Punt Drunk: Winterbottom Stakes Day, Lloyd’s Debut Win, Aussies In HK
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…
Winterbottom Stakes Day A Punters Paradise
Punters, it’s here! We’re back for another Saturday of racing where there are 12 local gallops meetings set down for punters to sink their teeth into. The highlight of the day is the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over in Western Australia where Godolphin star Trekking has come up a short priced favourite for the million dollar race. With quality support cards at The Valley, Rosehill, Doomben and Morphetville hopefully we can steer you into a few winners throughout the day and make it a profitable day.
You can read the full Horse Betting Winterbottom Stakes betting preview and tips here: Winterbottom Stakes Tips.
Son Of A Saffa Gun Kicks Off Career In Style
The son of former South African come Queensland jockey Jeff Lloyd, Zac Lloyd kicked off his career in fine style at Dalby yesterday afternoon when he rode home the winner in his first race riding start as an apprentice jockey. The Edmonds stable got him aboard the short priced favourite in Satine and the young jockey was able to get the job done. To make it a true family affair his older brother Jaden was able to boot home two winners on the Dalby card himself. Not content to leave it the the youngest Lloyd made it a full day by falling off his horse Palicki in the last race. The youngin’ was not hurt and bounced up.
? @ZacLloydx first ever post race debrief for owners @GCTurfClub ⬇️
? @nicolalloyd8 @AquisFarm @GleesonTbreds @NewgateFarm @mmsnippets pic.twitter.com/Y9BXUYSCUf
— Edmonds Racing (@EdmondsRacing) November 27, 2020
Another Aussie Export Shadow Hero Makes Hong Kong Debut
A notable ex Aussie entry appears in the final event at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin race meeting on Sunday. Shadow Hero, was a four-time winner prior to export from Australia, including twice at Group 1 level under the care of trainer Mark Newnham, firstly, winning the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before dropping back to a mile to claim the Randwick Guineas. The gelding now lands in the yard of another Aussie export David Hayes with Aussie export jockey Zac Purton copping the ride.
Happily Shadow Hero hasn’t had the usual Hong Kong name change that leaves us all so blood confused about who is who. Same can’t be said for ex-maroon nag and Australian Derby placegetter Eric The Eel, who has copped the new racing moniker of Tourbillon Diamond; presumably in an attempt to upgrade his ability by giving him a more upper class name. Another Australian horse Chenier will debut as Enrich Delight.
Instant Celebrity Set For Sydney
Phillip Stokes has been bullish about his thoughts of Instant Celebrity with the filly being ultra competitive in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. The potential is there for all to see and with Stokes giving her a rest early on in the spring; the gun trainer has his eyes set on the Sydney Autumn Carnival for his star filly. If things don’t go to plan in Sydney, Stokes will have plenty of options including the Brisbane carnival or taking her back home for the Adelaide carnival, as it’s unlikely we’ll see her in Melbourne.