Trifecta Wagering and Staking Betting Tips

When you have a horse at big odds to win in a trifecta, do you realise there are times when it is better to eliminate some trifecta combinations and instead use the money saved to back that horse at big odds straight out for the win?

Here is why.

Some time ago we used the example of when Zagalia, who paid up to $29.90, won the Queensland Oaks in a field of 16 fillies.

You would have expected a big trifecta payout. But instead the result was a trifecta which paid as low as $518 on the New South Wales tote, $698 on SuperTab and $899 on UniTab. Now compare that with the fifth race at Rosehill on the same day:

There were only 14 runners in that field. Equal second $5.00 favourite Isla Kristina won the race. Lismore $16.00 and Beryl $9.00, finished second and third - easy enough to find for a trifecta by going a little wide. That trifecta paid between $699 and $708. That was because $3.20 favourite Lasting Faith finished fourth.

Trouble was when Zagalia $29.90 won, the $2.00 favourite The Jewel ran second and $6.50 third favourite, Penny Gem ran third.

Very short priced tote favourites wreck trifectas, particularly when they win or finish second. Many punters base their trifectas around short priced favourites. They would have had The Jewel as a roving banker with possibly even the field. That sort of strategy must lose over the long term.

When taking a horse at long odds to win a trifecta it can often pay to eliminate the numerous combinations that could be taken with short priced horses and use that money saved to back the longshot straight out for a win.