MY CALL - SPARK MISSING AS SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE CARNIVALS HAVE YET TO IGNITE THE IMAGINATION

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 23, 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.

I’ve been putting off writing this topic, week after week, hoping for a change.

I can wait no longer!

Where’s the zip and sizzle in the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals?

We are well enough into stride to be getting some sort of adrenalin rush for the start of next month but it certainly hasn’t registered on my “excitement-ometer.”

The beginning of October usually means the time when imaginations are captured, opinions are galvanised and arguments at pubs revolve around anything with a Cup and a Plate beside their name.

You might say “that’s when Sydney ends” and I’d say “yes, you are right”.

It’s a fair call that wet tracks have dampened the sparkle but, honestly, the Sydney spring has done its very best to underwhelm the racing enthusiast again.

Consistently small fields with consistently no scene stealers on consistently wet tracks. No wonder they want to talk up The Championships in the autumn.

Yes, Sacred Falls is now a three-times Group One winner but two of those were on bog tracks. Junoob won a Group 2 … yeah Junoob won a Group 2. Next.

I’ll give Shorts winner Terravista a tick. His record suggests he is progressive (eight from 11) and the well might be still untapped.

Earthquake has lost the gloss and just when Winx loomed as the rising star along came Kensington maiden winner First Seal to knock them both out in the Tea Rose.

So without much quality or quantity likely to head from Sydney, is Melbourne doing enough at the moment to whet our appetite for October and November.

Hardly.

Lankan Rupee gets bowled over by half a no name and now has to win Friday night’s Moir to salvage a reputation. Second place again will hardly be good enough.

Foreteller and Happy Trails quinelled the Group 1 Underwood. At eight and seven years respectively, they are hardly box office attractions despite laying a legitimate claim to the Cox Plate.

I’m not a knock for these top performers but there hasn’t been anything so far that sends your mind searching to what he or she might achieve during the next two months.

With the fairy-tale story of The Cleaner presently the top of the pops, those imports better be good and better come soon !

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Someone remarked the other day the apprentices’ success rate in Brisbane is a “flash in the pan”.

Really!

Two months into the season and Luke Tarrant (16), Mat McGuren (11) and Bridget Grylls (9.5) are the leaders on the metropolitan jockeys’ premiership.

Granted Tarrant is back to a 1.5kg claim and McGuren’s weight will limit his opportunities but why will the momentum stop?

And don’t forget Priscilla and Cassie Schmidt, Beau Appo and Sam Payne are there to be chosen as well.

Tarrant and Grylls particularly are in dynamic form and I can’t see that stopping.

And Rob Heathcote means business in avenging his trainers’ premiership loss last season with 14 winners already on the board to Tony Gollan’s 11. It’s an impressive start.

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Doomben is the focus for Brisbane Racing Club’s trading while Eagle Farm is in recess.

A big winner for the club is their refurbished corporate boxes which line the top floor of the public grandstand.

I’ve enjoyed hospitality at ANZ Stadium and the Gabba in recent weeks but Doomben’s freshly-minted boxes are a standout.

It’s a terrific way to entertain clients or for just getting a bunch together for a good day out at the horses.

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This blog was recently critical of leaked proposed changes to the 2015 Winter Carnival.

I believe another draft will hit the club’s email inboxes this week to try and strike a more harmonious chord.

RQ CEO Darren Condon was non-committal in my RadioTAB interview on Monday morning whether change will actually occur or not.
I’m betting $1.10 it will, more’s the pity.

Until next week.

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