On this Monday’s edition of Punt Drunk, we have a look at a couple of the quirky things that happened over the weekend. A couple of competitors just didn’t feel like putting the work in on a Monday morning, a champion mare didn’t show up, and a couple of jockeys had a few actions to answer for.
MONDAYITIS
We’ve all been here. Sometimes, what you’re there to do just isn’t really what you feel like doing. A couple of animals had ‘that’ day on Monday.
Scott Westover’s filly Miss Walkabout didn’t really want to take part in her routine on the water-walker; instead she just stood in the pool, copping a bit of a whack to the head by the dividers as they went round. Either she didn’t want to be there, or she didn’t quite know what she was there to do.
Just happy to sit and watch the world go around
new to the stable Miss Walkabout just relaxing in the water walker @Punters @Racing @RacingSA @SAJockeyClub pic.twitter.com/G688OifS0K
— westover racing (@swestover93) August 21, 2022
You could say the same about this greyhound. Usually, once the lure rolls, that’s all these racing dogs care about. They pin their ears back and take off after it. In this greyhound’s case, it just wanted to be with its trainer. The lids opened, the lure took off, seven of the eight dogs took off after the bunny and the other just walked around to behind the pens for a pat. Add it to the list of bad beats.
Wheres my dad gone?
There he is!
pic.twitter.com/wrCKDrHo8e
— Neil Price (@swansalona1) August 19, 2022
DODGEM HORSES
Don’t ask us where this is, who the jockeys are, or who the horses are – but, gee whiz, it looks like carnage. Match races are usually entertaining, with some of the best horses going head-to-head in a real ding-dong battle. But this… we don’t know what to call this.
We have two horses down the straight in what looks about a 300m dash. After a big bump at the start, the winning jockey almost fell, but he managed to stay on and win the race.
He would’ve been a moral to win on protest – but, then again, we thought Anamoe was a moral to have the protest upheld in the Cox Plate last year too…
Interference has taken place, but no horse came down and you’d have to say the best horse on the day won. Results stands and (*sticks finger in the air)… Three days for careless riding for the lad that finished second. pic.twitter.com/Q8CMS6CPUG
— Kevin Blake (@kevinblake2011) August 20, 2022
VERRY PLAIN
Plain, lacklustre, disappointing. They’re all words that have been used about Verry Elleegant’s European debut overnight. The champion mare stepped out in a 2000m Group 1 for fillies and mares, and while she didn’t beat a runner home, it might not have been as bad as it looked. There was practically no speed in the race, as the leader was able to lead all of the way, and the horse that settled second – well, you guessed it – finished second. Verry Elleegant was taken back to last by Frankie Dettori, and despite recording the fasted 600m-400m sectional of the race, she wasn’t able to sustain that run and pick up when it mattered. We will forgive her and hope to see her bounce back with the run under her belt, but maybe Chris Waller’s suggestion of not going to Europe with her was a fair indication that she’s had enough racing. After all, she’s won practically everything.
Not Verry Elleegant’s day today
(
via @AtTheRaces)
pic.twitter.com/fBD993MdXA— Racing.com (@Racing) August 21, 2022
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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