MY CALL - TRACK BIAS CAN GIVE PUNTERS AN EDGE
By David Fowler | Tuesday, April 1, 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.
Track bias can be overplayed or underplayed depending what side of the fence you sit on.
A bit like climate change.
But it does exist … to some degree … and proper understanding can be a good result for the punter.
That's what panned out at Eagle Farm last Wednesday and Doomben last Saturday, both heavy tracks.
Eagle Farm track manager Sean Bridges spoke with me on RadioTAB last Wednesday and was forthright in his views.
"Heavy all day and where the rail is placed means the best going will be near the fence," was the precise summation.
Spot on. Winners generally came through near the inside and those who sought wider going … few, I'll admit … were left lamenting what might have been.
And, similarly, Doomben trump Jim Roberts was quick to advise a similar situation at Doomben on Saturday and the results spoke for themselves.
As a broadcaster, if a trend develops or is suggested, I'm happy to play it out if it can give the punter an edge.
The good part of this story was that both Bridges and Roberts sensed there would be some bias, were frank enough to acknowledge it, and their judgement was right on the money.
Punters can't expect any more than that.
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The three way tussle for metropolitan training honours this season is a ripper.
It's fascinating to see Tony Gollan and Matt Dunn go stride for stride as defending champion Rob Heathcote, so used to being out in front, stalks the leading pair.
With two thirds of the season completed, I doubt the trend will alter too drastically.
The end result in July will primarily depend on carnival firepower, or lack of it, and how strong their respective midweek stocks are.
Why doesn't one of the few on-course bookies left put up a market on this event?
There is no doubt it would attract strong interest because each of three have big followings and, realistically, all have a genuine hope of taking the title.
Over to you Paddock Bookmakers Association.
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Thank goodness for Gordon Lord Byron.
That's what ATC officials would have been saying after he zoomed up the rails to capture the Group 1 George Ryder.
His presence in the much vaunted "Championships" is sorely needed for this concept not to become a fizzer.
Many industry players have seriously questioned whether throwing obscene amounts of cash at already established features would create anything different.
Its launch was probably too late for a decent overseas representation.
But I maintain if the Golden Slipper is $3 million or $8 million, will the field be any different?
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The redevelopment of the Eagle Farm course proper remains a lingering issue.
Some have even suggested a release of the 2014/15 race dates will have Eagle Farm back on the agenda. Surely not?
But the continuing silence from George Street on a financial commitment is a concern.
Until next week.
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