The Group 1 racing season is done and dusted, winter is here but the team at Punt Drunk will still bring you up to speed with some of quirky tidbits from around the world.
Although late nights (thanks Ashes) and coffee are on the menu on this chilly Friday morning in Melbourne, there is plenty of news to sink our teeth into, including the Wiremu Pinn disqualification and our tribute to Frankie Dettori, who is set to ride at another Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Enjoy the weekend and happy punting!
Wiremu Pinn cops controversial disqualification
Our man Wiremu Pinn has deadset been shafted.
The young apprentice from New Zealand has been at the centre of an admin error between Racing NZ and Racing Victoria due to an incorrect 3kg claim he was given when arriving in Melbourne.
He rode five winners from 29 rides as a 3kg claiming apprentice, with 25 of those 29 runners securing prize-money for connections.
However, on Thursday afternoon RV concluded an inquiry into the situation and thus disqualified all 29 of those runners due to the incorrect claim they had given the young hoop.
Pinn was cleared of any wrongdoing, because let’s be honest, he has more than half a brain.
It seems to be a bunch of “he said, she said” between the two racing jurisdictions.
One bit of good news to come from this debacle is that connections of those 25 runners with prize-money will not be forced to repay anything earned.
Kilcoy winner a caller’s nightmare
It isn’t very often that a 2076m maiden event from Kilcoy catches our attention on a Thursday afternoon.
However, the Taryn Churchill-trained Don’tkickamoocow warranted all of our attention.
Arguably the horse with the best name currently racing in Australia.
Sent around as a $15 chance with online bookmakers, Georgina Cartwright got every last bit out of her mount and provided favourite punters with the ultimate dagger when pipping them on the post.
The win reminded us of a horse that use to ply it’s trade in Japan, Sumomomomomomomomo.
Talk about a caller’s nightmare.
What’s the best racehorse name you’ve heard? Sumomomomomomomomo has to be up there!
pic.twitter.com/vziWvsa6tV
— TAB (@tabcomau) June 28, 2023
Frankie Dettori to ride in 2023 Melbourne Cup
Is there a better known jockey in the world than the legendary Frankie Dettori?
Dettori, a 52-year-old jockey who recently captured attention at Royal Ascot by securing four victories, including an impressive ninth triumph in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup, will be participating in the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Initially, Dettori had planned to retire following the Breeders’ Cup event held at Santa Anita, California on November 3. However, the opportunity to ride in the prestigious Melbourne Cup, a race he has yet to win, has postponed the Italian showman’s farewell.
Unless he decides to participate in the Hong Kong International Races, Flemington may witness Dettori’s final celebratory dismount.
Throughout his career, Dettori has taken part in 17 Melbourne Cups, achieving second place on two occasions with Central Park in 1999 and Max Dynamite in 2015.
Imagine the scenes in the Flemington mounting yard if Frankie lands the Melbourne Cup! One thing is for sure, there will be plenty of sentimental money riding with him on the first Tuesday in November.
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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…
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