Punt Drunk: Winter is here, Spring is near!
It is the first week of winter and that means two things in a racing sense…rain-affected tracks and spring is near!
Group 1 racing in Brisbane continues this weekend with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks headlining proceedings at Eagle Farm, while there is plenty of winners to be found around the country!
Today, the Punt Drunk boffins discuss Gary Portelli’s disdain at Fireburn’s scratching and whether South Australian racing needs an injection of funds!
Portelli far from impressed with Fireburn scratching
It isn’t very often sportsman accept the umpires decison, but Gary Portelli was forced to do just that when Queensland Racing Integrity Commission vets deemed his star filly Fireburn unsuitable to race in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks.
The two-time Group 1 winner was a $3.50 favourite for the event and was set to join the likes of Miss Finland to become a Golden Slipper winner at two and then an Oaks winner at three.
Portelli feels the issue with Fireburn is that she has a “weird gait”.
“They wouldn’t accept what we said, even though my vets said this is the way she is,” Portelli said.
“They are all scared that something is going to happen.
“When she first trots off, she has this weird gait.
“I said to them to put a saddle on her tomorrow and go and ride her and you will thank God you didn’t scratch her.”
Safe to say, Portelli wanted to tell the vets where they should stick their decision and we don’t blame him!
Is SA racing in the mud?
When the G.O.A.T of sports broadcasting, Bruce McAvaney airs his concerns, you sit up and take notice.
Bruce has this weekend come out and shot a rocket up the backside of South Australian racing and it is easy to see why.
The SA racing carnival has just concluded and despite wagering turnover being at record levels, there was more atmosphere at a local morgue than at Morphettville.
Peter Moody also said that South Australia is a great racing state and an injection of funds similar to what Racing Queensland has done in recent years could revitalise the industry.
Moody said that he hoped the people in power will listen to McAvaney as it is essential for the industry to have strong racing in South Australia.
“We’ve just seen feature races in Adelaide run for $400,00 and $500,000. There was no one there on Robert Sangster Day. There wouldn’t have been 200 people. I’m not sure what the solution is but hopefully Bruce can get the people in power to come on board,” Moody said.
Come on SA, get with the times and give racing fans a reason to get to Adelaide!
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…
