Whaling Pays Dividends

NZ Trotting cup tip sheet. Source: Dean Lester/Blue Whale

I went to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday. It was a chance to "network" I told the team and whilst they rolled their eyes, it actually was.

It makes you feel old though doesn't it as you stroll through the crowd in your suit feeling larger than life and all around you Canterbury's teenagers seem to have the same idea.

This year the weather was average but got hotter as the day wore on. The rich and famous were all out there decked in pearls, hats, designer labels and fancy shoes. So too were the regions resident horror shows, wearing various shades of very little and clutching their booze as if it was about to be stolen.

The Cup Day in race week is a Canterbury icon. It is one week in the busy year when in all reality a three day week is worked especially given that the Friday is Show Day and a public holiday. It is a day for hanging out with family and friends and for the businesses that you work closely with to extend some hospitality if you are lucky enough to be invited.

This year I did something different. Dean Lester is in a  business networking group and is a trackside event host working on both radio and television extensively withinin the racing industry. He gave a few of us this tip sheet (shown above) and I actually followed it. At the start of the day I told the lady in the tote what I wanted in each race, dropped $100 on the counter to cover it and then kicked back.

In every race I collected, some good wins, some OK. The point being that I took the advice of experts in this field. Why in the past I ever thought I could ignore horse racing all year round and then show up annually and expect to pick winners I'll never know. Choosing horses with names you like actually isn't a recipe for success. (I did like the horse named Widowmaker and in past years I would have perhaps backed it.) Not this year though!

Not only did I win, but those I was with follwed suit and took the same advice and won too. I was the tips man! So thanks Dean Lester (www.deanlester.co.nz) for the timely advice and thanks to your professional tipster mate (Blue Whale) for pulling it all together.

Sometimes Whaling does pay dividends.