MY CALL - WINNING IS A WONDERFUL THING

By David Fowler | Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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.

In the end it's all about winning.

I don't mean that in a selfish way, either. But winning produces so much of a buzz, it's the greatest off-shoot the racing industry can provide.

And to be part of it either directly or indirectly keeps you thinking how lucky you are to be a part of the business.

This thought process has been prompted by the terrific run of success Mike and Patty Crooks are having with their team of racehorses in recent weeks.

Mike, a former North Queenslander who moved south 20 years ago, is a larger than life character you can't help but wanting to be on the team with. Patty is the calming influence, but there's a streak of mischief there as well.

And she deserves every bit of fun that pops into her life after a life threatening car crash a few years ago … but that's a story for the past.

The Crooks couple could have been described as "battlers" in the ownership and breeding business but don't shed too many tears in that regard. Their highly successful Barrier Reef Pools business means they don't live or die by their thoroughbred strike-rate.

Nevertheless, plenty of cash has gone into trying to find that elusive winner and it's been a tough slog for several years. Their army of 14 broodmares reside at their Beaudesert property.

Incredibly, all the stars have aligned at the same time.

Winners in the last three weeks have included Cuddlesome (twice) , Mishani Stealth (twice), Mishani Persuader and Mishani Warrior.

And the best of them might be Mishani Ladyhawk who was eye-catching out of her class on debut at Eagle Farm on Exhibition Wednesday.

I have zero interest financially in any of the Crooks' team but calling them win or watching them win gives me a great thrill.

I've rung Mike more times in the last couple of weeks than in the previous 10 years we have known each other.

Apart from the Barrier Reef Pools business, he is also mine host at the Veresdale Hotel between Jimboomba and Beaudesert.

If you knew Mike, that role would not surprise you in the least.

"Tell your readers to drop in for a drink. The good times are only starting," he chortled down the phone line after Cuddlesome swept home in the last at Lismore on Monday.

*********************************************************************************************

The Crooks couple have paid their dues in the business so no one could begrudge them success.

Apart from the ownership side of things which has also involved harness racing, they have been major sponsors through Barrier Reef Pools and Mike has served in administrative roles at the Beaudesert Racing Club and Albion Park Harness Racing club.

And here's the answer to the trivia question that might come up one night. "What
does "Mishani" mean?"

"Mi is for Mike and shani is our daughter's name. Simple," Mike pointed out.

You heard it here first.

**********************************************************************************************

Speaking of winners, it's always terrific to see Brian Wakefield junior win a race which he did in spectacular circumstances on the weekend.

Except for two-year-old races, not many first starters win at the big dance but Kiwi-bred Grayson Square knocked that theory into the ballpark with a resounding debut victory at the expense of Doubtfilly.

Wakefield junior is a credit to his profession and obviously a very dedicated family man.

It was young Brian's 38th birthday so Grayson Square's win would have made it an even bigger day, but Brian took time out to acknowledge his Dad, Brian senior, who is doing it tough at the moment.

It was an emotional moment or two but, again, a time when you could reflect on being so lucky to be part of a business that sticks together when the going gets tough.

*********************************************************************************************

It's amazing what goes through your mind when calling a race.

Particularly when a roughie sits three-wide in a 2200m race and hits the lead and goes on to win.

Enter Miss Reed.

How did it win? Even at the pointy end of the call you are asking yourself subconsciously … have I got the right horse?

It's a scary feeling. The same thing happened two years earlier when Jedi Starfighter sat deep in a long distance race at Doomben and won at cricket score odds.

Anyway it won and out we went in the quaddie.

Nothing unusual there.

Until next week.

More articles