How JP McManus caused a stir at event ahead of Melbourne Cup
The biggest race in the Australian calendar takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning (Irish time) and McManus has made the trip as his horses Trustyourinstinct and Goodie Two Shoes are among the 24 contenders
LIMERICK horse owner JP McManus has caused a stir Down Under - by placing over A$2 million of bets on the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The biggest race in the Australian calendar takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning (Irish time) and McManus has made the trip as his horses Trustyourinstinct and Goodie Two Shoes are among the 24 contenders.
However, it is British candidate Hopewell Rock that got the biggest bet from the Limerickman who was at the ‘Call of the Card’ event on the eve of the race where leading Aussie bookmakers took large stakes from a crowd of 1,000 people.
At the time of writing, Trustyourinstinct and Hopewell Rock are joint-favourites for the race, just ahead of Point Of Law.
Alongside McManus at the event was fellow racehorse owner Paul Byrne, legendary jockey AP McCoy, noted jumps owner Ronnie Bartlett and ITV broadcaster Kevin Blake.
Also making the trip Down Under for the Melbourne Cup is Limerick hurling manager John Kiely the Racing Post reported also headed to Australia with JP.
Kiely, who works as an event coordinator with McManus’ Martinstown Stud, was heavily involved in the running of the recent BoyleSports Munster National Weekend at Limerick Racecourse.