MY CALL - SEARCHING FOR THE LINK BETWEEN COBALT POSITIVES AND MISCONDUCT. WHERE DOES THE TRUTH LIE?

By David Fowler | Tuesday, December 22, 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.

Cobalt, eh!

Rarely a day goes by and yet another positive to cobalt is announced.

Don't worry about the racing code, the state or whether it's racing royalty or a battler, they just keep popping up.

And still racing administration trudges on doggedly, pointing the finger at the evil trainer deliberately administering the evil drug for an edge in the race.

"It has to be, there's no other explanation," is the mantra they chant.

And an unwavering media scrum megaphone their every utterance.

How foolish they are looking as each day goes by.

I've been vilified and ridiculed publicly and privately for my stance that cobalt is a science not settled and it is impossible that all of these positives can be linked to deliberate misconduct.

Each day I feel a little more vindicated not that that helps the innocent being presumed guilty.

Racing's lawmakers refused to draw a line in the sand and now they can't turn back. They're stuck on a road to nowhere with potentially nasty consequences.

Those media who are still wearing the blinkers or adopting the tunnel vision are losing what little credibility they had to start with.

The positives will keep coming. Nothing surer.

But can we be as certain the lawmakers will be as dogmatic as demonstrated so far?

Factor in the embarrassing missteps in their own procedures highlighted last week.

I strongly doubt it.

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It's generally known, the shorter the price the more I'll look for a reason why a favourite CANT win.

Punting is all about securing value.

Hey, sometimes a $1.50 chance is value because it should be a $1.10.

But only a miracle will stop Capitalist winning the Magic Millions in three weeks.

The current $1.80 MM favourite has produced the margins and the times yet on both occasions has never got out of second gear.

Sometimes you have to ask how much more would be in the armoury if you gave them a dig in the ribs.

You don't have to worry in this case. He is in a world of his own. A pleasure to watch.

I don't suggest you take a $1.80 pre-barrier draw but I do suggest you don't back anything to beat him.

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Why is there no Queensland thoroughbred product on the TAB on Mondays and Tuesdays ?

One day rationalisation of Queensland country racing is going to be on the agenda.

At the moment it's akin to raising the GST, no-one wants to touch it.

These clubs that can't contribute back to TAB coffers could fill a void early in the week.

It would be a significant step to circuit break racing's hot potato.

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Colleague Alan Thomas is not going to get a cosy farewell.

I'm tipping nine races with 16 runners at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day.

And Alan will be calling in the public grandstand, a novel idea he hatched some time ago for his farewell broadcast.

He's been like a next door neighbour over the last five years as we have called alongside each other.

I'll miss him and wish him well in his future endeavours.

And I wish you all a Merry Christmas for Friday.

May the day be everything you want it to be!

David Fowler