MY CALL - THE SINGLETON / WATERHOUSE DRAMA SETS THE 'TWITTERATI' OFF ON A FEEDING FRENZY
By David Fowler | Tuesday, April 30, 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.
The Waterhouse haters are revelling in their present run of good luck.
After their unabated attack on Tom Waterhouse and his Channel 9 sports advertising, up popped the accusation he told "them" More Joyous couldn't win the All Aged.
How many times have you heard from "them" or "they said" in your racetrack travels over the years?
The only difference is that this yet to be defined exchange involves some of the biggest names in Australian racing … John Singleton, Gai Waterhouse and her son Tom and husband Robbie plus undisclosed "others".
Played out on TV screens before and after the race, the theatre and intrigue of it all has enthralled the racing industry.
Naturally, the Waterhouse haters were quick to jump on their most favoured line of communication these days, Twitter!
I have trawled through some of the "vile and bile". Many of course don't know Tom Waterhouse, or Gai or Robbie for that matter, but were quick out of the barriers with their opinions which become facts.
"Poor Singo", they cry.
Well "poor Singo" gets his chance to set the record straight on Monday at a stewards' inquiry into the terrible run of More Joyous.
There is little doubt that some people have gone to Singleton with some information that has upset him. Surely the man can't make the whole story up.
But as a "fair dinkum Aussie" he has to weigh up whether to give his mates up on Friday or protect their identities. Adopting the latter course will weaken his case.
It's worth noting that two names that have been mentioned in dispatches were quick to shout "not me your honour" via Twitter and personal conversations.
The crux of the matter is this. If Tom Waterhouse said something was it passed on to Singleton in exactly the same manner that Waterhouse presented it?
It is human nature if you have inside information there is a great desire to embellish it.
But, above everything else, can those nobodies on Twitter keep their mouths shut.
You don't know so don't comment.
Pretty simple, isn't it.
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Nathan Tinkler was a surprise visitor to Doomben on Saturday and even a more surprising interviewee.
Wayne Wilson conducted an insightful exchange with Mr Patinack.
I was impressed with Tinkler's manner. Like many, I had fallen for the trap he was sullen and arrogant. Maybe that's on a bad day.
However the interview provided more questions for me than answers.
"Thrown on the owners' scrapheap” … “there's bad luck and Patinack luck"… clearly demonstrated a certain frustration or bitterness towards the racing industry.
I would have thought the industry in general received him with open arms but there are maybe things we don't know.
It's similar to my opening piece about Tom Waterhouse and co. It's easy to form an opinion without having relevant facts at your disposal.
The difference is the smart people keep it to opinion and to themselves whereas the not so smart broadcast it as fact and tell it to the world.
The self-importance that some of the Twitterati exude is mind boggling.
Well, give a kid a new toy …
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I mentioned on Radio TAB on Saturday morning that $1.8 was a good price about Buffering.
It wasn't a smart-arse remark. He looked a certainty and won accordingly.
How will they beat him in the BTC Cup?
I can't see it being a super-sized field. He's too fast early then breaks their hearts with his sustained speed.
The 1350m of the Doomben 10,000 might be a different matter.
Without doubt, a profitable Carnival will consolidate the claim that he is currently Australia's best sprinter.
His 1:8.5 Victory Stakes romp did nothing to harm such a claim.
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The Beaudesert Anzac Day meeting was a beauty.
A huge crowd and divine weather produced a superb atmosphere.
The makeover on and off track has ensured it's now an integral part of the midweek provincial circuit.
A country feel within city reach is how I describe it.
Their next TAB fixture is Friday June 14.
Until next week.
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