Irish billionaire launches cup betting spree
Irish billionaire JP McManus, one of the biggest horse owners in Britain and Ireland and a feared adversary of bookmakers worldwide, has ensured his first trip to the Melbourne Cup will be one to remember after launching a betting spree at Monday’s Call of the Card.
McManus is in Melbourne to watch his two runners, Goodie Two Shoes and Trustyourinstinct, who will compete for the Cup’s $4.5 million first prize.
JP McManus and champion Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse at Flemington on Monday. Getty
But McManus shocked onlookers on Monday by placing a $1 million bet on English galloper Hopewell Rock to win $9.3 million.
He didn’t stop there, backing the Chris Waller-trained Soul Of Spain to win $2 million and the Grahame Begg-trained Zakouma to win the same amount, later saying he thought the three rival runners offered good value.
