Punt Drunk: Frankie Dettori or John Farnham?
We are on the eve of one of the best racing days on the calendar, and the team at Punt Drunk is here to help you through your Friday!
All eyes will be on Caulfield and Randwick tomorrow, where the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and The Everest (1200m) take centre stage with a butt tonne of money on the line at both venues.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, on Saturday, but make sure to (responsibly) load up on the Mr Brightside/Amelia’s Jewel multi and enjoy what may come of your Saturday night once that lobs.
Before we get to Saturday, there’s a few things that caught our eye from around the racing world.
Frankie Dettori unretires
Frankie Dettori is a deadset icon throughout the horse racing world, but it feels like he has been on a retirement tour for the last four years.
The Italian jockey, who is set to ride in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) next month has boycotted the retirement that he announced prior to Royal Ascot, instead opting to take up a full-time gig in America.
It is unclear how long he will be riding in the States, but if the retirement tour of John Farnham is anything to go by, Frankie Dettori will still be riding in 2039 and most likely still hunting his first Melbourne Cup win.
All joking aside, racing is better off with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
The worst barrier draw known to man
THe Everest is worth $20million and who knows how much money RacingNSW has pumped into promoting the event.
However, they simply shat the bed on Tuesday night with the barrier draw, in what can only be described as a waste of money.
We’ve had barrier draws that have included the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and even a massive skyscraper. This year, it was a lame water show and lasers.
If you squinted hard enough, you would have made out which horse was up next and where they drew for the event. It was a massive eyesore.
Mazu draws barrier 11 in The Everest for the second year in a row. #TABEverest
@SnowdenRacing1 @ArrowfieldStud @TheStarSydney pic.twitter.com/cZw0Co8nxi
— Triple Crown Syndications (@TripleCrownSynd) October 10, 2023
That was the Meat Loaf of barrier draws #Everest
— Alex Marsh (@Ajmarsh87) October 10, 2023
Dead set, this Everest barrier draw entertainment is embarrassing. Two sprinklers from Bunnings and a projector from some classroom. They are making the NRL look good.
— Nick Adams (@Narkov) October 10, 2023
Have you seen a sicker beat?
If you are a degenerate and love a punt on a Kyneton maiden on a Thursday afternoon, you would have seen one of the worst beats imaginable in the fourth race.
Thoughts and prayers with anyone that backed the 2 at Kyneton just then, literally refusing to win 🤣 pic.twitter.com/vfK6kkhxgi
— No Morals (@NoMoralsRacing) October 12, 2023
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Rouge Moulin literally refused to win.
Having hit the front with 100m to go, the maiden looked to have spooked himself out of a win, despite jockey Jake Noonan’s best efforts.
He hit -10000 in play with Betfair because the judge was almost ready to ask for time and margins.
However, Red Vicar was the one who took advantage of Rouge Moulin’s misfortunes to salute as a +1200 chance after hitting +29900 in live betting.
The great game giveth, and the great game taketh away.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk – our weekly 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…
