2024 was a year where some punters truly hit the skids.
From high hopes on Via Sistina to a Mr Brightside gamble gone dim, these top 10 facepalm-worthy bets prove that even the biggest names can leave the punters with empty pockets and shattered dreams.
Relive the wildest moments that left Aussies shaking their heads—and their wallets.
Check out who found themselves on the Racing Expert honour board!
Honourable mention: Oxford Blue $5000 each way @ $51/$12
Had to throw this one in there as a warm up. A Sale maiden winner before an encouraging effort in the listed Geelong Classic, Julius Sandhu trained Oxford Blue was a drifter from $31 to $51 in the G1 Victoria Derby.
One punter saw some upside in the 3YO; however, it was short-lived as he was beaten 44L, torching 10k in the process!
10. I Wish I Win – $15,000 @ $2.10
Coming off placings in The Everest and TJ Smith, I Wish I Win was the hot favourite upon arrival into QLD.
The fancy was undone however as Bella Nipotina spoiled the party in in a photo finish to the Doomben 10,000, going onto achieve bigger and better things in 2024.
9. Mr Brightside – $15,000 @ $1.75
The king of the 1600m defeated Pride Of Jenni and Antino just two starts prior, a form line that one form student thought was the key to the G1 Caulfield Stakes.
‘Brightside’ stepped up to the 2000m as an odds-on jolly, beaten by $8.50 chance Deny Knowledge.
8. Gringotts – $15,000 (place) @ $1.75
This optimistic punter went wide, giving themselves 3 chances at filling the minors, but it wasn’t enough as Gringotts failed in the G2 Ingham after back-to-back wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.
Gringotts sat on speed and cut up to run 13th with newcomer to the Bjorn Baker stable, Rubusto, trouncing them.
7. Spywire – $20,000 @ $2.90
It was a fruitless last preparation for the owners of Spywire – failing to run a place in 3 goes, with punters feeling the pinch as well.
Coming out of the G1 Blue Diamond where he lead them up, it was anticipated the MM classic placegetter would be very well suited to the Moonee Valley track.
Unfortunately for this punter, he ran into the talented Growing Empire.
6. Via Sistina – $20,000 at $2.30
She emerged as one of the global racing superstars of 2024, more so after her G1-winning Australian debut.
$2.30 seemed a generous price for the Queen Elizabeth stakes before she was carried by Pride Of Jenni in that famous win.
5. First Settler – $10,000 each way @ $15/$3.60
Looked like another superstar unearthed by Yulong winning 3 of his first four starts.
So much so, the colt attracted a $20,000 bet in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, finishing 9th of 14, and was beaten 7L by Switzerland.
4. Carini – $10,000 each way @ $13/$2.80
Another punter playing it safe with an each way bet but not safe enough.
20k went begging when the French import flashed to run a close-up 4th when first-up at Flemington in February, ouch.
3. Sujeed – $10,000 each way @ $12/2.80
Sujeed was seen in the public eye just once, running 4th in a Deagon trial before his debut at Doomben.
He was heavily supported by one individual in particular to the tune of $20,000, racing on speed to finish a very unfortunate 4th.
Sujeed would win his next two comfortably.
2. Grand Promenade – $26,000 (place) @ $1.35
It would be hard to find a worse bet than this, ever.
A champion in his own right, the ill-fated Grand Promenade was sent around favourite in the Lord Reims Stakes at Morphetville earlier this year.
However, as what appeared to be a safe bet couldn’t be further from the mark, tailing off to run 13th, beaten 22L.
1. Buckaroo – $34,250 @ $7
The hardest race of the year to pick a winner, attracted the biggest bet of the year online.
Watch as Buckaroo momentarily loomed before 34 large disappeared – oh no!
