Going back a couple of years, I was asked by the Professor if I would be interested in providing race selections for Sydney racing. It seemed my reputation as a punt drunk was known by more than my wife and a few mates. The Professor thought it would be good to have an addition to the tipster ranks (note I didn’t use the word rivalry). I accepted the offer but on 1 proviso, the tips I would be giving are a compilation of mail I gather from those who either punt for a living or sell information/ratings/track work etc for a living. You see, the truth of the matter is, even in a life and death situation, I am incapable of backing a winner of my own picking. Like those who ring me on a Saturday or those who may glance at the Sydney Colt’s posts on this site, I punt on the information and expertise of others.

I grew up on a diet of horse racing. From the age of 12 I would attempt to get a bet on at the oncourse tote window. If I was rejected there was always someone in the queue who would put a 50c bet on for me (yes, racing was so popular back then you had to join a queue to get a bet on). In the late 80s until about ’94 I tried my hand at Bookmaking, purely trots and dogs as my bankroll was not that impressive. By the time I left that behind me I had a small profit to show for my time but on reflection I realised my bagman had made averaged more than me in wages and had none of the stress!

Anyway, back to punting. Through some great mail I have been able to tip a few winners at double figure odds. I recall a stretch of 8 straight winning weeks. What has proven impossible to do is tip successfully and consistently during the winter months. Most true professionals steer away from heavy commitments during the cold and wet period. It is a time for the punt drunks.

Well Gelding has defied the odds. I recall his efforts last winter to tip winner after winner and not much has changed during this season, made more for penguins than thoroughbreds. Last Saturday epitomised the talents of Gelding in tipping 3 winners and a 2nd from 4 selections. Wow, that is super. Even more remarkable is that it was on a heavy 10 track. I spoke to a pro punter yesterday and he declared only the brave would bet in Melbourne last Saturday on a track that heavy. It matters not that the winners were short prices (except maybe for Bendigo Betty) as a mug punter would have picked some of the other favs who seemed to sink in the going.

My biggest tip – stick with the Gelding during winter if you have any respect whatsoever for money. Gelding is surely the King of the Tipsters! I trust the ladies of the tennis club have erected a shrine to honour his fame.