Punt Drunk: Pikey farewells WA on tough weekend for punters
It was a bit of a fisting for punters around the nation on Saturday, putting a sour taste in most of our mouths as January comes to a close. William Pike said farewell to Western Australia, so that was hard to cop, even before he slaughtered Clairvoyance on Saturday night, while the Rosehill track – or should we say road – made it even harder for punters to find a winner. Thankfully, Marabi kept her unbeaten record alive in the Australia Stakes, giving us something to smile about on an otherwise rough weekend.
FAREWELL PIKEY
For as long as we can remember, Western Australian hoop William Pike, or ‘Pikey’ as he is affectionately known, has been a bit of a cult hero. The star hoop is famous for booting home the last favourite at Ascot on many Saturday nights for us over in the east, and for that, we love him. We’re not going to harp on about why he’s leaving – that’s been well documented – but what we will say is, the late-night chase in WA will never be the same. Typically, SKY 1 gets flicked off at 8pm, especially when we’ve done our arse and need a winner, but it might be getting turned off a lot sooner from now on. While we are full of praise, we have to have one last crack at the great man, as he left Perth after an absolute slaughter job in one of his last rides over there. Partnering Clairvoyance in the Listed Scenic Blast Stakes, Pike gave the $2.80 a peach of a ride until the turn, where he missed the run – somehow – and ended up beating one horse home. Keep an eye on the red cap with the yellow silks. See ya in Sydney, William.
What a Blast! 1 of 5 named foals from the last crop of Red Hot Choice & final foal of Zedfire (8 winners, 8 to race), the Mungrup Stud bred, Hot Zed, proves too strong in the Listed Scenic Blast S. at Ascot. A 2nd stakes victory for Hot Zed, the 4YO has won 8 and over $400k. pic.twitter.com/sdaVH9h6Xy
— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) January 29, 2022
ROSEHILL HIGHWAY
Wayne Hawkes once said that speedmaps don’t mean a thing. To that, we tell Wayne to get stuffed. After Canterbury dished up the inside-lane travelator on Friday night, punters that enjoy a bet in Sydney would have been looking forward to getting to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but that idea quickly went out the window when punters realised it was a case of lead or lose. In both two-year-old races to open the card, the leaders absolutely pissed in, before Hugh Bowman followed suit in the next race. More Sundays came off the speed in race five, but once again, Bowman hunted along the inside running rail to nab the leader on the post. The leader’s bias even brought star colt Anamoe undone in the Expressway Stakes, as Overpass found the front straight out of the barriers to go on and lead all of the way. As James McDonald saluted in the penultimate aboard the well-tried Rule Of Law, there was a glimmer of hope for punters in the last, before Sam Clipperton hugged the plastic aboard $41 outsider Impasse to cause a major boilover. Disgusting.
Lead or Lose
— Christopher Dante (@cdwinters91) January 29, 2022
A STAR IS BORN
It was a deadest slog around the country on Saturday, at least for us, but gee, it was nice to see Marabi blitz her rivals in the Listed Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained mare went into the race as a very short-priced favourite in her quest to stay undefeated at start six. The five-year-old found the front straight away under Ben Allen, and that was that. With the handlebars down, the daughter of I Am Invincible cruised to an impressive 2.75-length victory in a sizzling time of 1:11.42, an entire second quicker than the VOBIS Gold Carat. She is now well fancied to win the Oakleigh Plate in a month, with bookmakers winding her into as short as $2.50. She is very good.
MARABI 🔥
An incredible sprinting display in the G2 Australia Stakes!@cmaherracing @TheValley pic.twitter.com/oIvn186zvJ
— Racing.com (@Racing) January 29, 2022
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…
