MY CALL: THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 'NEW EAGLE FARM' TRACK IS NOT SAME AS THE 'OLD EAGLE FARM'

By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 29, 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.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Yes, it was an Aretha Franklin chart topper in the late sixties but a large dose of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. should be afforded to the Eagle Farm track.

So much oxygen has been wasted on the inside versus outside debate that one of the core guarantees of the revamped track had largely been forgotten.

The “new Eagle Farm” would be able to cope with sizeable rain amounts due to a vastly improved drainage system.

Despite signs of this at previous meetings, the stewards hit the panic button after 40mm of rain fell mid morning and reassessed the track from a good 4 to a soft 7. Even a heavy 8 rating was contemplated.

They got it wrong. A knee jerk reaction borne out by the rating working back to a soft 5 by the day’s conclusion.

Next to no kickback with winners coming from a variety of positions on all parts of the track.

Positive stuff but the lesson to be learnt is not to treat the track like the “old Eagle Farm”.

Saturday’s meeting clearly illustrated that.

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It was good to see the jockey “groupthink” also tested.

Several jockeys decided to find out for themselves what this “slow zone” near the rails was all about.

They discovered the ground was as good as anywhere else with the results backing it up.

I’ve always said it’s hard to blame punters for criticising Eagle Farm because they can only form a judgement on what they see.

Pleasingly, the social media response to racing at headquarters was more reasoned on the weekend.

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Racing Queensland is expected to have a big wish list on its plate when it comes to infrastructure requests.

How could all of these be fulfilled with only a certain amount of finance at their disposal.

Maybe sell a significant asset to bolster the budget.

You read it here first!

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And so we head to the Sunshine Coast tomorrow for another 12 eventer.

Starting at 1:40 and finishing at 8.20.

Are these marathon programs beneficial to TAB turnover?

All will be revealed here next week.

David Fowler