Punt Drunk: Kah & friends in trouble after dicey AirBnB party
Today’s Punt Drunk is like no other as we recap the Air BnB get-together that has seen some of Victoria’s best jockeys forced into two weeks’ quarantine and what Glen Boss’ whirlwind trip to Darwin means for Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise.
Kah among jockeys under investigation from Racing Victoria
In a time when the country is at breaking point over COVID-19 restrictions, it certainly does not help when a bunch of sports stars act as though they are above the law. A group of jockeys opted to gather at an AirBnB at Mornington during the week, namely Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray. With the whole of Victoria in stage-four lockdown, it is a clear breach of COVID protocols, and all jockeys have been asked to quarantine for 14 days and are not permitted to attend race meetings, jumpouts or trackwork.
It is a huge blow for Kah, who was set to take the ride on Behemoth for Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes, and for Melham, who has recently returned to the saddle following a long suspension due to gambling. All four jockeys are now at the mercy of the Racing Victoria stewards, with a long suspension being considered for all participants – including Kah, which could see Melbourne’s premier jockey wiped out for the entire Spring Racing Carnival.
Bossy given the flick from Howard Springs
It was not too long ago that Peter Moody and connections of Incentivise revealed that Glen Boss would take the reins of their prized runner in this year’s Melbourne Cup, but now that is but a memory. Bossy had made his way to the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility to begin two weeks of isolation before he jetted off to Melbourne for what was set to be a big spring campaign. However, within four hours of arriving, Boss and his family received a knock on their door from police informing them they had to leave and return to Sydney. So it looks like there won’t be Melbourne Cup glory for Bossy this year, but who is to rule him out of a big spring in Sydney?
Brett Prebble back in the spotlight as he snares the ride on Incentivise
With Bossy out of the frame, connections had to move quickly to book in a ride for Incentivise moving forward. With the clear goal being a win in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, they have booked the services of the in-form Brett Prebble. He may not be the biggest name in the Victorian jockey ranks, but he is arguably one of the most consistent in recent times. Prebble already has a Melbourne Cup win to his name, saluting with Green Moon in 2012, and with 27 Group 1 wins to his name, connections could do much worse.
Friday Racing Tips – August 27, 2021
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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…
