MY CALL: BAYLISS SUSPENSION HAS CREATED A CONVERSATION WITH A VARIETY OF OPINIONS
By David Fowler | Tuesday, July 24, 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.
Stewards would have been derelict in their duty had they not suspended Corey Bayliss for his ride on Tumbler at Doomben last Saturday.
Bayliss was outed for six weeks when he landed in a zip fastener traffic jam in the straight on the popular $2.20 favourite only to secure clear running too late.
The ride and the suspension created a conversation that offered a variety of opinions.
One school of thought that he shouldn't have incurred such a suspension because "he's only a kid" doesn't wash with me, or many others for that matter.
Jockeys are charged with the same responsibilities when they are legged up, to ride safely and give their horse every possible opportunity to win.
These responsibilities clearly overarch their age, ability or any other criteria that can be taken into consideration at a lesser level of importance.
And these are the two key performance indicators that stewards rely upon when making a judgement.
Simply put, Bayliss failed in the responsibility to give Tumbler every opportunity to win.
Many horses encounter bad luck such as being held up for a run but Bayliss' ride didn't fall into that category.
On more than occasion, after leaving the 600 metres he had the opportunity to shift into open space and didn't do so.
Bayliss was contrite enough to "put his hand up" and not offer any excuse for the ride.
This was an open and shut case for the stewards' panel.
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I mentioned jockeys carry two key responsibilities in every ride they take.
Stewards have responsibilities too and one of them is to protect the punter.
And punters' money is invested on the belief the jockey will ride safely and give the horse every opportunity to win.
Punters aren't fools.
They know that backing a 50/1 chance might require some shortcuts and a fair slice of luck to achieve the optimum place at the finish. Generally, they are 50/1 for a reason.
But they correctly expect when their cash is riding on a $2.20 favourite that bad luck should be taken out of the equation as practically as possible.
When that doesn't happen the stewards must be on the spot to adjudicate the situation and make judgement.
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That brings us back to Corey Bayliss.
It's worth pointing out the calibre of trainers who have been booking him for rides recently suggests Bayliss is an above-average talent.
The fact that an astute horseman such as Barry Lockwood booked Bayliss twice for Tumbler shouldn't be lost on anyone.
And judging by media coverage of the issue, there are no shortage of senior jockeys willing to lend a helping hand to his riding development.
And that's a good end to the story.
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You can generally sense when a young horseperson has "got it."
From a media viewpoint, you make the early call that they can handle the rough and tumble of praise ... and criticism.
You reason that their ability will take them to a senior level where they will be in the media spotlight regularly so best they get used to it early.
Many years ago, I tried to explain this philosophy to an irate Mum who chastised me for the criticism I delivered to her son after a drive at the Gold Coast trots.
He has turned out to be one of the country's leading drivers so the early serve didn't affect him too much. And it generally doesn't with those who you sense have "got it."
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