MY CALL: ODDS SHORTENING AS THE FIELD FOR THE DIRECTOR OF STEWARDING AT QRIC TAKES SHAPE
By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 4, 2016
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.
Is a former Queensland Chairman Of Stewards poised to make a return to the Sunshine State?
The odds are shortening all the time that Reid Sanders could be the man to secure the position of Director of Stewarding, Licencing and Registration at QRIC.
Sanders has built an imposing career on the integrity front.
After a four year stint as Queensland’s chief stipe, similar roles followed in Macau and New Zealand.
But Sanders has been acknowledged as one of the driving forces to combat cobalt in New South Wales harness racing.
He currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at Harness Racing New South Wales.
The mail is Victoria’s chief stipe Terry Bailey slipped into Brisbane town last week to be part of the interviewing panel.
While Jamie Dart currently holds the brief in an acting capacity, fellow steward Martin Knibbs is believed to have also tipped his hat into the ring.
As this blog has said previously, Knibbs’ talents have been grossly underutilised at Racing Queensland.
But Sanders could loom as a formidable rival.
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One of my listeners to Radio TAB’s Press Room made a valid point on Monday when he commented on the Winx versus Hartnell conversation.
Listener “Craig” pointed out it was all very well of me to trumpet the cause of Hartnell but I should explain what reasons are behind my thinking that he can knock off Winx.
To be honest I hadn’t thought of it that way and it does bear thought. Why can Hartnell beat Winx ?
Visually, he has been awesome. Healthy winning margins and fast times support what we see.
The raceday experience of good luck or bad luck in running could be crucial.
Winx has some very committed supporters, like my listener Craig, but surely Hartnell deserves some kudos as well in any potential encounter.
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We might have got a little too nostalgic when thinking about a return to official pre-season trials as a build up to the first round of metropolitan juvenile races.
I consider the Doomben and Eagle Farm “pre-seasons” folded over time with trainers starting their two-year-old campaigns later because of the Magic Millions and the black-type Phelan Ready (former Meynink) and Calaway Gal (former McDougall) transferred to December.
But even a possible resurrection to the former popular Sunday timeslot for the Eagle Farm set would have hurdles such as penalty rates for workers and, of course, Sunday racing at the Sunshine Coast.
Times change and sometimes you just have to move on.
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Speaking of two-year-olds, Ours To Keep is one worth following.
His time of 60:58 for the 1050m on Saturday was outstanding and he does everything right.
Most significantly, Damian Browne gave him a big wrap and seldom does he deliver such praise.
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