While it feels like longer, Group 1 racing will return on Saturday when the Railway Stakes gets underway at Ascot Racecourse. For many, it is front of mind as we look to build on our Christmas shopping fund with Willie Pike and the chaps over in WA.
The Punt Drunk team will also take a look at where the Darren Weir situation stands a couple of months out from a potential return and the ups and downs of having a punt in the UK.
Can Pike win a fifth straight Railway?
That was arrogant! Western Empire absolutely dominates the Group 1 Railway Stakes! Another feature for William Pike
pic.twitter.com/VQMxeZnFMr
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 20, 2021
William Pike – the Wizard of the West – is pushing for an unbelievable fifth straight Railway Stakes victory. He has partnered Galaxy Star (2018), Regal Power (2019), Inspirational Girl (2020) and Western Empire (2021) to Railway Stakes glory all for the Grant & Alana Williams training combination and in the Bob Peters cerise and white silks.
If he can steer the Adam Durrant-trained Treasured Star to victory it will be one of the more remarkable happenings for the stats gurus out there.
He will need to be at his best as Treasured Star is a $10 fancy in markets with online bookmakers needing to jump from barrier 20.
Pikey struggled in Sydney during the spring, but who is to count out the Wiz in WA’s first Group 1 of the year?
Where are you Darren Weir?
Remember Darren Weir? Of course you do, he’s the bloke that had about 1000 horses in work and we kept backing the wrong one in each race!
Weir, who was disqualified for four years for animal cruelty, is on the brink of an unthinkable comeback with his ban coming to end in February 2023.
There is no place for animal cruelty in this sport.
Everyone deserves a second chance. Just look at the way the cricket public feel about Steve Smith and to a lesser extent David Warner these days.
But they tampered with a cricket ball, not with a horse.
We have heard calls from many a racing personality saying he would be welcomed back with open arms, that he is sorry for what he has done and hopes the racing community can forgive him.
But would it kill Darren Weir to come out and let the racing world know just how remorseful he is?
He needs to win back plenty of people and it is about time we hear from him, instead of a corporate mouthpiece.
The Great Game strikes again
We have all been here before, sitting alone at a pub watching a two-horse battle down the home straight in a random event in the UK.
Language Warning
Keep Going, Keep Going! pic.twitter.com/5h9u5GtgVz
— Football Madness (@FootbalIMadness) November 17, 2022
We’ve had them win and unfortunately a majority of the time, the scenes end up very similar to what this punter felt.
The Great Game eh? It always wins.
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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