MY CALL - WHAT A STAR! MELBOURNE CUP WINNER FIORENTE PICKS UP FROM WHERE HE LEFT OFF
By David Fowler | Tuesday, February 25, 2014
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.
Fiorente … what a star!
I took a special interest in his return in the Group 2 Peter Young because he was so good to us in the Melbourne Cup victory.
As racing enthusiasts, you want to see these scene stealers pick up from where they left off.
Victory was far from certain for most of the straight but, like any top horse, he has that savage will to win. Damien Oliver said much the same post race.
He was fiercely determined to grab victory and he did.
The Australian Cup is his to lose and then on to the Championships in Sydney.
Love that horse!
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Poetry in motion is an oft used expression but Damian Browne’s ride on Earthquake was exactly that.
Earthquake was like a jigsaw piece fitted together neatly by Browne. Smartly away then navigated in three wide, one back with cover. The best spot to be.
Poised and travelling, Browne hit the go button at the right time and the filly did the rest.
It was a great thrill for Queensland with Browne at the controls. Affable and modest, he is a terrific ambassador for racing in this state.
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Try and frame a market for the metropolitan trainers’ premiership this season.
Tony Gollan and Matt Dunn finished at 31 wins apiece after Saturday’s racing with premiership holder Rob Heathcote trailing closely at 27.5.
Rob is under the whip and he’s the first to admit it but I’m not giving up on him.
His biggest problem is that much of his stock are reaching their mark in Brisbane racing and is there sufficient quality and quantity to replace them?
Gollan and Dunn have maintained peak form for longer than I thought they might.
The outcome is still anyone’s guess with more than half the season completed.
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Many will be interested to know my old newspaper boss Rod Gallegos is about to retire.
Rod and his wife Kay will move to Canberra to be closer to their family and grandchildren.
Rod will complete 20 years with Sky Channel/Racing after a period at the Daily Telegraph.
He is best known by Queenslanders as a long serving journo at the now defunct Brisbane Telegraph and a host of Channel 7’s Sportscene.
Other skills included race calling and night club hosting.
He was a great wordsmith with a wit to match. Politically correct he was not and human resources in “Rodspeak” was how hard he could work you in one day!
Sadly, another of the old school to call it a day. Happy retirement, Rodney.
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This blog confirmed last week that Kevin Dixon will be serving a full term as chairman of the All Codes Racing Board and the Queensland Thoroughbred Board.
It was common sense and barely raised an eyebrow.
The Sunday Mail confirmed it in a news story on the weekend which was fair enough but to devote a full page editorial to denounce it seemed overkill in the extreme.
SM editor Peter Gleeson is a knockabout guy and a great racing lover. He has been a success story after stints as Editor at the Gold Coast Bulletin and Townsville Bulletin.
His theory that Dixon should relieve himself of the All Codes position could only allow Townsville-based legal eagle Barry Taylor or Greg Hallam to take the role.
“Gleeso” takes responsibility for the editorial so only he can explain his strong views on the topic.
Until next week.
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