Punt Drunk: From shark-infested canals to the race track
Group 1’s, NRL and test cricket, throw in the AFL starting next week and the team at Punt Drunk are more up-and-about than a young colt seeing a filly in the mounting yard.
Buckle up, there’s a long weekend in Melbourne, the time-honoured Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday, as well as Coolmore Classic at Rosehill, and Adelaide Cup on Monday.
It is sure to be another cracking weekend on the punt and an even better one for a few coldies!
End Assembly tests positive to cocaine!
Once you thought you had seen it all, something pops up and beggars belief.
The Mark Currie-trained End Assembly has tested positive to cocaine following his win in last December’s Listed Gold Edition Plate over 1200m.
An inquiry into the positive swab would be opened next week.
If found guilty, connections of the horse would miss out on the $116,000 winners cheque along with victory in the black type race.
It would elevate second placegetter and pre-race favourite Golden Boom to first.
Punters however, who took the $2.25 for Golden Boom, would not be paid out.
End Assembly had won its first two starts by a combined 12 lengths and went into the race as a well backed runner having been a $9 chance in betting.
A costly sniff.
Princess Lunar returns from swimming with sharks
Remember Princess Lunar? The horse who didn’t want to play ball on the Gold Coast back in January, instead opting for a swim with sharks rather than the starting stalls.
Princess Lunar really wanted to cool off 😅 pic.twitter.com/x0E17P5mAI
— TAB (@tabcomau) January 7, 2023
Scott Morrisey’s mare lost jockey Tegan Harrison on the way to the gates, crashed through a fence and opted to go for a swim in a shark-infested canal.
Well, the swimming horse is back at the races on Saturday, set to grace the canal-free Eagle Farm.
Ironically, armageddon is forecast for Eagle Farm where Princess Lunar is set to return in race five, with up to 70mm of rain forecast for the track on Saturday.
What more could you want? A day for swimmers, and a horse who might just be part horse, part shark!
Ciaron Maher v Chris Waller
For years now, Chris Waller has had a genuine mortgage on training honours in New South Wales.
That might be set to change with Melbourne Cup-winning trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace set to expand their Sydney operation.
The pair currently have 50 boxes out at Warwick Farm, and with an additional 30 being added, they might genuinely pose a threat for Waller.
Now, we will not complain if there is genuine competition between Waller and the Maher & Eustace team, in fact we have an idea!
Waller and his right-hand man, Charlie Duckworth v Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, in a duel!
Ok, maybe not, but it’s about time someone tries to take down the mighty Waller empire in Sydney and who better than a scruffy bloke from Warrnambool and a Pom!
Gator strikes in Tampa
Alligator Blood picked up yet another Group 1 win in the Futurity Stakes a fortnight ago, and the Gators of the world clearly wanted to celebrate.
As the ‘Gator picked up the Futurity, one of his long-distance relatives wanted to join in the celebration with some horses in Tampa!
He just went a little bit too prematurely and got involved in a race when scampering across in front of a field of seven horses.
From video it looks a trailing horse hit the alligator. pic.twitter.com/eY1nz9nLuC
— Ray Paulick (@raypaulick) February 25, 2023
With a bit of luck, we will not see anymore alligator’s chomping at the bit to get involved.
Fans reaction worth the ticket price
@hriracing ALL THE EMOTIONS 🙌 #dublinracingfestival #horseracing ♬ original sound – Horse Racing Ireland
We had a good chuckle at the passion shown by the lady in blue at the Dublin Racing Carnival recently.
We have no idea if her stead won in the end, but we do know she is the big winner after going viral on Tik Tok (I can’t believe i’m writing this).
There really is nothing like the passion shown by a fan in the outer at the races.
But we’re not sure anything can top this all-time favourite, when a commenatator in the US couldn’t believe his luck, when a longshot Kentucky Derby winner scooted home.
Watch from about the 4 minute mark for the highlights.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk – our 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…
