Article as published on [Horse Racing Only](http://www.horseracingonly.com.au/) Image: [Racing Photos](https://t.co/ELV4bf7zBf?amp=1)



It was a performance of royal command quality … a four-length demolition job, which beat the opposition into submission in such emphatic terms that there would be no excuse for any beaten runner as the glory trail of a fascinating 2021 edition of the Melbourne Cup victory was written into the record books.\
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The manner of the victory was exactly what was being touted throughout the weeks leading into the Melbourne Cup, but the race went off script in a most significant way as the winner was not the horse who was predicted to dominate … with Verry Elleegant, instead, emerging in that leading role, brushing aside all others, including the hot favourite Incentivise, to reinforce her superior credentials and rubber-stamp her status as a champion of the turf.\
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It was Verry Eleegant’s fifteenth win from thirty-four starts … which includes an astounding ten Group 1 wins … with the Cup win, which was obviously her biggest career success, boosting her prize-money earnings to an incredible $14 290 744.\
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It was also a crowning moment for Australia’s best trainer and best jockey.\
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Chris Waller watched the cup from the privacy of his own home in the company of his family. All too often on track, after his big race wins, we have witnessed the deep emotion experienced by Waller through his success, his love of the horse, his acknowledgement of his stable staff, and his absolute respect for the industry … so we can only imagine how joyful he and his family were at the result and, in keeping with his philosophy, how humbled he would have felt in processing what he had just achieved.\
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For James McDonald there was no such privacy. McDonald was on centre stage at Flemington.\
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Approaching the winning post on Verry Elleegant, McDonald briefly looked behind him, just to make sure nothing was coming at him. When he saw daylight the enormity of the moment immediately hit home. In an explosion of emotion McDonald stood upright in the saddle and his left hand went up to cover his eyes, his head tilted skyward.\
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Several strides later, McDonald was bent over in the saddle, head down with his left hand still covering the tears of elation. Then he was up again in the saddle with the left arm now extended straight and up high with finger pointed in a victory salute that, coupled with the huge smile on McDonald’s face, shone a magnificent light on just what it meant to be a Melbourne Cup winner.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;An international campaign has been spoken about for her for some time&quot; 👀 Superstar mare VERRY ELLEEGANT entered the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MelbourneCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MelbourneCup</a> history books at <a href="https://twitter.com/FlemingtonVRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlemingtonVRC</a> today - will we see her race internationally soon?<a href="https://twitter.com/JRA_WorldRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JRA_WorldRacing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E7%AB%B6%E9%A6%AC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#競馬</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%A8%8E%E6%89%8B?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#騎手</a> <a href="https://t.co/EWg2aO5v8U">pic.twitter.com/EWg2aO5v8U</a>&mdash; World Horse Racing (@WHR) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHR/status/1455464057599889408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote> 



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The return to scale and McDonald’s continued joy … both arms held upright, the fist-pump, the scream of delight … was no less of a pleasure to behold.\
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It was a celebration of a victory but, as importantly, it was a celebration of three champions … Chris Waller, James McDonald and, certainly not least, Verry Elleegant herself.\
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It was Melbourne Cup theatre at its very best.\
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The pinnacle of racing in Australia had once again produced a magnificent race, of which the whole of Australia can be proud!

The Melbourne Cup - A Celebration of Champions. 

The Melbourne Cup - a celebration of Champions 

The team at [Championbets](https://www.championbets.com.au/), run you through each of the Minimum Bet Laws by code and state. 

* ***All Australian racing minimum bet limits by state and code***
* ***When minimum bet limits apply, and what they mean***

Minimum bet limits were a saviour for many Australian punters. Faced with a situation where **[bookmakers](https://www.championbets.com.au/top-bookies/)** simply refused to let them on if they had a successful record, they were suddenly free to bet (to the specified limit, anyway) and bookmakers had to accept.

Minimum bet limits for racing are implemented by racing authorities, and are therefore state-based. In Australia, if bookmakers wish to take bets on racing, they are required to sign agreements with racing authorities. Minimum bet limits have been implemented as part of these agreements.

As a result, these limits aren’t uniform across all racing nationally. So, what’s the situation in each state?

It’s important to note that the state-by-state situation applies to racing held within that state, not punters located in that state. So rules implemented by (for example) Racing Victoria apply to ALL punters nationally who are betting on Victorian racing – as opposed to Victorians betting on racing both at home and interstate.

