Punt Drunk: Waller on track to set Group 1 record… again
What a weekend of racing that was! The Group 1 features at Randwick on Saturday lived up to expectations with grandstand finishes in both the All Aged Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. We then backed it up with a mammoth ANZAC Day schedule, and the less spoken about Persan, the better – am I right?
Can Waller break his own record?
KOLDING takes out the G1 All Aged Stakes!@cwallerracing @brentonavdulla 👏 pic.twitter.com/UCHAdlEGwk
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 24, 2021
On the back of Kolding’s remarkable win in the All Aged Stakes, Chris Waller is pushing towards his own record of 18 Group 1 victories in one racing season. Waller set the benchmark back in 2018-19, and the win by Kolding saw him bring up his 14th for 2020-21 campaign. The New Zealand-born trainer will have strong representation at the Adelaide and Brisbane racing carnivals, which kick off this weekend, and who is to say he cannot snare a few of the 13 Group 1 races remaining this season?
Did we see a potential Melbourne Cup runner?
Amade was superb at Flemington! pic.twitter.com/BcrSjdxIf8
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 25, 2021
All eyes were on Persan in the opener at Flemington yesterday afternoon as the runner who finished fifth in the 2020 Melbourne Cup went around as a $1.50 favourite. However, he was a stinky watch for favourite punters and could do no better than fourth in a five-horse field. The winner, Amade, put in a jaw-dropping performance, so much so that online bookmakers have slashed his price to $21 for the Melbourne Cup. He was sent around at $5.50 on Sunday and will now be headed for the paddock with an eye on the first Tuesday in November.
Group 1 racing returns to Adelaide
Speedy mare BELLA VELLA wins the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes. It was a huge result for local trainer Will Clarken & jockey Todd Pannell. pic.twitter.com/06hKhL41Ej
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 2, 2020
It has been quite some time since the Robert Sangster Stakes and the Australasian Oaks have hosted fields like the ones they are set to have this Saturday afternoon. Lining up in the Robert Sangster Stakes are the likes of Sisstar, Lyre, Brooklyn Hustle, Flit, Subpoenaed, Prophet’s Thumb and the local Instant Celebrity. If that does not excite you towards the tail end of the season, then nothing will. Add in the likes of Steinem, Brookspire, Hela, Flexible and VRC Oaks winner Personal, and we are set for another cracking edition of the Australasian Oaks. Boy, oh boy, are we ready to load up on the Brooklyn Hustle / Steinem double!
Monday racing tips – April 26, 2021
Punt Drunk’s best bet of the day
Hasalake was a disaster first up at Port Macquarie on April 16 over 1200m. Having finished no worse than third in her five career starts, we expect the Delago Deluxe filly to win this comfortably if she gets the race run to her liking. Look for her to settle worse than midfield before making her run down the centre of the track.
About Punt Drunk
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…
