The first three days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival are done and one thing is known for sure: Chris Waller is a genius. After a treble on Derby Day, a Melbourne Cup win on the Tuesday and a race-to-race double on Oaks Day, there is little doubt that the Sydney-based trainer is one of the world’s best – oh, and of course James McDonald rode all six of those winners. There have been plenty of highs and lows this week, especially for leviathan owner Brae Sokolski, while champion hoop Damien Oliver took Cup Week up another notch. There’s a bit to cover here!
LOOSE CHANGE FOR BRAE
Anyone in the racing industry has thought about it, some have dreamt about it and others have lived it, including Brae Sokolski, who on Tuesday not only owned the Melbourne Cup winner, Verry Elleegant, but also the second horse as well. Now, we aren’t sure how big or small Sokolski’s shares are in either horse, but the combined prizemoney for first and second place is $5.5 million, hence why what came next probably didn’t worry the astute businessman. As any Melbourne Cup-winning owner would do, Sokolski cheered as if there was no tomorrow, jumping the fence at Flemington to get into the mounting yard to give his horses a well-deserved pat, and while we can’t blame him one bit, Racing Victoria stewards were not impressed. A $10,000 fine was issued to the winning owner for a COVID-19 breach – loose change for Brae.
Brae Sokolski paying his $10k fine for his Cup day Covid breach #OaksDay pic.twitter.com/Xx2CGDOddn
— BlueBet Australia (@BlueBetAu) November 4, 2021
CHAMPION STATUS: SECURED
There had been plenty of debate over the last month or so surrounding whether or not Verry Elleegant is a champion. Well, case closed. Heading into Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup as a nine-time Group 1 winner, the Chris Waller-trained six-year-old proved just how much of a champion she is as she strode past the shortest-priced favourite in the Melbourne Cup since Phar Lap to win the 3200m feature by 3.5 lengths. As Matt Hill said in the call, “10 Group 1s, and now, the greatest of them all – the Melbourne Cup!” If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, we aren’t sure what will! Regardless of whether or not you found her on Tuesday or did your dough on Incentivise (like us), it was a pretty special moment watching this champion mare return to scale under superstar jockey James McDonald.
SHE IS AMAZING.
VERRY ELLEEGANT WINS HER 10TH GROUP 1 IN THE LEXUS #MELBOURNECUP.@cwallerracing @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/L2p2W6EtNB
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 2, 2021
OLIVER’S OAKS
There are very few races around the country where we have seen one jockey dominate year-in, year-out, but the VRC Oaks has quickly become Damien Oliver’s to lose. In 2019, Oliver partnered Miami Bound to victory, before backing that up in 2020 with Personal, and yesterday he guided the race favourite, Willowy, to a narrow victory in the 2500m feature. It became Oliver’s seventh Oaks win, while it was also his 126th Group 1 victory, putting him equal with George Moore for the most top-tier wins in Australian racing history. Oliver is soon to turn 50 and has plenty of riding left in him yet. Enjoy it while you can, punters.
Cracking edition of the G1 Kennedy Oaks.
Damien Oliver wins his 7th VRC Oaks with @godolphin filly, Willowy.
@FlemingtonVRC @RacingVictoria pic.twitter.com/DCS41K3Cvz
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 4, 2021
Friday racing tips – November 5, 2021
- Pakenham racing tips
- Sunshine Coast racing tips
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk! Our new 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…
