Punt Drunk: Group 1 racing is back!
Punters, the Autumn Carnival officially kicks off this weekend and this week’s edition of Punt Drunk takes a look at what we have in store over the weekend and arguably the “wokest” horse going around in the racing world.
So buckle up, make sure the beers are cold and make sure you’re ready for one hell of an Autumn Carnival in both Melbourne & PVL Land (oops, Sydney).
Sandown takes centre stage!
Alright, for the first time in 2023, Group 1 racing is back on these shores with the C.F. Orr Stakes headlining all the action out at Sandown on Saturday.
We are not one to go over the top here at Punt Drunk, but the field assembled for the Orr might just be the best this race has ever seen.
With a similar amount of Group 1 winners in the race then last year’s Cox Plate, the race shapes as a deadset doozy.
Joining the Orr are the Preludes for the Blue Diamond Stakes, where we see Barber and Charm Stone head up the boys & girls divisions respectively.
"She is one of the best 2YOs I've had, I reckon."
@MickPriceRacing is absolutely enamoured with Charm Stone 💎 pic.twitter.com/fT8EkAwe3x— Racing.com (@Racing) February 7, 2023
Throw in four more black-type events throughout the day and it is basically an early treat for what looks set to be an unreal Autumn Carnival down south.
Anamoe’s return the big ticket item at Randwick
Ignore the fact there is a $2 million race in the Inglis Millennium for the juveniles, the headline act at Randwick on Saturday is the return of Anamoe.
The 2022 Cox Plate champ is back to further enhance his reputation and add further Group 1 glory to his name.
He and James McDonald are set to reunite in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes where he is an odds-on favourite with online bookmakers, but do not be shocked if the “Big A” gets knocked off first-up from a spell.
Throw in the return of Group 1 winners In Secret and Zougotcha as well and how can you not be up and about for racing from all around the country tomorrow?
We even get to have a punt at Royal Tumut in Country NSW, How bloody good is the great game?
Find us a more “wokely” named horse
With Australia Day still in the rear vision mirror, after another year of protests from activists, it was apt that Michael Freedman unveiled Change The Date at the Randwick trials on Monday morning.
Change The Date is a two-year-old chestnut gelding by Invader from Any Day Will Do.
The people who came up with this clearly had it planned a long way out and we tip our caps to them! Fair bloody play.
Unfortunately for connections, he trialled like a busted thumb behind the smart Platinum Jubilee finishing close to eight lengths off trial winner Introducing when finishing 7th of 7th.
For our International readers, Australia Day is held every January 26, but some people refer to it as Invasion Day, or when the British began colonising Australia. This year it had the added flavour of much of the crowd protesting The Voice, which is an attempt by the current Government to change the constitution to acknowledge indigenous Australians. However many Aboriginal people believe it will cede their sovereignty.
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…
