The Easter long weekend is upon us, another perfect reason to slump onto the couch, kick back and enjoy a cold beer or two and enjoy Day 2 of The Championships!
But before we get there, the team at Punt Drunk as taken a look as some of the more left-field pieces of news to have graced the racing world this week.
Did someone say fatigue?
Abandonments of meetings around Australia are just becoming laughable….this time it was Yarra Valley on Monday in the firing line.
At 1:04pm, the decision was made by Racing Victoria stewards to abandon the eight-race meeting.
ABANDONED MEETING: 03 Apr 2023 Y VL at 1:02 PM due to Track Conditions – Due to unsuitable sections of the track at the 800, 600 and 400 metres
— RVStewards (@RVStewards) April 3, 2023
The first race was set to jump at 1:30pm AEST.
So how do we get to the point as an industry that less than half an hour before a meeting, it gets abandoned?
We may be talking out of our pocket here, because who doesn’t love a Monday arvo punt?
But we reckon Mick Kent (Jnr) has summed it up perfectly.
No excuse for this.
The cost, inconvenience and needless travel by participants so easily avoided.
Only need ONE competent person to judge the surface before 100s start their journey.
Oh..and who said something about fatigue? https://t.co/WNWbJ4S1HF— Michael Kent (@MichaelRhysKent) April 3, 2023
This certainly aids the argument from jockeys, trainers and participants alike about fatigue issues in the industry.
It’s about time someone puts on their big boy pants and figure out a solution sooner rather than later.
Everyone is playing for second in The Quokka
Now, we hate going the early crow, but when a rival trainer declares Amelia Jewel has a mortgage on The Quokka, we sit up and take notice.
The three-year-old filly is arguably in the top three horses in the country and in the slot-race run on April 15, she is a short-priced favourite to take out the fair share of the $4 million on the line.
Steve Wolfe who is the trainer of Red Can Man who ran into second behind the star filly in last weeks Group 3 Roma Cup put it simply:
“If I had one in Melbourne coming over (for The Quokka), I would leave it there,” Wolfe said.
She comes up against a genuine Group 1 calibre field, but if she smashes them…does that make her the best horse in the country?
Amelia’s Jewel is destined for the East Coast for the sprint, but this may just be her crowning moment next weekend.
Stage is set for Anamoe’s potential farewell
He is a nine-time Group 1 winner, the defending Cox Plate champion, but Saturday might just be the last time we see Anamoe race on Australian shores.
The Big A is destined for the breeding barn considering what he has one on the race track and Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes is set to be his swan song.
What a way to go out too, Anamoe v Dubai Honour.
Dubai Honour smashed his rivals in the Ranvet Stakes and is out to spoil Anamoe’s farewell party.
Will Anamoe sign off in style and register a 10th Group 1 success or will William Haggas’ Dubai Honour reign supreme?
We have to wait and see on what will be a jam-packed Day 2 of The Championships.
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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