A British mother has turned NZ$8 into almost $440,000 after betting on horses purely based on their names.
Four of the five horses she bet on - all outside favourites to win - ended up cruising to victory this week at the Goodwood Festival in southern England.
Rupert Adams, a spokesman for betting agency William Hill, said the woman likes to occasionally "bet for fun" and chooses her horses based only on their names.
"The lucky lady made her selections purely on the names and only ever bets in pennies," he said.
"She is a very down to earth lady and if she carries on betting in pennies and a few pounds then we'll never get the winnings back from her."
Of the woman's picks, the one with the best odds was Dark Red, who romped to victory at 12:1.
The horse was downgraded to second place after a steward's inquiry, finishing behind the Queen's horse Fabricate.
However, William Hill paid the woman out, honouring its "first past the post policy".
In an extraordinary day for the woman, three of her other picks went on to win at ridiculous odds: Thechildren'strust at 100:1, Breton Rock at 50:1 and El Astronaute at 33:1.
Had her final selection, Darkroom Angel, won its race too she would've secured $1.78 million, William Hill's maximum payout.
She now plans to buy a new house with her winnings.
Newshub.
