MY CALL - APPRENTICES GRAB THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE AND SHINE ON THE CITY STAGE

By David Fowler | Tuesday, March 19, 2013

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

Eagle Farm looked a dull meeting on paper. The end result was far different.

In fact, there was a swag of inspirational stories, largely emanating from the jockeys' ranks.

These provincial Saturday meetings at Eagle Farm, or even Doomben, allow our apprentices to ride and shine on the big tracks.

Eagle Farm and Doomben have a "great" brand value. While it mightn't be "Eagle Farm" in the true sense, I'm sure it's a huge thrill to ride your first city winner.

Travis Wolfgram, Tiffany Jeffries, Janette Johnson and Michael McKenzie achieved that very milestone on the weekend.

I have no doubt that quartet will weave their way into the city midweek circuit sooner than later and have a serious impact.

And great to see Lacey Morrison and David Hayse also in the city winners' circle on Saturday.

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After being away during the week, even I was caught unaware that Eagle Farm was taking a backseat role to the Gold Coast in terms of meeting status.

Does it matter? Hardly.

If it was a straight swap and there was no city racing it would be a different issue but metropolitan punters were catered for.

And if you really needed a "metropolitan fix", the trip from Brisbane to the Gold Coast is similar to heading from Sydney's CBD to Warwick Farm.

And, by all reports, the Gold Coast roll-up was healthy.

Unlike at Warwick Farm where a crowd of around 3,500 turned up for a Group One meeting. A shocking result.

And, as I outlined in Radio TAB's Monday experts, this year's Golden Slipper has been a yawn-fest so far.

Fingers crossed, the clash of Overreach and Villa Verde this weekend will breathe some much needed life into it.

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Expect the announcement of Racing Queensland's three code boards and the overarching body to be announced next Monday.

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I couldn't believe it when I recently read criticism of the plan to fly Brisbane jockeys to Toowoomba for the Weetwood night meeting on April 13.

The bone of contention was who was paying!

Give me a break.

It's a proactive solution to enable some of our best to ride at both meets and assist the Toowoomba turnover.

Some people have too much time on their hands.

Until next week

David Fowler