MY CALL - RACING QUEENSLAND NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY WANT TO SHORTEN THE WINTER CARNIVAL
By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 30, 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.
We begin with a quote.
"Queensland bean counters should note that change is not necessarily an instant hit for success as they contemplate a program overhaul for next winter. " ... Nathan Exelby - Sunday Mail.
Hear hear!
So many participants and general racing enthusiasts are totally puzzled why RQ wants to shorten the carnival and swap dates here, there and everywhere.
"Anyone with half a brain knows the BRC block is the carnival and the other clubs complement it either side. What's wrong with two good months of racing," professional punter John Cole told this writer.
This is the central argument against the shortening proposal. Why deny Queensland racing as many good days as possible?
Why?
City bookmaker Hadyn Flynn has 50 years’ experience in the racing business. He shakes his head when looking at some of the proposals on the table.
"Why can't some of these provincial clubs take ownership of a Wednesday/Thursday carnival or be slotted into a feature Sunday. That idea of a stand-alone Toowoomba Saturday surely must be a joke," he said.
Flynn's midweek carnival idea has merit. Are Grafton and Warrnambool unsuccessful with their midweek carnivals? Of course not and generally the town is afforded a half day holiday on the Cup day.
Maybe Racing Queensland should lobby their controversial plans further than self-interested race clubs if my feedback is any yardstick.
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Another quote.
"Show Harmony is the most stupidly-priced horse on the eastern seaboard today." … David Fowler -Radio TAB.
And it's worth pointing out that was whether it won, lost or drew. It's all about the value.
I didn't like it. Pass mark times against maiden and class one rivals at the Gold Coast is a long way from winning a fairly strong Doomben Saturday no-metro.
Sure, the potential looked to be there and a $5 quote would have been realistic.
Yet it ran rock solid $1.9 on Tattsbet tote and $2.2 fixed.
The run was more than respectable.
The failed delivery on the hype follows hot on the heels of Dream Of Slips and Gun Case.
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Only twenty minutes later, the value of the day romped home at "Royal Bowraville".
Bowraville, a track described as "the sweat band around a drover's hat", played host to Lucky Meteor who had walloped its rivals at his past two Brisbane assignments against far loftier opposition.
Miss Wicked Wanda was his chief betting rival in the Lightning Bend at Bowraville. Yes, Miss Wicked Wanda.
And Lucky Meteor skipped around the saucer-like track to win in a hand canter.
You might think $1.2 or $1.3 was realistic. Top tote was $1.90!
Gotta love this racing game.
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Where does Buffering sit in the whole grand plan of Queensland's racing greats?
After Friday night's Moir triumph possibly set in motion another scene stealing interstate campaign, how does he compare against, say, Falvelon and Show A Heart?
How would you line him up against the 1990's star Chief De Beers or Bengalla Lad and Charlton Boy from the seventies?
And will we have to wait a decade or longer to put Buffering in the Queensland Hall Of Fame?
A few things for you to muse over as I take a week's break.
All the inside news from Epsom day in next week's blog.
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