It’s been a big week in the racing world and it is safe to say this weeks edition of Punt Drunk is absolutely stacked with content!
The headline news piece came early on Friday morning, when reigning Cox Plate
champion Anamoe was retired to stud. Throw in a genuine brain-fade over in the UK, a new way to do your dough at the Ararat trots and our weekly take on protesters affecting horse racing events.
It may not be a Group 1 weekend, but buckle up for what is sure to be a big weekend on the punt nonetheless.
Farewell Anamoe you absolute champion
The word champion gets thrown around a lot in the sporting world, let alone in the racing world.
However, that title befits Godolphin’s Anamoe perfectly.
The nine-time Group 1 winner continued to defy expectations throughout his career and despite punters doubting him time and time again, the “Big A” continued on his winning ways in some of the best Group 1 races this country has to offer.
Arguably he should be the winner of the last two editions of the Cox Plate (let’s not talk about that protest in 2021), but his win in the 2022 Cox Plate will forever go down as his crowning moment.
Relive Anamoe’s 2022 Cox Plate Victory
Anamoe retires as the worldwide Godolphin team’s most prolific group 1 performer over 25 starts, of which he won 14. He also accrued $12.12 million in prizemoney.
Enjoy the breeding barn Anamoe, you bloody deserve it!
What on earth was that Pat Cosgrave?
Now, if you are betting on the Chelmsford races overnight in the UK, you would have probably woken up the neighbourhood after Concorde got beat in race six.
Pat Cosgrave had the long odds-on fave half way into the winer’s stall with 200m to go in a 1609m event under the Chelmsford City lights, but for some reason he pulled the thing up in the shadows of the winning post.
1-6 favourite Concorde is beaten in dramatic circumstances at Chelmsford…
pic.twitter.com/hgcPNwMhkQ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 20, 2023
The Group 1 winning jock was subsequently suspended for 28 days…doesn’t help if you had Concorde anchoring your multi’s overnight, like a certain team member in the Punt Drunk office.
Just to rub it in, take a look at the photo finish.
And here is the photo finish…
pic.twitter.com/83dESWj718
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 20, 2023
How to do your dough #547
If you were on the $1.70 favourite in race three at the Ararat trots on Monday night, no one would ever blame you if you gave up the punt for good.
Zac Chappenden had the fave hitting the front with 100m to go and had the race sewn up, before his seat buckled underneath him, thus losing all momentum aboard Burton.
Scary stuff tonight @ Ararat
— Josh Jenkins (@JoshJenkins24) April 17, 2023
Much like concorde at Chelmsford, you would be looking for a bucket to throw up in.
The great game hey? It builds character.
Get a job!
The Grand National, one of the most prestigious races in the world was delayed during the week by some 15 minutes due to 118 activists making their unwelcome presence known.
A total of 118 people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public nuisance offenses in a bid to disrupt the race, Merseyside Police said.
Many activists from an estimated group of 300 climbed the high fences around the racecourse just outside Liverpool and got onto the track a few minutes before the race was scheduled to start.
Some affixed themselves to the race fences using glue and lock-on devices.
If only they put this much effort into protesting every other day of the week, instead of being “once-a-year” protestors for races that are easy targets.
If you want to be taken seriously, go do something on a Monday at Stawell.
Or even better, go get a job!
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…
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