Punt Drunk: Racing Victoria going rogue?
Spring is near and the Punt Drunk mafia is back in full swing as we inch ever closer to a monster Spring Racing Carnival.
There has been plenty that has caught the eyes of the boffins involved with Punt Drunk, including some controversial ideas from Racing Victoria copping a lot of stick on Twitter. Throw in a Melbourne Cup jockey running for his life at Bendigo and some strange nominations being thrown in for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Cox Plate (2040m).
Giddy up punters!
Racing Victoria in the mud?
We are all for new ideas, ludicrous ideas even, but Racing Victoria has taken it to a whole new level this week!
Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones went into bat for his organisation’s plan to have jockeys mic’d up and with ear pieces directly back to trainers during races in a bid to make racing “more attractive” to a new crowd.
In an interview on Racing.com, Jones compared jockeys speaking to trainers mid-race to what Formula 1 drivers experience when driving at 300km/h talking to their pit crew.
Now, at a stretch we can see the comparison, but there is one big difference. They are driving a vehicle, jockey’s are on top of an animal…
We like the brainstorming to come up with some new so the sport does not become stagnate, but this seems a little too adventurous.
Could we not have jockey’s mic’d up pre-race? Perhaps more on-course interviews like we see during the racing carnivals around the country.
Either way, Racing Victoria have gotten this one wrong.
Cox Plate nominations that caught the eye
On Tuesday afternoon the racing world received the 2023 Cox Plate nominations as well as the Caulfield Cup nominations and there was certainly a few surprises.
The likes of Romantic Warrior, Mr Brightside, Amelia’s Jewel and Zaaki were all expected to be nominated for the Cox Plate.
However, who had Wolfy from the Nick Ryan barn on their Cox Plate nomination bingo card?
The three-year-old was well beaten as an odds-on pop at Sandown in a maiden on Wednesday, we love a Hail Mary, but come on…
Navajo Peak is perhaps a little more deserving of a nomination in the Cox Plate, but considering he is yet to win at Stakes level or compete in a Group event, it seems like a bit of a dream.
Hosier, once with Kris Lees is far from his best in terms of Group quality, and is constantly going around in country cups. The nag is a seven time winner on wet tracks, so if it is a swimming pool, Hosier could be a chance to finish within 15 lengths of futures market favourite Romantic Warrior.
Jye McNeil v Plover
He is known for his memorable steer aboard Twilight Payment in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, but Jye McNeil had a bigger challenge on his hands at Bendigo on Thursday.
No, it didn’t involve a horse, it didn’t involve traffic or even connections with a few too many coldies under his belt.
It was in fact a plover.
Watch out Jye! :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
Spring hasn't arrived yet, but the magpies are out in full force at Bendigo :penguin:@JyeMcNeil pic.twitter.com/xwjNUQ4Mau
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 10, 2023
His moves trying to avoid the bird is sure to be made into a meme!
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…
