MY CALL - NO GREEN LIGHT YET, BUT BLACK CAVIAR'S RETURN TO DOOMBEN WOULD BE A MOUTHWATERING PROSPECT

By David Fowler | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

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.

Brisbane Racing Club is poised to press the trigger … repeat poised.

Black Caviar's whirlwind return to the Australian racing stage on the weekend breathed hope into a Winter Carnival appearance in May.

The most likely target is the BTC Cup on May 11, the race which she won in 2011, while the Doomben 10,000 a fortnight later is not beyond the realms of possibility.

But as BRC CEO Steve Ferguson pointed out to me on Radio TAB's Monday Experts program, the club is very much in a holding pattern.

"Her schedule is mapped out race by race. We know we are in with a chance but there has been no green light given to us," he said.

A green light would trigger huge expenditure by BRC to ensure a 25k plus crowd rock up to Doomben on May 1

The club can't go off half-cocked and, possibly, waste a lot of time and money.

"It's a tricky situation but we're happy to be in it,"
Ferguson said.

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I can't add much more to Black Caviar and last weekend's events.

Only to admit for the first time the emotional angle of this story actually grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said "be part of it".

Watching her in action is a treat but the post-race emotion that the key players express quite openly is something to embrace.

There is no critic left standing now. It's high time to enjoy the time we have left with her.

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Speaking of this year's Carnival, I've noticed a couple of subtle changes.

Of course, the T.J.Smith is now the J.J. Atkins which has been applauded by all.

And the Sires Produce for the first time will be run at Doomben and a fortnight before the J.J. Atkins rather than a week out.

The two week gap between the juvenile features makes sense.

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The new process of sending Saturday metropolitan prices from Eagle Farm or Doomben seems to have settled into stride.

Racing Queensland's chairman Kevin Dixon was adamant they were not walking away from it after a few rumbles in the first week of operation.

It may still have its detractors but the majority have given it the thumbs up.

But the grapevine suggests on-track bookies are preparing for another encounter with BRC.

Issues such as electronic betting boards and betting on all meetings are a couple of thorny points that will be thrashed out this week.

Until next week.

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