume at the $1.01 was Parissident at Moree on June 3rd, leading and kicking before being run down late by Spanish Night beaten by an official margin of 0.8L.
The sickest beat of the season for many reasons had to be Growing Empire in the Group 1 Manikato at Moonee Valley. I said he couldn’t win and was I wrong? Possibly, yes, but let’s move on.
The 3YO Colt was looking to break through for an all-important Group 1 win which would have meant a lucrative stud deal in the millions. The Ciaron Maher trained colt settled outside lead and when took the front with 150m to go with only 52kg on his back he looked home and hosed. From the clouds came Southport Tycoon who got his head down on the line to record a famous victory. Punters were left speechless, connections floored. Growing Empire had over $3,200 traded at $1.01 alone with Southport Tycoon matched at $1000 in-play believe it or not!
Outside of Australia, who could forget the win of the short priced favourite Journalism in the Preakness. He almost fell in “the stretch”, hitting well over $50 in-play in a win that had to be seen to be believed.
Other notable bad beats:• Metalart – Doomben November 20 ($3261 traded at $1.01)• Amizettta – Morphettville April 12 ($1520 traded at $1.01) – Winner Girls Girls Girls traded at $1000• Torranzino – Warrnambool Cup, Warrnambool May 1 ($1474 traded $1.01)
• Changing Colours – Caulfield May 7 ($1467 traded $1.01. Winner Just Glamorous traded at $100 in play.• Cool Jakey – Rosehill April 1 ($992 traded $1.01)
Season 2025 – Big Odds Winners
19 horses started over $250 Betfair Starting Price (BSP) and won. Queens Sacrifice at Ascot on March 12 was the longest, paying a remarkable $886.02.
Who could forget one of the 19 in the biggest race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup. They crossed the line and Flemington was quieter than the AFL on Willie Rioli. Knights Choice shocked Australia when he saluted at a HUGE $268 BSP. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was how he only paid $63 on the tote. How about that price advantage!
At Caulfield on Wednesday December 18, Rock Melody was first up for the new stable, little-known trainer Ricardo Meunier. He had won 1 from 34 and hadn’t won in 27 starts but shocked the punters, winning at $265.85.
Season 2025 – Biggest Traded Races
No surprise that the Melbourne Cup was the highest traded race at Betfair in the 2024/2025 season.
“But Tom, isn’t The Everest the best race in Australia?”
Well, I’d argue it is still the Cox Plate, but what I can tell you is that The Melbourne Cup had well over 4 times the volume on the win market than The Everest.
Season 2025 - In-Play Heroics
37 horses traded at $1000 in play and won, with 143 over $700. Bold Response was one of those at Moonee Valley on Friday night, trading at four figures before fighting back and winning. Southport Tycoon traded at $1000 in the Group 1 Manikato before winning.
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