Alpha males and tipping services named after apex predators will look to throw their financial weight around at Monday’s annual Call of the Card, in what has become a ‘stepping out’ rite of passage for Australia’s punting community.

Silverback, OrcaPod, Tiger Ambush, and Mako Money are just some of the bookie hunters expected to be in attendance for the afternoon feeding frenzy.

Higher betting limits and the chance to snap up perceived ‘overs’ on Melbourne Cup runners is viewed as the general appeal of Monday’s COTC, but The Pakistan Star understands that many attendees view it more as an opportunity to display one’s plum girth in a public forum.

“There’s no better feeling than having all the eyes in the room on you after you’ve backed something to win a million,” said an OrcaPod representative, whose slogan is “hunt with the alpha money”.

“There is definitely an element of ‘look at my big balls’ about it,” added another punter who took $12 for a horse that started $19 two years ago.

Monday’s event concludes at 4:30pm, with Crown Casino gaming staff bracing for an influx of stampeding peacocks soon after.

More to follow.