Punt Drunk: Racing Victoria pay up despite raceday blunder
It is Friday eve, and boy, are we up and about for the weekend of racing we have ahead of us! Sure, we were excited this time last week, but now we have had a week to stew on the five Group 1 races that will greet us on Saturday afternoon. However, we have plenty of racing and no doubt plenty of drama to get us through the next 48 hours, so let’s not peak too soon.
Fair play, Racing Victoria
Wowee, the grey, Kerioth bolts in. 😮 pic.twitter.com/61d1ZV77JK
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 20, 2021
Racing Victoria were the laughing stock of the racing world on Saturday afternoon when they ran a race over 1200m when it was only supposed to be 1100m. It was officially declared ‘No Race’ even though it was run and won by the George Osborne-trained Kerioth in impressive fashion. Although that result is effectively null and void, Racing Victoria announced yesterday that they will be paying out the prize money the runners would have won in an uncompromised race. That would no doubt would please connections to an extent, but all the runners that went around will need to find another maiden to get a win in – and we all know getting the maiden out of the way is the hardest win in a horse’s career.
Three Munce for Melbourne Cup winner
Racing Queensland stewards have handed trainer Chris Munce a three-month ban and a $5k fine after the former star jockey pleaded guilty to charges of giving one of his horses a vitamin treatment on raceday. https://t.co/cVMrF3q9Oc
— Horse Betting (@HorseBettingAU) March 24, 2021
Would it really be a week of racing without drama? Let’s be honest: no. This week it is Chris Munce in the news for all the wrong reasons. The Melbourne Cup-winning hoop has been suspended for three months and has been fined $5,000. Make sure to check out our write-up on why Munce is in the bad books.
More stars sent to the breeding barn
What a ride! Yulong Prince wins the Kennedy Cantala from a fast finishing Cascadian and Rock! #DerbyDay #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/GdW0Job5Pv
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) October 31, 2020
We have had King’s Legacy, Farnan and Russian Camelot sent to the breeding barn in the last week or two. The trio will now be joined by Yulong Prince and Anders, who have both been retired in the past 24 hours and will no doubt draw plenty of attention in a couple of years with their respective progeny. Yulong Prince was massive when taking out the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington during the spring, and despite ‘only’ winning a Group 3, Anders was as rapid as they came over the sprint journey. (A bit like all of us, hey? Build up their expectations but inevitably have it over and done within 60 seconds…)
Thursday racing tips – March 25, 2021
Punt Drunk’s best bet of the day
The Adam Durrant-trained Savage One returns to the Pinjarra 1000m, where he was a dominant winner two starts back when giving nothing else a chance as favourite. The God Has Spoken gelding rates highly under Mitchell Pateman, who will head to the front of the field and give Savage One every chance to bring up a third win in four starts.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk! Our new daily column covering all the latest horse racing and punting controversies, dramas and headline news. Have a story or gripe or issue that just grinds your gears? Just hit us up in the comments or contact us page and our jaded, punt hardened Punt Drunk staff will give it the Punt Drunk treatment it deserves. Don’t expect pleasantries or typical racing media fanboy gloss from Punt Drunk – we’re on the punt and we don’t have time to bullshit; the next is about to jump…
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