Racing: Punters flock to $2.40 favourite

New Zealand punters are stepping away from their usual stance of avoiding short-priced favourites around Who Shot Thebarman in Wednesday's $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup.

Punters continue to support the favourite, who yesterday was attracting great business at a quote as short as $2.40.

Bookmakers had Who Shot Thebarman deliberately short at $2.50 in the futures market in an attempt to protect their $26,000 liability when in January a punter placed $1000 on the dashing stayer at $26.

The bookies assumed few would want odds as short as $2.50, but they were wrong and when the fields came out on Saturday and Who Shot Thebarman drew favourable barrier No 2, they placed him at $2.40.

Even that hasn't stopped the flow of money for the horse, the bookies said late yesterday.

Second favourite at $6.50 is Sydney stayer Celtic Prince. The Bjorn Baker-trained stayer was at $5.50, but was eased out when he drew No 21 - he will begin from 19 when the emergencies come out.

Bookmakers took plenty of money in the futures market for Celtic Prince.

The second Australian runner is Travolta, who was yesterday quoted at $7.50. He runs for Gai Waterhouse and last raced in New Zealand two years ago when sixth in Silent Achiever's Derby win at Ellerslie. He is by Handsome Ransome.

Market: $2.40 Who Shot Thebarman, $5.50 Celtic Prince, $7.50 Travolta, $9 More Than Sacred, $12 Annie Higgins, $16 Skysoblue, Chaparonne, Deane Martin; $41 Postmans Daughter, Black Stockings, Storming The Towers, Sworn To Perfection; $51 El Soldado, $61 Saint Kitt, $81 Juggernaut Rock, $101 Quest, Tempelten, Miss Herb, Makers Mark; $151 Dancing Embers.

Field: R9 5.55: Auckland Cup, 3200m. - Travolta (13) 59, Postmans Daughter (17) 55.5, Skysoblue (15) 53.5, Annie Higgins (16) 53, Who Shot Thebarman (2) 52.5, More Than Sacred (7), Black Stockings (4), Chaparrone (14), Celtic Prince (20), Deane Martin (8), Storming The Tower (1), Red Dragon (Scr), El Soldado (5), Quest (11), Tempelten (19), Juggernaut Rock (6), Sworntoperfection (12), Dancing Embers (10), Saint Kitt (18), Miss Herb (3), Makers Mark (9) 52. Emgs: Saint Kitt, Miss Herb, Makers Mark.