RIP Lester Piggot – one of the greats | Punt Drunk

[Wandering Eyes]

This Friday’s edition of Punt Drunk takes a look at one of the more credentialed stallions in Australian racing, with his progeny doing wonders on the track. One of the top trainers in South East Queensland went out with a bang, while the racing fraternity mourned the loss of one of the greatest jockeys to have ever graced a racetrack.

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HOT PROPERTY

David Hayes, a trainer in his own right, has some serious progeny running around, with sons Ben and JD now Group 1-winning trainers, while his other son Will, is set to play his first games for Carlton in the AFL this weekend. It’s a fair effort from old David, with rumours circulating that he will be standing at Coolmore Stud next season for $100,000 a service.

His Navy Blue story continues.

Our standout @CarltonReserves player so far this season, Will Hayes has been rewarded for his brilliant VFL form.

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) June 1, 2022

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COSTA GOES OUT WITH A BANG

Every now and then, the racing gods smile and look after their own. On Wednesday, Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa saddled up his final runner on Australian soil, before he sets off to Dubai to train exclusively for Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Having had one of the best winning strike rates in the country, it was only fitting that Costa got one final win under his belt before he left. The Catch started a short-priced favourite on Wednesday at Doomben, and he didn’t let punters or Costa down, saluting in fine style under Costa’s main man, Jag Guthman-Chester.

Costa takes the Dubai role over from Nicholas Bachalard, who has been in charge since 2019. Costa is initially expected to have around 60 horses under him. The Sheikh also has a bloodstock division that Costa will play a hands-on roll with. Don’t worry the Punt Drunk Drunks will be keeping tabs on our man from south-east Queensland.

Love to see it! The @mcosta_racing barn bids farewell with one last winner at @BrisRacingClub before heading overseas!

All the best to Michael Costa in Dubai #QLDisRacingpic.twitter.com/q4QJqWVy69

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 1, 2022

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VALE LESTER PIGGOTT

We may have lost Lester Piggott the jockey this week, but the legendary British hoop will live on perpetually through his feats.

Piggott, who was 86 when he died, rode his first winner at 12 years old and his last when he was well into his 50s. In total Piggott, who is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever jockeys, won over 4,400 races in close to 50 years in the saddle.

Piggott retired with the most ever victories in the British Classics races, after winning the Epsom Derby, the 2000 Guineas, the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks Stakes and the St Leger Stakes a combined 30 times.

Piggott’s final years of his life were lived outside the UK following a scandal around tax evasion, which saw him imprisoned for a year. His daughter, Maureen Haggas, confirmed the death of her father.

Like Costa, the racing Gods were shining down, with Amanzoe, a horse Piggott owned and bred won her maiden at Leicester on Thursday.

An incredibly poignant winner as the Lester Piggott owned and bred Amanzoe gets her head in front at Leicester for the first time pic.twitter.com/LYw5be4vUi

— Jamie Piggott (@JamiePiggott) June 2, 2022

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