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MY CALL - WHEN THE GOING ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!

By David Fowler | Tuesday, May 20, 2014

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.

Amidst the glamour of the Carnival, the disquiet of track surfaces is reaching boiling point.

And I’m not just banging on about a State Government announcement for funding for the Eagle Farm course proper.

That’s still lurching along but concern is also being raised north, south, east and west.

Rain on race-days is a bummer but how could the Sunshine Coast track fall apart so rapidly last Wednesday which saw the abandonment of the last four races.

One leading jockey said it was like coming face to face with a sandblaster in the fifth. “You just couldn’t see,” he pointed out. Poor visibility was blamed for the abandonment.

Eyebrows were raised when there was a track downgrade at Toowoomba recently when there was no rain. One visiting Brisbane trainer won’t return after that day. A future Toowoomba meeting has been transferred to Dalby.

Throw in track bias at Gold Coast last Thursday and Doomben last Saturday and the picture isn’t pretty.

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While some will dismiss this as exaggeration, the aforementioned facts are on the table.

It’s not overplay and the criticism most valid is from the jockeys. They certainly know better than most.

Some of the cases are no brainers. Eagle Farm is suffering from wear and tear and Toowoomba might have been used too much too soon.

But how do you explain the Doomben, Gold Coast and Caloundra happenings?

A legitimate theory is that our tracks are over used. Raced on too much.

This writer has said in previous blogs that this God given right south-east Queensland clubs think they have to race every Saturday or every Sunday or any other day for that matter is peculiar to the state.

The “hands off our dates” approach will allow track over use to continue.

But until there is a rethink on how much product has to be supplied and where from, these track dramas will only continue.

And that’s bad for punter confidence and associated turnover.

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The drawn-out issue Eagle Farm funding issue is starting to have an impact on other clubs.

With virtually two sets of race dates on the table for 2014-15, planning ahead is difficult.

Ipswich either stays as a predominant Friday club or reverts to a predominant Wednesday club if the Eagle Farm makeover goes ahead.

“We can’t book in functions with any certainty because we’re not sure when we’re racing,” Ipswich’s general manager Brett Kitching said.

Fortunately, Kitching is more upbeat about Ipswich Cup day on June 14.

“Ticket sales are well ahead compared to the same time last year,” he said.

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I’m not prepared to make a 10,000 tip for this Saturday today because the weather could play a strong hand.

Wet conditions will see the prospects of Spirit Of Boom, Famous Seamus and maybe even Buffering nosedive yet Temple Of Boom’s chances would spiral.

Some fresh blood adds intrigue to the picture.

I’ll have the latest on race morning on horseracingonly.com.au

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You’ll never see a better thing beaten than Nicked And Court at Scone last Friday.

Her backers sensed trouble at the home turn when she ran into traffic and then had to agonise over check after check in the home straight.

Once balanced, she zoomed home to be on the heels of the placegetters.

Not easy to place horses at this time of year in Brisbane, but she is definitely close to a win.

Till next week

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David Fowler
David Fowler
Jockeys in the Stewards' Room make their feelings known about the racing conditions at the Sunshine Coast last Wednesday (Above and Below)
Jockeys in the Stewards' Room make their feelings known about the racing conditions at the Sunshine Coast last Wednesday (Above and Below)
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