MY CALL - TWO COMPELLING ARGUMENTS WHY THE QUEENSLAND CUP WAS A SUCCESS STORY

By David Fowler | Tuesday, July 12, 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.

Wow hasn't the Queensland Cup caused a lot of "robust" discussion, as early as the field being declared last Wednesday morning.

It's fair to say that opinions, basically two of them, are quite polarised with one side saying the race is/was a joke and the other side saying it's good to have a two mile race.

Starting with a clean slate, it can't be disputed by anyone that the race had quantity (17 runners) but lacked quality. Frankly some runners shouldn't have been there on their exposed form.

But, hey, isn't it an owner's right or privilege to start his or her horse where he or she wants to. If it's not eligible for one reason or another fair enough, but having that choice from the get-go is what makes Australia a great place.

And I have little doubt some of those owners would have thrown an acceptance form in just to say they had a runner in the Queensland Cup. Good luck to them!

Those who were bagging the Queensland Cup line-up should instead have been rubbing their hands with glee as even Blind Freddy knew there were only four chances being numbers one to four.

Many of us kept trying to find a roughie or semi-roughie that might bob up, but you kept coming back to the top four in racebook order.

As a punter, I relish the thought of finding a race with limited chances and then bet accordingly.

And, yes, the only four possibles ran one, two and three so exotic players should have cleaned up!

So I would think most punters would applaud the Cup as a good race to bet on and aren't we being told all the time that good turnover is essential for this, that and the other.

But did the race tick the turnover box to seal the approval of the number crunchers?

Ah, yes it did!

The Queensland Cup hold on Unitab was clearly better than Essington's Ascot Handicap and Rocket To Glory's QTS 600 Plate and marginally behind the last race won by Hampden.

So the lifeblood of our industry, the punters, didn't run away from the race and nor did the industry with a 17 strong acceptance.

Two compelling arguments for one David Fowler to conclude the 2011 Queensland Cup was a success story.

With it being the only two mile event left in Queensland, I say bring on 2012!

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Speaking of the "wow" factor, they didn't forget to unload on Hampden in the last.

Assessed as high as $10 bucks in some corporate markets, the general consensus before on track betting started was that it would be a $7 chance and that's what bookies went up.

But that was knocked off rather smartly into $4.80.

Generally the good goes in Brisbane will be reflected on the tote. For example, it's as rare as hen's teeth to see a $5 to $3 mover on track pay $6 on the tote.

But with three minutes before the jump, I looked across at my tote screen in the broadcast box and saw Hampden at $15 and thought, surely, this one can't firm up that much with so little time before the off.

Can't it? Hampden finalised at $3.90 on Unitab so it was a massive go in those few minutes.

Take nothing away from Hampden because he is a smart horse but his backers can count themselves lucky that Upsala turned in a run way below his best, labouring in the straight in stark contrast to his previous two dynamic finishing bursts.

And what a day for Darryl Hansen. When I interviewed him on Radio TAB the main talking point was on Essington but his training treble presented him with his best day at a racetrack.

His results over the past six months has secured his place as an emerging star in Queensland's training ranks.

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Racing Queensland's released paper on prize-money distribution has been another talking point in the industry over the past few days.

It's a tough one for the controlling body because there is a finite amount of money and how to cut the pie is a thankless task.

I've got some history on this one because harness racing has gone through the same process and there are pros and cons to the revised model which is now up and running.

But I think the increase in midweek prize-money is essential and if something has to give, something has to give.

It’s worth remembering the QTIS races provide "bonus" prizemoney.

Look up your dictionary to see what bonus means.

Not everyone will be happy with the end result, but tell me the last time you saw a unanimous vote of approval in the racing industry!

Until next week.

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