MY CALL: PLANS FOR HAPPY CLAPPER - PULLING POWER OF THE EVEREST TRUMPS THE QUEENSLAND CARNIVAL
By David Fowler | Tuesday, April 10, 2018
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.
While the door has been shut on Happy Clapper coming to Brisbane, it creates a fascinating talking topic about this year's The Everest.
Happy Clapper is not only popular, he is very good. He would have been a great drawcard for our upcoming Carnival.
But his trainer Pat Webster has thought outside the square and will target an unconventional path for the established miler and set him for The Everest.
This clearly illustrates the luring power of this race and the resultant publicity.
And it adds an important new dimension to the concept where the best will leave their comfort zone to have a throw at the stumps.
Prepost markets are up everywhere and we're already talking about it.
Winx is probably out of their grasp but Happy Clapper is a great get.
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The Championships carnival is in its fifth renewal but attendances are still a cause for some concern.
Such a meeting offered up last weekend under fine skies should,have secured more than just under 20,000 people.
Royal Randwick, like Flemington, is a majestic setting for thoroughbred racing. That day deserved a better turnout.
Maybe many are keeping their powder dry for Winx's appearance this weekend.
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The chinese whispers about Ben Currie had to come to a stop.
QRIC's weekend activities demonstrated leadership and that translated to facts, not rumours, being relayed to the punting public.
Currie should direct his frustration to those talking about him rather than describing QRIC's actions as a "witch-hunt". They are not.
Currie has openly stated his stable has done nothing wrong and it has nothing to fear.
Scrutiny of stable CCTV footage and swab results will either confirm Currie's stand or it won't.
But the rumour-mongering was taking no-one anywhere.
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Non-coastal tracks in south-east Queensland need to be utilized more.
The constant wear and tear of Doomben, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast has been laid bare over the past month.
Track reassessments on raceday with no rain is a damning indictment on the current operation.
Track managers and their teams work assiduously but they're not magicians.
With Eagle Farm out of play, the accepted racing schedule can't be sustained.
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Reid Sanders resigned as Tasmania's Head Of Integrity last week.
Queensland's chief stipe Alan Reardon's contract ends in June.
Do we connect the two?
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