MY CALL - TIGHT FINISHES AND BAD WEATHER ADD UP TO TESTING TIMES FOR A RACE-CALLER

By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 18, 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.

Spare a thought for an under the whip race-caller.

If I get another photo finish wrong, I'm going to scream.

Race-callers pride themselves on a few things. Calling every horse correctly and calling every horse in a field for starters and getting the photo-finish right is another high priority.

Let's face it, plenty of cash hangs in the balance on a nose verdict either way.

Last Saturday week at Eagle Farm I was convinced Loves A Challenge had won only to be proven wrong when Scarlett Jo's number went up.

My colleague Alan Thomas also plonked for Loves A Challenge and we shared a quiet whinge after the result. He said that was him for the day and he would stay out of "declaring" one if there was another tight finish.

Undeterred, half an hour later, Racing Heart drove late for a last gasp win and I nailed it. Back in business, I thought.

But a half hour later I got it wrong when Lucky Dubai pipped Femina Fashion on the post.

Fast forward to the weekend just gone and when Jopa and Hidden Shuffle hit the line I was reasonably certain Jopa had aced Hidden Shuffle.

I nearly sunk to the ground when Hidden Shuffle's number was semaphored.

They say things "come in threes". I certainly hope so.

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While on the calling subject, I doubt I've called a race in more alarming conditions than the last at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

With an impending storm, stewards and club officials elected to bring the race forward but, even as they scurried to the barrier, day had turned into night with rain sweeping the track and lightning and thunder aplenty.

I'm not a big fan of storms at the best of times, but I couldn't hotfoot it off the track. I was stuck, so to speak.

Amazingly, the storm was gone as quickly as it arrived and the sun was peeping through when I announced correct weight.

It made me consider those jockeys deserve every cent they earn for conditions they have to ride in on certain occasions.

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Atlantic Jewel did the right thing by us winning the Thousand Guineas when we, hopefully, backed her at the $5.50 pre-post.

But how good is she?

Don't get me wrong. She has gears and is delivering brilliantly, but let's put a few things into perspective.

She is beating her own age group and I have to say they are handy but no stars.

And she is yet to run fast time overall although her sectionals are impressive.

What an intriguing test for her now to go to 2000m for the Wakeful and then 2500m for the Oaks.

She might do it in a hand canter and she may not stay. It's difficult to be confident on whatever stand you take.

Yes, she's good … mighty good … but I think we should just hold the superlatives until she gets out her comfort zone.

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It’s Cox Plate day this weekend but the Black Caviar road-show is likely to challenge it for top billing.

Such is the presence of this equine superstar, Black Caviar often threatens to overshadow the main event, but it's not a bad thing.

Black Caviar is simply awesome for the racing product in general.

I think Helmet is a good thing in the Cox Plate and will be betting accordingly.

Until next week.

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