#### **How much, exactly?**

The below limits all refer to how much you can **win** as a punter under minimum bet limits – not how much you can stake or collect.

For example, on a NSW metro race you can have a win bet to the limit of $2,000. This means that if you’re backing a horse to win at odds of $5, the minimum bet the wagering operator must allow you to stake is $500.

Stake: $500

Price: $5

Collect: $2,500

**Win: $2,000**

#### **Minimum bet limits: what do they actually mean?**

The rules stipulate the minimum bet size that bookmakers must accept on the race concerned. If you have a bet that falls under the minimum bet limit, the bookmaker is prohibited from refusing the bet, offering you lower than advertised odds, or taking other action that would prevent them from taking the bet (such as closing your account).

You should follow up with a wagering operator if you think the minimum bet limits below have been violated. If you’re not satisfied with their answer, follow it up with the relevant racing body (they’re all linked below). They have complaint procedures in place to deal with it.

Minimum bet limits apply to fixed-odds bets only.

##### **Victoria**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://www.racingvictoria.com.au/wagering/minimum-bet-limit)**

$2,000 (win) / $800 (place) on metro racing.

$1,000 (win) / $400 (place) on non-metro racing.

From 9am (day meetings) or 2pm (night meetings) on race day.

**[Greyhounds](https://www.grv.org.au/wagering/#MinBet)**

$2,000 (win) / $1,000 (place) on Group 1 meetings.

$1,000 (win) / $500 (place) on metro racing.

$500 (win) / $250 (place) on non-metro racing.

From two hours prior to the scheduled start time of the first race of the meeting

**[Harness](https://www.thetrots.com.au/for-participants/rules/policies/minimum-bet-liability-limit-policy/)**

$1,000 (win only) on metro racing

$500 (win only) on non-metro racing

From one hour prior to the scheduled start time of the first race of the meeting

##### **New South Wales**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://www.racingnsw.com.au/minimum-bet/)**

$2,000 (win) / $800 (place) on metro racing.

$1,000 (win) / $400 (place) on non-metro racing.

From 9am (day meetings) or 2pm (night meetings) on race day.

**[Greyhounds](https://www.grnsw.com.au/minimum-bet-limits-)**

$2,000 (win) / $1,000 (place) on Group 1 racing

$750 (win) / $375 (place) on metro racing

$500 (win) / $250 (place) non-metro racing

From two hours prior to the first race of the meeting.

Obligations vary based on bookmaker. **[See here](https://www.grnsw.com.au/minimum-bet-limits-)** for more info.

**[Harness](https://www.hrnsw.com.au/uploads/files/race%20fields%20legislation/2%20-%20hrnsw%20approval%20conditions.pdf)**

$2,000 (win) on platinum meetings

$1,000 (win) on metro racing

$500 (win) on non-metro racing

From 9am on raceday

##### **ACT**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://rfl.thoroughbredpark.com.au/_pdf/2017_Frequently_Asked_Questions.pdf)**

$2,000 (win) / $800 (place) on Black Opal Stakes meeting

$1,000 (win) / $400 (place) on other meetings

From 9am on race day.

**Greyhounds**

No MBLs

**Harness**

No MBLs

##### **Tasmania**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://tasracing.com.au/news/minimum-bet-limit-introduced-tasmanian-thoroughbred-racing)**

$1,000 (win only) on all racing

From 9am (day meetings) or 2pm (meetings starting after 5pm) on race day.

**Greyhounds**

No MBLs

**Harness**

No MBLs

##### **Queensland**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/Corporate/Wagering-Licencing/minimum-bet-limits)**

$2,000 (win) / $800 (place) on metro racing

$1,000 (win) / $400 (place) non-metro racing.

From 9am (day meetings) or 2pm (meetings starting after 5.30pm) on race day.

**[Greyhounds](https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/Corporate/Wagering-Licencing/minimum-bet-limits)**

$500 (win only) on all racing

From one hour prior to the scheduled start time of the first race of the meeting

**[Harness](https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/Corporate/Wagering-Licencing/minimum-bet-limits)**

$500 (win only) on all racing

From one hour prior to the scheduled start time of the first race of the meeting

##### **South Australia**

**[Thoroughbreds](https://www.theracessa.com.au/)**

$2,000 (win) / $800 (place) on metro racing.

