Punt Drunk: All rise for James McDonald

[Wandering Eyes]

What a weekend of racing that was! With plenty of highlights and a couple of contentious talking point, today’s edition of Punt Drunk is jam-packed!

James McDonald and James Cummings took the absolute piss at Caulfield when claiming a Group 1 race-to-race double with Anamoe and Golden Mile impressing in fine style. Randwick Stewards and Racing NSW in general were in the firing line after some farcial decisions on Saturday.

Throw in the fact we have a Group 1 meeting at Caulfield for Thousand Guineas Day on Wednesday which shapes as a perfect entrée towards the Caulfield Cup and The Everest on Saturday!

It’s Jmac’s world

James Cummings looking like he’s about to hold JMac captive. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

James McDonald already has a remarkable 70 Group 1 wins in his career and showed why he is arguably the best jockey in the world with A grade steers on Godolphin pair Anamoe and Golden Mile.

Anamoe showed he is every chance of going one better in the 2022 Cox Plate when defeating a star-studded line-up in the Might And Power. Aided by an inch perfect steer from James McDonald, the Goldophin star bought up a sixth win at Group 1 level and looks to have one hand firmly on the Cox Plate.

Just 40 minutes later, JMac managed to guide Golden Mile to victory in the time-honoured Caulfield Guineas, getting Golden Mile across the line to hand Godolphin a second straight win in the race.

If there was any doubt prior to Saturday, James McDonald well and truly cemented himself as the best jockey in the world!

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Randwick in the mud (literally)

Ok, it is settled Melbourne is officially superior to Sydney.

Randwick Stewards made that well and truly clear on the weekend when asking jockeys to make a pact to avoid using the rail until the home straight.

Randwick: Please note, following race 5, riders in consultation with the Stewards have indicated that as the going towards the inside is deteriorating riders will endeavour to position their mounts away from the rail in the middle stages to find better footing @royalrandwick

— Racing NSW Stewards (@RNSWStewards) October 8, 2022

That decision came after more rain than even Noah’s Ark could handle and in all seriousness that decision should not have even made, instead the meeting should have been called off on Friday afternoon when the track was rated a Heavy 10 and it was still pissing down with rain.

It’s been the wettest year on record for Sydney and with their marquee day for the spring coming up on Saturday headlined by The Everest, they can hardly afford their track looking like a goat’s paddock.

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Wayne Hawkes, seriously?

Have you forgotten aboput Nature Strip, Wayne? Picture: Steve Hart.

As we all know, Wayne Hawkes isn’t afraid of letting out an outlandish statement every now and then.

But his one on radio on Monday morning might have been his biggest piss-take yet.

He has deadset declared his runner in The Everest on Saturday.

“Masked Crusader will win The Everest.”

Now Wayne, we love people making a fool out of themselves, but this takes the cake.

Never heard of Nature Strip Wayneo? The best sprinter in the world?

He’s $2 with online bookmakers to claim a second straight Everest and based on recent form, Nature Strip just wins The Everest by a conservative six-lengths.

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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