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MY CALL - HORSES VETTED / NOT VETTED AT THE START. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

By David Fowler | Tuesday, February 17, 2015

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.

It beggars belief that Queen of Georgia wasn’t vetted at the start at Doomben last Saturday.

It beggars belief because the same farce happened a month ago when Natural Dancer wasn’t vetted at the barrier at the Sunshine Coast.

The situations are uncannily similar and the end result was the same. Punters copped the raw end of the pineapple.

Let’s recap the Natural Dancer scenario.

A fast and highly consistent mare, she plays up in the inside gate on two occasions but is not released from the barrier stalls to be vetted,

In stark contrast to her usual brilliant beginnings, she jumps last, yes last, and gradually loses ground to run last beaten almost 14 lengths.

Officials should have given themselves a strong uppercut that day and made a mental note to never let it happen again.

Fast forward to last Saturday and let’s recap the Queen Of Georgia scenario.

A fast and consistent filly, she plays up in the inside gate but is not released from the barrier stalls to be vetted.

She actually jumps well but is a shot duck after 300 metres, yes 300 metres, and gradually loses ground to run last beaten almost 14 lengths.

The “uncanny similarity” in my words is no fluke either.

Both horses performed miserably after barrier incidents yet neither were given the opportunity to be vetted.

Their shocking performances spoke volumes.

What the hell is going on here?

Why are some horses vetted yet Natural Dancer and Queen Of Georgia weren’t?

Who makes the judgement call for a vet check? The vet, the starter, the chief steward? Do you know, I don’t?

Any sort of barrier inconvenience should require an examination at the start.

Dismayed punters saw it in all its glory both times because they drew the rails gate.

It wasn’t good enough once and to happen a second time, within a month, is a shocker.

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The clash of Australia’s best sprinters was a Spring Carnival highlight last year and I don’t think autumn is going to let us down.

Only top horses do what Chautauqua did in the Group 2 Rubiton at Caulfield last Saturday.

In the end the margin was narrow but the victory was soft and we know how jet propelled he is up the Flemington straight.

Lankan Rupee and Deep Field step out in the Lightning at Flemington this Saturday and Coolmore winner Brazen Beau will also accept for this intriguing 1000m dash.

And we have Terravista still waiting in the wings.

I must admit I’m a little surprised Deep Field at $2.6 has the call on Lankan Rupee at $2.8 in opening markets on the Lightning.

I thought it would be the other way around.

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The recent greyhound raids has again exposed racing’s underbelly to the wider community.

And they don’t like what they see.

This blog has mentioned previously that many in racing live in denial to those who have vastly different views on animal welfare.

The issues of whip usage and jumps racing have been put under the spotlight but they are a far cry from the “live baiting” accusations that have emerged from RSPCA and police raids on the eastern seaboard last week.

These are criminal offences and abhorrent to normal thinking people.

Surely if found guilty, they’ll be shown the door that doesn’t revolve.

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David Fowler
David Fowler
Queensland's Own www.horseracingonly.com.au Queensland's Best