$1,000 (win) / $400 (place) on non-metro racing.

From 9am (day meetings) or 2pm (night meetings) on race day.

**Greyhounds**

No MBLs

**Harness**

No MBLs

##### **Western Australia**

**Thoroughbreds**

No MBLs

**Greyhounds**

No MBLs

**Harness**

No MBLs

##### **Sport**

Unfortunately, progress on sports betting has been extremely limited (pardon the pun). With sports other than racing not traditionally linked with betting, it’s been a much lower-profile issue, and perhaps not an issue that any particular body sees as it’s responsibility to deal with.

When it comes to racing, the state racing bodies have an interest in maximising betting on their products. That’s not so much the case with sporting bodies.

One potential source of progress could be government. Federal and state governments are very concerned with any drift of online betting to overseas bookmakers who aren’t licensed in Australia. Betting with overseas operators cannot be monitored effectively, which leads to integrity concerns for sport. It also means no taxes are paid on the activity, which is always something that gets government attention!

In 2016 the Federal Government commissioned a review into the Interactive Gambling Act, largely with the aim of forcing punters to bet with Australian-licensed operators. This review was chaired by former Premier of New South Wales Barry O’Farrell. Logic dictates that punters will go to offshore bookmakers if they’re banned from betting locally, so one of the recommendations of the review was to further investigate the impact of betting restrictions on offshore betting activity.

Minimum Bet Limits: State-by-State

It was marvel to behold!\
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The way that Incentivise rubber-stamped his brilliance and accentuated his superiority over a high class field in the Caulfield Cup was quite stunning.\
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Sure, we knew he was a very good horse and, absolutely, the demolition job he did on opposition in lesser class races before twice adding to his winning sequence in a seamless transition to Group 1 company, with outstanding wins in the Makybe Diva and The Turnbull, set him up for it but, while few could see Incentivise being beaten, not everybody was ready for him to demoralise, dismantle and defeat his opposition in the exact manner in which he did.\
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The Makybe Diva and the Turnbull wins were over 1600m and 2000m respectively and there was never a worry about over the step up to 2400m for the Caulfield Cup. In fact, that trip was expected to suit Incentivise even better and, such was his reputation, even the extreme barrier draw (number 20) was being touted as a good draw for Incentivise, giving him a permission and a path to run his own race … an argument that you don’t hear with that draw too often.\
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Quite simply, the performance was mind-blowing\
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And, of course, the 3200m distance of the Melbourne Cup will again play right into Incentivise’s playbook.\
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And it begs the question … what can’t Incentivise do?\
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With the Cox Plate option now taken off the table by Incentivise’s connections … the noise you heard there was the Zaaki team’s collective sigh of relief … the handicapper, as per his job, has tried to equalise things by giving Incentivise a 1.5kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup which now puts him on the 57kg mark for the big race on the first Tuesday in November.\
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That is a 1kg greater penalty than Verry Elleegant was given after beating the ill-fated Anthony Van Dyck in last year’s Caulfield Cup … yet another pointer to the esteem in which The Incentivise is held.\
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Racing Victoria’s Chief Handicapper provided The Age with these thought-provoking fact on the Melbourne Cup that relate to the upcoming task facing Incentivise.\
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The Bart Cummings trained Gold And Black was the last horse to carry 57kg to victory. In the forty-four years since Gold And Black saluted, sixty-eight horses have carried 57kg or more. Of those, only Makybe Diva managed to win the race … that was when she carried 58kg to victory when winning The Cup for the third time.\
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Of the eleven horses who have completed the Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double only Rising Fast … all the way back in 1954 … carried 57kg or more in the Melbourne Cup.\
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And for good measure, Carpenter threw in the fact that since Ethereal’s Cups double in 2001, fourteen Caulfield Cup winners have gone on to attempt to land the double and none of them has finished in the top three in the Melbourne Cup.\
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So, history, as they say, is not on Incentivise’s side … but the bookmakers and punters are having none of it.\
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Bookmakers currently have Incentivise at $2.30 for the Melbourne Cup and, seemingly, from experts to everyday enthusiasts, it is difficult to find anyone willing to make a definitive call against Incentivise.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">He has only been back training for 18 months, but he has already won the Caulfield Cup and has the Melbourne Cup favourite! Our own Peter Moody joined <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamHSport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamHSport</a> to talk about Incentivise, the great mare Black Caviar and what it would mean to win the Melbourne Cup! <a href="https://t.co/f9RVOai19q">pic.twitter.com/f9RVOai19q</a>&mdash; Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/ladbrokescomau/status/1453217408051785729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote> 

