Punt Drunk: Epic comeback on the cards in The Goodwood
Doesn’t it feel a little bit like Christmas Eve with Day 1 of The Championships just one sleep away? Make sure to check out all the best bets and quaddie numbers on HorseBetting.com.au for racing being held around the country today as we all look to build a bank ahead of the big Group 1 races tomorrow afternoon.
Is Bivouac off to Royal Ascot?
Bivouac absolutely explodes down the stretch to win the Darley Sprint Classic! #StakesDay #CupWeekOn10 pic.twitter.com/fHpDhiQVW3
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 7, 2020
On face value, the campaign to date of Godolphin star Bivouac has been pretty trash. While he is regarded as one of the best sprinters in the land, finishes of fifth and fourth in weight-for-age Group 1 races do not scream ‘greatness’. According to James Cummings, the son of Exceed & Excel has always had tomorrow afternoon’s TJ Smith Stakes set as his grand final for the autumn. The dangling carrot in front of Bivouac is that if he wins, connections will put him on a plane to the UK for a tilt at Royal Ascot in a few months. Biv is currently a $4.60 chance in the TJ Smith Stakes and will reunite with Hugh Bowman after connections dumped Glen Boss on the back of a disappointing run in the Canterbury Stakes.
A comeback John Farnham would be proud of
WHAT A HORSE. WHAT A WIN!
GYTRASH STORMS HOME IN THE YES YES YES STAKES 👌 pic.twitter.com/Q4dVAoqLA7
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 31, 2020
We have not seen sprinting sensation Gytrash at the racetrack since his breathtaking win in the Yes Yes Yes Stakes during the spring last year. Now that he has fully recovered from bone chip surgery, trainer Gordon Richards has hinted that the five-year-old gelding will return in The Goodwood at Morphettville – where he was runner-up to Trekking last year – instead of heading up to Queensland as originally planned. It sets up a South Australian showdown between Behemoth and Gytrash in a race that will surely determine the best Group 1 sprinter in the state.
Just to make it even harder for jockeys…
Details below of Racing Australia’s new rule that means jockeys’ agents and form analysts can’t provide tactics to a jockey. pic.twitter.com/I48Js388Cd
— Matt Welsh (@Themodernpunter) April 3, 2021
Racing Australia has brought in a new rule whereby jockeys can only take riding instructions from trainers or connections. So there will officially be no more armchair experts on Twitter because now the hoops aren’t allowed to listen to you. Yeah, right… Anyway, it means that while jockeys can use form analysts or experts to clarify what they think is the right plan heading into the race, the final direction they are to follow is that which the trainer and connections wish to implement.
Friday racing tips – April 9, 2021
Punt Drunk’s best bet of the day
Having bolted in by close to four lengths in a Class 1 at Orange, the Matthew Vella-trained Silent Tryst looks really hard to go past. The Sebring filly is yet to finish worse than second in her career and has proved to be tactically versatile. From barrier three, expect her to settle just off the pace and be too strong over the final 200m.
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…
