MY CALL: VEGA MAGIC IS ONE FOR THE NOTEBOOK

By David Fowler | Tuesday, August 29, 2017

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.

It's rare for a horse to capture my attention south of the border.

Brisbane is my business but one has to have a general appreciation of the national scene with the hosting of my Monday morning PRESS ROOM program on Radio TAB.

I was shaken out of my normal calm when I watched Vega Magic win the Group One Goodwood at Morphettville in May.

To start in a Group One first-up is a stern task let alone win it. Outstanding.

He was a newcomer to the David Hayes-Tom Dabernig stable off the back of some impressive Western Australian form.

The Goodwood was a hit-run mission which led me to think he was being nurtured as an Everest prospect.

My admiration of this horse was only heightened when he won the Listed Regal Roller at Caulfield last Saturday week.

There was a big rave post race that the ex-Japanese Brave Smash should have won.

The famous "they" would be wise to have another look at the replay with Vega Magic sitting three wide and no cover in a brutally fast run first 600 metres and still kicking to score.

And now he goes to a red hot Group 1 Memsie at Caulfield this weekend.

He will run in a field high on quantity and quality at 1400m, a distance which he has won over at Ascot.

I think Vega Magic can win The Everest. Saturday's assignment will be a key guide.

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I was heartened to read John Schreck's condemnation of Craig Williams regarding the "tools in the boots" incident at Caulfield last Saturday week in his most recent article on this website.

As I opined on PRESS ROOM at the time, this incident was wrong on so many fronts yet was trivialised by many.

Even chief steward Terry Bailey was quoted as saying "if it wasn't so serious it would be humorous".

Clearly Schreck didn't think so and I'm glad to stand in his company.

He was Australia's best steward in modern times by a long way. No argument despite a few "publicity seekers" striving for the the title.

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Jeff Lloyd has been assessed at a $1:30 on Ubet to win his third metropolitan jockeys' premiership.

Fair odds in my book.

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Bridget Grylls was given a four week suspension for her ride on Alastriona at the Gold Coast on August 12.

If you can understand why get in contact with me.

I can't!

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The initial soft 5 track rating at the Gold Coast was incorrect.

The first race at 1200m was run in 1:9.26. A good 4 retrospective after that race was then superseded by a good 3 elevation later in the day.

It reignites the argument of whether a steward needs to be at the track in the morning to oversee the rating judgement if rain has fallen.

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GRAPEVINE: Will the defunct Rocklea trotting track be announced by Racing Queensland as the new home for greyhound racing sooner than later?

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