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Adding to the confidence gained by the strong performances of Incentivise, is the fact that Incentivise is blessed with having one of the best in Peter Moody monitoring his well-being, with Moody also having the input of Incentivise’s managing owner and his former trainer Steven Tregea, who initially brought the horse to prominence, available if required.\
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You wouldn’t find a more down to earth team than Moody and Tregea. There are no stars in the eyes here, just a measured management process designed to produce what is best for the horse both on and off the track. Their attitude is … whatever comes with that, comes with that.\
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Previously, racing scribes and enthusiasts alike all ran out of superlatives when trying to put into words the level of performance that Winks was achieving on her climb to greatness.\
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Incentivise has got them to that point again. No other comparison is necessary … they are both individual champions, with their own individual qualities in their own right … but they already have that in common.\
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It takes a bit more than winning to become a ‘people’s horse’. Incentivise has well and truly cleared that divide and the size of his cult following is still growing.\
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It is a very exciting time for the Incentivise team, but it is no less so for the entire racing industry which shines best when it has a superstar carrying the flag.\
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Good times, indeed!

THE RISE AND RISE OF INCENTIVISE

Highly regarded international Maximal will need to overcome the outside barrier if John O’Shea’s new addition is to win Saturday‘s $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

The field was declared and barriers allocated on Tuesday with Maximal drawing barrier 22 while the pre-draw favourite I’m Thunderstruck drew favourably in gate 10.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;We have total faith in the horse long term.&quot; The 3/4 brother to Frankel, Maximal, has drawn outside in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenEagle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenEagle</a>. <a href="https://t.co/xdRqV8unEt">pic.twitter.com/xdRqV8unEt</a>&mdash; SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyRacingAU/status/1452809261977780224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote> 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⛈️⛈️⛈️ I&#39;m Thunderstruck claims the Group 1 Toorak Handicap. <a href="https://twitter.com/JyeMcNeil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jyemcneil</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MickPriceRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mickpriceracing</a> <a href="https://t.co/N0BOWLBA0d">pic.twitter.com/N0BOWLBA0d</a>&mdash; 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) <a href="https://twitter.com/7horseracing/status/1446721157584072707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a></blockquote> 

The Golden Eagle is a race for four-year-olds and will be run under set weights, with Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds receiving a 1kg weight advantage.

A field of 18 runners plus four emergencies has been declared for Australia’s third richest race.

The 18 starters are made up of 14 entires and geldings and four mares.

Like Maximal, another of the internationals, Laws Of Indices drew out in barrier 19 while the third member of the Northern Hemisphere-bred gallopers – Reve De Vol drew a favourable barrier seven.

Other leading contenders - Private Eye drew barrier 17 while Queenslander Apache Chase drew six and Count De Rupee drew barrier four.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Widest at the turn, PRIVATE EYE (lime &amp; black silks) rattles home with Regan Bayliss in the saddle to win the Epsom Hcp (G1) at Randwick. Results: <a href="https://t.co/QA7esvhBZW">https://t.co/QA7esvhBZW</a> <a href="https://t.co/qZOW9qZFuM">pic.twitter.com/qZOW9qZFuM</a>&mdash; Sky Racing World (@SkyRacingWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyRacingWorld/status/1444286131005280261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

The field in 2021 consists of six Group 1 winners and 12 Group or Listed grade winners.

The Golden Eagle will be race eight on Saturday‘s card to be run at 4.50pm.

###### Article - <https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/maximal-draws-carpark-for-his-golden-eagle-tilt/news-story/c06274198ecc8a8e3fe3d2235ab1c766>

Maximal draws carpark for his Golden Eagle tilt

The **%OCC** will enable you to find accurate and true market movers, at a quick glance.\
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The **%OCC** is calculated based on the runners price percentage chance at its opening price, minus it's price percentage chance at it's current price. \
\
You can select your agency of choice from the drop-down option at the top of the column, and include as many %OCC's columns as you wish, within your layout. \
\
To do so, select the orange **["Edit Layout"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09LPuTmKLM)** button and you'll find %OCC under **"Price"** heading.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G09LPuTmKLM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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