RIP Lester Piggott – one of the greats | Punt Drunk
This Friday’s edition of Punt Drunk takes a look at one of the more credentialed stallions in Australian racing, with his progeny doing wonders on the track. One of the top trainers in South East Queensland went out with a bang, while the racing fraternity mourned the loss of one of the greatest jockeys to have ever graced a racetrack.
HOT PROPERTY
David Hayes, a trainer in his own right, has some serious progeny running around, with sons Ben and JD now Group 1-winning trainers, while his other son Will, is set to play his first games for Carlton in the AFL this weekend. It’s a fair effort from old David, with rumours circulating that he will be standing at Coolmore Stud next season for $100,000 a service.
His Navy Blue story continues.
Our standout @CarltonReserves player so far this season, Will Hayes has been rewarded for his brilliant VFL form.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) June 1, 2022
COSTA GOES OUT WITH A BANG
Every now and then, the racing gods smile and look after their own. On Wednesday, Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa saddled up his final runner on Australian soil, before he sets off to Dubai to train exclusively for Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Having had one of the best winning strike rates in the country, it was only fitting that Costa got one final win under his belt before he left. The Catch started a short-priced favourite on Wednesday at Doomben, and he didn’t let punters or Costa down, saluting in fine style under Costa’s main man, Jag Guthman-Chester.
Costa takes the Dubai role over from Nicholas Bachalard, who has been in charge since 2019. Costa is initially expected to have around 60 horses under him. The Sheikh also has a bloodstock division that Costa will play a hands-on roll with. Don’t worry the Punt Drunk Drunks will be keeping tabs on our man from south-east Queensland.
Love to see it! The @mcosta_racing barn bids farewell with one last winner at @BrisRacingClub before heading overseas!
All the best to Michael Costa in Dubai 👏 #QLDisRacing🏇 pic.twitter.com/q4QJqWVy69
— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 1, 2022
VALE LESTER PIGGOTT
We may have lost Lester Piggott the jockey this week, but the legendary British hoop will live on perpetually through his feats.
Piggott, who was 86 when he died, rode his first winner at 12 years old and his last when he was well into his 50s. In total Piggott, who is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever jockeys, won over 4,400 races in close to 50 years in the saddle.
Piggott retired with the most ever victories in the British Classics races, after winning the Epsom Derby, the 2000 Guineas, the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks Stakes and the St Leger Stakes a combined 30 times.
Piggott’s final years of his life were lived outside the UK following a scandal around tax evasion, which saw him imprisoned for a year. His daughter, Maureen Haggas, confirmed the death of her father.
Like Costa, the racing Gods were shining down, with Amanzoe, a horse Piggott owned and bred won her maiden at Leicester on Thursday.
An incredibly poignant winner as the Lester Piggott owned and bred Amanzoe gets her head in front at Leicester for the first time pic.twitter.com/LYw5be4vUi
— Jamie Piggott (@JamiePiggott) June 2, 2022
Sixth horse in British flat racing history wins at 200-1 odds
Just the sixth horse in British flat-racing history won at odds greater than 200-1 earlier this week. Trainer John Riches, a former fishmonger with just five horses in training at his Pilling, Lancashire base, bought Astapor for just £1 off a friend. But at Hamilton the 43-start maiden stunned onlookers by winning the 6f novice stakes. On-course bookies had priced Astapor at 200-1, while online bookmaker Betfair had odds of 999-1 prior to the race. Other UK horses to have won at odds greater than 200-1 are 1822 St Leger winner Theodore, Beechy Bank, Dandy Flame, Intercessor and Runninwild.
Friends, this is what a 200-1 winner looks like:
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…
