MY CALL - LITTLE WORTH NOTING

By David Fowler | Tuesday, May 3, 2011

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB, taking the position upon Wayne Wilson's retirement last August. 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.

If you made some notations on your weekend formguide from Saturday's Eagle Farm meeting here's a free tip, bin it!

That's the only conclusion I can draw for a variety of reasons after dissecting the eight event card.

More’s the pity because this meeting has often served well in previous years with a view to the Carnival.

Why do we mark down April 30 as a meeting not to put a ring around?

To begin, we raced on a heavy/slow track which cut numbers and, unfortunately, had bias.

I'm not a "bias" nut like many because too often a call has been made with insufficient data.

The trap is, if there is bias, it can only be truly established at the meeting's end from retrospective analysis.

In other words, look back and see why you might have done your cash.

But it was clearly apparent early into Saturday's meeting the "slow lane" was the virgin pad of grass near the rails, saved during the Easter meetings.

So one worthwhile point from a review is to not be too harsh on horses who raced on or near the rails because they were disadvantaged.

One that comes to mind is first race favourite Spurtastic who was glued to the rails. Nevertheless, I wouldn't put that down totally for his defeat. He was plain.

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NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT: PART ONE

Despite the track problems, we needed some dynamic performances on Saturday to breath life into the local contingent.

Let’s face it, there are a few tough months ahead and Saturday was the LAST chance to compete against your own backyarders.

Alas, we got no such performances.

The Victory Stakes could easily have been renamed the "Buffering Benefit".

Not that the farcical speed was a total surprise because many correctly tipped Azzaland and Atomic Force would take a sit and Zero Rock wouldn't be going gangbusters on an unsuitable surface.

But I doubt anyone expected the first 600m in a Group Two Event to be run in 38 seconds.

Please!

I had my cash on Albert The Fat pre-post at $14 bucks and was happy when he went to the post as a $5 pop.

Slow speed or no speed, I thought Fat Albert was average. I know I'm a hard marker, but I'm taking an early exit from his stage-door.

He's not the dynamic sprinter I once knew.

And I'm not knocking Buffering. Good luck to connections if they can pinch a race like that.

It's worth keeping in mind, Buffering can go much quicker and burn the candle at both ends.

Plus, and most importantly, he knows where the winning post is with seven from twelve now on his CV.

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NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT: PART TWO

So while the Group 2 was a washout from a future viewpoint, I also couldn't give a more glowing report after the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic and the Listed Tails Stakes.

Chateau Fort has won two races at Scone before winning the Classic in a bunched finish, with two lengths between first and sixth.

Be wary of this form.

And Royal Reign had to be stretched right out to beat Little Stranger in the Tails.

I tip Royal Reign every start and she's been good to me on the punt, but she will struggle in the next few months if she campaigns in Brisbane.

I reckon Bill Pholi would pull a "royal rein" if he switched her to Sydney for the McKell and Winter Cups during May and June.

Any horse watcher would tell you that Royal Reign was the best-presented runner at Eagle Farm on the weekend. Fair dinkum you could comb your hair just looking at her coat.

Well some of you could!

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SHE'S MORE THAN LUCKY

If there was one horse to possibly follow out of Eagle Farm it was the two-year-old winner Lucky Morna.

Sure she found the right part of the track, but she was strong to the line and gives every impression she will be suited to 1400m.

I'm a big wrap for Kelso Wood as a trainer and he might just have this filly peaking at the right time.

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BOOKIES' BLUES

Last race winner Favela Star was the best go all day in what was a tame meeting from a betting viewpoint.

"Why do the smarties always back the same horse and why do they always fall in," groaned one down-in-the-dumps bookie, referring to the $5 to $3.60 plonk that saw the tote price also tumble to three bucks.

It was even a nastier pill to swallow because Buffering was a poor result for them in the previous race, tightening to $3.00 at the jump.

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MORE PRE-RACE SPIN

You can't say they weren't told.

Both the Sky 1 host and race broadcaster waxed lyrical about the big plunge on Lonaro in the last at Toowoomba last Wednesday which officially firmed from $4.80 to $2.30.

Honestly, they never came up for oxygen.

Guess how many bookies worked at the meeting? Two!

I'll say it again, just report the figures without resorting to the spin. If you don't know, don't say.

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OFF AND AWAY
I'm taking two weeks break before revving up for the Winter Carnival, my first as Radio TAB and on-course broadcaster.

Can't wait until May 14. Back plenty of winners and see you in a fortnight.

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