Summer is finally here, the Group 1 races for another year are coming to an end, the anticipation is building towards a summer of cricket, and the beers become more enticing earlier and earlier on a Friday.
However, the team at Punt Drunk is still working hard and has found a couple of eye-catching pieces to keep us busy.
‘Spud’ Frawley gets the W at Geelong
It isn’t very often a Geelong maiden win takes top billing in Punt Drunk, but when a horse named after the late, great Danny ‘Spud’ Frawley gets up, we sit up and take notice.
Danny’s sister Anne believes the AFL champion was up there riding him after the colt named in his honour recorded an emotional debut win at Geelong on Thursday.
A special debut victory by Frawley at Geelong
Spud would be pumping his golden fist
pic.twitter.com/edCKArta7c
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 30, 2023
Frawley joins the list of former AFL players with horses named after them to win in 2023.
Capper Thirtynine and Bews are among those to have won, with Bews and Frawley both part of Anthony Mithen’s Rosemont Stud.
Led by Mithen, the Alliance has named its horses after several former AFL stars, with Mithen explaining that they had to wait a year before they could name a horse after the former St Kilda great.
Here’s hoping ‘Spud’ Frawley can keep the wins coming; he’s going to have a good support group at each start, that’s for sure.
BANG!
Land’s End clearly isn’t a Punting Paradise
Land’s End, a little tourist spot in Cornwall, England, is clearly not a paradise for punters.
That’s judging by this young bloke at the Cheltenham races.
Betting on number 2 every time because you thought it was the same horse that was beating everyone
You’ve gotta love these lads enjoying their first day at the races pic.twitter.com/QL0HE0AUU1
— Raceday RTV (@Raceday_RTV) November 30, 2023
The young chap was having his first day at the races and thought the same horses ran in every race…
The no.2 horse had won the first two races by the sound of things, so he just kept backing the no.2 thinking it was the same runner.
Oh boy, have you ever had a mate that has embarrassed you this much at the races? Let us know in the comments below.
Blue Diamond winner off to Hong Kong
Little Brose has not done too much since claiming the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) earlier this year.
In four runs this spring, the Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trainer runner finished with one placing and was comfortably beaten each time.
Watch Little Brose win the 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes
He will now head to Hong Kong, under the care of David Hayes.
The question is: can Little Brose overcome the ‘Blue Diamond Curse’?
The curse is that once you win a Blue Diamond, you struggle to make too much of an impact on the racetrack before heading to stud.
It’s a wait-and-see scenario, but if anyone can turn his fortunes around, it is David Hayes.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk – our weekly 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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