MY CALL - ASSUMPTIONS CAN BE DANGEROUS

By David Fowler | Tuesday, March 11, 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.

One might have been led to think Kingtantes would be a good bet in a maiden at his next start after Racing Queensland stewards deemed Damian Browne's ride on him at Eagle Farm deserved a six week suspension.

A penalty that precious few agreed with but Browne was considered to have broken rule 135 (b) on two occasions from the 400m to the 200m in the race won by Primal Flight at Eagle Farm on February 26.

Many, myself included, saw a different race. Kingtantes, a galloper of moderate ability, ridden with cover, consistent with his barrier trial, finishing generously with the new riding tactics and delivering a career best run.

As I wrote last week, a $1.01 chance to be penalised.

But maybe Kingtantes might be a horse to follow.

Alas no.

Kingtantes headed up the range to Toowoomba last Saturday night and even punters seemed to ignore the stewards' interpretation of the Eagle Farm run and he was sent out at $8.20 on the tote and $8.80 fixed.

After settling midfield, Kingtantes was pulled to the outside at the home turn and asked to go. He finished eighth, beaten just under seven lengths.

"Wouldn't win anything," a professional punter and video viewer told me after the race.

So was riding him "cold" at Eagle Farm such a bad thing? Ridden with more urgency at various parts of the race certainly didn't enhance his winning prospects at Toowoomba.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and the steward’s panel can only judge what is in front of them on the day so let's just say the Toowoomba flop confirmed what many knew.

There are two key points in why the Browne penalty does not fit the "crime", a word I used with some reservation.

The panel assumed Kingtantes would sprint through the gap and then respond to the vigour of Browne if he had taken "their" options.

Unfortunately Kingtante's brief racing history doesn't fit with that line of thought. Kingtantes is Kingtantes. Average.

It's similar when a horse is blocked for a run and often the cry is he would have won. They "assume" it would have dashed clear if a run was there.

Secondly, stewards would surely agree their primary tenant is to uphold integrity. No disagreement there.

Integrity is defined as "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles".

As stewards found nothing untoward with the betting side of the Kingtantes story, surely Browne should be judged, at the worst, of making an error of judgement and not lacking in integrity.

Browne carries tens of thousands of dollars of punters' money when he rides and gives a polished display 99 times out of 100.

Punters bet with confidence when Browne is riding.

Punters don't bet with confidence on inexperienced apprentices.

Racing Queensland stewards have robbed punters of betting on Browne for six weeks because they assumed Kingtantes would have finished closer had he taken the options they thought were best for the horse.

Let me tell you, thoroughbred turnover is not exactly blooming. This penalty was a backward step for Queensland racing.

David Fowler