MY CALL - ACCURACY OF TRACK RATINGS IN DISPUTE - PUNTERS NEED THE TRUTH TO BET WITH CONFIDENCE

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 2, 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.

Why are stewards so loath to make dramatic changes to track ratings?

Punters need the truth to bet with confidence. Providing half-truths only prompts frustration and anger.

I pose the question after two separate episodes at Ipswich last Wednesday and Kilcoy last Friday.

A truckload of rain fell immediately after race five at Ipswich yet stipes considered the track should only be reassessed from a dead 4 to a dead 5.

It beggared belief to those at the meeting.

A short time later professional wet tracker Triskele won race six in 1:27.36 for the 1350m, about eight seconds outside the record. (That time is in dispute by two seconds but 1:25.36 is still incredibly slow)

The track had fallen apart which is a story for another day but off-course punters were led to believe it was a dead 5. The rating was totally incorrect.

And then Kilcoy was presented as a dead 5 on Friday yet the alarm bells rang when they clocked 47.47 for the half mile scamper in the opening event.

Kilcoy is a flat track and a typical 800m gallop will be run around the 45 second mark.

Stewards reassessed to a slow 6 but the remaining race times clearly demonstrated the track was heavy.

The times don’t lie (although that’s another story too). Let’s say they generally don’t lie and when you’re running four and five seconds outside the benchmark and the 600m sectionals are between 38 and 39 seconds at the end of 1200m races, IT AINT A SLOW 6!

Stewards surely realise a fair share of betting is done before a meeting starts. Most form students frame their ratings and markets before the meeting begins.

Sure, no one can be held responsible for rain during a day but the Kilcoy pre-meeting rating is unacceptable.

And I return to where I started. Why can’t a rating be changed from a dead 5 to a heavy 9? Let’s be honest in more ways than one.

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Is the present apprentice domination in Brisbane racing a fleeting episode?

Some say it is but I doubt it for a number of reasons.

A quick fact check illustrated that half the runners at the Doomben card on Saturday were partnered by apprentices.

After a month of racing into the new season Luke Tarrant heads the leader board on 8 wins, trailed by Matt McGuren on 7 and Bridget Grylls on 5.5.

Early days, I know, but apprentices one, two and three.

Owners and trainers are more inclined to claim these days with the 59kg topweight and the talent pool is strong enough to often make that decision an easy one.

Tarrant is certainly the “real find”. Intelligent and no weight problems and, oh, he can ride by the way.

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A quick mention for a fundraising lunch for injured track-work rider Darren Gough.

It will be held in the Guineas Room at Eagle Farm on Friday October 24 at $100 per head or a table of nine for $900.

It includes a three course meal and beverage package and comedian Darren Sanders will be providing most of the laughs.

Contact BRC on 3268-2171 for further details.

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