MY CALL - JAPANESE STAYER FAME GAME'S CAULFIELD CUP RUN AND RIDE ATTRACTS PLENTY OF ATTENTION
By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 20, 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.
Don’t get too carried away with the hype about Fame Game’s run in the Caulfield Cup.
Price assessors generally did, shaving the odds to around the $5 mark for the big one on Tuesday fortnight.
It may well be justified in the long run but I wouldn’t rate the Cup sixth as a scene stealer than many are labelling it as.
To put things in perspective, we are talking about a highly-rated Japanese stayer. Surely you would expect him to run on?
And after having a “good sleep” off a low draw for the lion’s share of the race, he finishes pleasingly to be about five lengths away in sixth spot.
Well, you’d expect nothing less, would you?
Zac Purton gave advance warning after a trackwork hit out, that he’d “need another lap” to win the Caulfield Cup and he was close to correct.
Stewards took a dim view of Purton’s ride and travelled a fair way down a path that jockeys dread.
But I was bemused by chief stipe Terry Bailey’s comment that he will have to be ridden the same way in the Melbourne Cup.
There is an avenue called “change of tactics” if I’m not mistaken.
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I’d consider Who Shot Thebarman as a sound “middle of the road” roughie in the Cup.
His Caulfield Cup run was sound considering he chartered a wide course and remember he ran third in last year’s race.
You could do worse than an eachway ticket around 20 bucks.
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Back to the Srikandi issue in last week’s blog.
A reader reminded me that the Wayne Wilson Award was established in 2014 for special achievement and was won by Natalie McCall who trained River Lad to win the Stradbroke.
Alas, that award was overlooked this year but would have been an ideal vehicle to laud Srikandi’s two Group One victories.
If nothing else, there should be an annual honour for the best Winter Carnival achievement.
Over to you, RQ!
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Hidden Pearl’s first-up Doomben win in track record time was spectacular.
The breakdown shows her last three 200m sections were run in 10.45, 10.72 and 11.5, en route to the 59.19 record.
Can’t wait until she runs in that 1100m mares dash up the straight at Flemington on Oaks day.
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Boom filly Criquette is out of the Magic Millions.
A leg injury has ensured an immediate three month break.
Such is the rollercoaster of the racing game.
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