Malcolm Turnbull might have got his Melbourne Cup picks wrong but the prime minister won his office sweepstake.
Almandin won the race by a nose over Heartbreak City in one of the most dramatic finishes in cup history.
“Congrats to Almandin for a great race,” tweeted Turnbull only moments after the result was called. “Hartnell came third but at least I won the office sweep!”
Congrats to Almandin for a great race. Hartnell came third but at least I won the office sweep! pic.twitter.com/IQmZRc8JZ4
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) November 1, 2016
Turnbull had earlier picked Hartnell to win but the horse finished a distant third.
His token gesture towards his roots, Bondi Beach, finished 13th – proving there’s no place for nostalgia on the track.
I’m tipping Hartnell after the win at the Turnbull Stakes, and as the Member for Wentworth, I’ll also back Bondi Beach
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) October 31, 2016
Turnbull’s tweet on Monday drew the attention of Liberal party detractors with their own calls to make.
@TurnbullMalcolm I'm tipping Spineless to be pushed along by the far right of the field
— Bertsville (@bertsville1) October 31, 2016
He also received a prescient and helpful tip.
@TurnbullMalcolm Mr Prime Minister i recommend you box them in a trifecta with Almandin
— MICHELLE & SIMON (@samandmish) October 31, 2016
According to March 2016 estimates, Turnbull’s annual salary as prime minister is $522,0000. He also has an estimated personal wealth of $200m.
Almandin won $349,958 in prizemoney from the race.
The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, backed Jameka, who finished 15th.
I'm backing the local - Jameka for the win. #MelbourneCup
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) November 1, 2016
Julie Bishop, the foreign affairs minister, attended the race at Flemington racecourse and backed Assign, who came in 18th.
Turnbull’s win paled in comparison to one lucky gambler’s haul on Tuesday. TAB reported one of its customers turned a $1 punt into over $24,000 after they correctly selected the first four horses in the correct order.
In 2013, another $1 bet on the first four placings brought winnings of $118,652 while last year a $100 punt on a mystery box trifecta with three runners yielded winnings of $434,083.30 for one punter.
An estimated $800m was forecast to be spent on this year’s Melbourne Cup.
