MY CALL - PUNTER CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY TO A HEALTHY TURNOVER ON THOROUGHBRED RACING

By David Fowler | Tuesday, February 10, 2015

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.

Artibai’s win at Doomben on Saturday was one of significance.

A bread-and-butter Benchmark 75 in off carnival time set the scene. Care factor?

Healthy turnover is paramount to any code of racing and healthy turnover will only be engendered by punter confidence.

Inconsistent or poor performances, bad or unlucky rides don’t cut the mustard with punters. For most, money is too hard to get, let alone wasted.

Artibai had the right form, the right barrier and the right jockey. It was a painless two or so minutes for punters as Artibai justified his short price.

It was a popular start for quadrella punters as well.

In a period when thoroughbred turnover is under the whip, we need more “Artibais” to keep the punter confident.

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Kiss Me Deadly’s all the way win didn’t inspire the sort of confidence I’ve been speaking of.

But it was swiftly used as the lightning rod for those who steadfastly maintain Doomben is a leader-biased track.

While such nonsense has been demonstrated as false or simply mischief making, there is still a small band who cling to the myth.

The “twitterati” were straight on to it. Incensed by the win, the “leader bias” rabbit was the obvious one to be pulled out of the hat.

It was convenient to forget that Kiss Me Deadly posted three city wins less than 12 months ago, one of them at the Doomben mile.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t think Kiss Me Deadly was a top three chance and not a cent was invested on it.

But simple maths tell you if you run the first 1000 metres of a mile race in 62.65 seconds, you are going to be hard to run down, irrelevant of how good or bad your form is.

Similar front running performances were delivered either side by One Standout and My Quilter, dictating terms at a slow or moderate tempo.

The “leader bias” team were now at full throttle but, alas, winners Cantbuybetter, Just A Girl and Architect reacted to genuinely-run races and came from midfield or worse.

To paraphrase this long running argument ... again ... “it’s the tempo stupid!”

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There’s nothing worse than hearing those two dreaded words “bar closed”.

Brisbane Racing Club is thinking outside the square and their ground level Champions Bar is now an ideal “after the last” meeting spot.

Yes, the drink is still on, but there’s tucker as well as entertainment. And you can keep betting wherever they’re racing.

The outfit is snappy looking and has already been well received.

Full marks for this initiative.

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Many of you will be aware we’re taking a tour to Sydney for The Championships in April.

Both days of racing at Royal Randwick will be complemented by a couple of days in the Hunter Valley visiting the leading studs and a visit to Gai Waterhouse’s stables.

Importantly, you can tailor the trip to suit your needs.

It’d be great to have you on board.

You can find out more by going to www.ambassadortravel.com.au or call 3329 6555

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