MY CALL: AN IDEA TO GET THE STRADBROKE TO PLUG INTO THE EVEREST ... AND, NO, I HAVEN'T GONE MAD

By David Fowler | Tuesday, June 11, 2019

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.

Should Racing Queensland or the Brisbane Racing Club buy a slot in The Everest?

And, no, I haven’t gone mad.

With Damion Flower’s much publicised slot forfeit, there is one up for grabs that will be settled before the end of the month.

Neither body would be setting a precedent as The Australian Turf Club is a current slot holder.

There is method in what some might term “my madness.“

The Stradbroke will always be our signature Carnival race but the pressure from either side – autumn and spring – is threatening its presence.

Gone are the days of simply the Doncaster in Autumn, the Stradbroke in Winter, the Epsom in Spring and Melbourne sprints bookending either side.

My suggestion of a slot purchase is not based on administrative vanity but an opportunity to strengthen the Stradbroke.

The RQ/BRC slot could be afforded to the Stradbroke winner.

If that criteria is too narrow, it could be extended to the best performance in that race.

Or, maybe, if a three-year-old blazed a trail of greatness it could come under consideration.

If an automatic path to the Everest was executed via the Stradbroke, I’ll bet London to a brick on, the quality of the race would take a savage leap.

And our Carnival would have an enduring presence. Imagine the Stradbroke winner in every Everest.

It could also be an inclusive exercise if there was a favourable result with the winnings shared among the industry through stakemoney after the stake was returned to the bodies who stumped up the cash.

I get that it’s a longshot because the cash or appetite is probably not there to proceed.

But my ambitious comments lead to a broader conversation.

The Queensland racing industry needs to keep thinking outside the square.

The concept of The Battle Of The Bush was a cracker last year but one swallow doesn’t make a summer.

Sure, we need present owners to keep owning and present punters to keep punting.

But new blood has to be sourced and that will only happen through creative and innovative ideas.

The Stradbroke’s quality and reputation isn’t in freefall but it’s not exactly on an upward trajectory either.

A slot in The Everest would go a hell of a long way to setting it in a permanently right direction.

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