MY CALL: THE EVEREST V THE CAULFIELD CUP. IN TERMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST IT IS SIMPLY 'NO CONTEST'

By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 13, 2020

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.

You’d be forgiven for not having a fancy in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.

In fact, I wouldn’t blame you if you forgot the Caulfield Cup is actually being run this weekend.

Once again, the TAB Everest has overpowered the Caulfield Cup in terms of publicity and that will only trend stronger during this week.

But don’t feel sorry for the Melbourne Racing Club which host the Cup.

You can’t put lipstick on a pig and I’m afraid the Cup has been oinking that way for several years.

The Caulfield Cup still retains enormous tradition and I won’t be the least surprised if it achieves a better betting turnover result than the Everest.

But that’s not the point.

It’s once national appeal and potential to raise awareness has diminished year after year.

And to be fair how do you “sex” up a big bunch of middle distance stayers, some you’ve never heard of arriving from here, there and everywhere?

The Caulfield Cup doesn’t have the allure of the Cox Plate, Australia’s weight-for-age championship, and, of course, doesn’t get within coo-ee of the Melbourne Cup for obvious reasons.

But to compound matters, the available evidence, or lack of it, suggests the MRC has hardly lifted a finger to promote their flagship race.

So, while the Caulfield Cup has been slipping in relevance for sometime, it now has to contend with its freshman rival The Everest.

This writer has been unswerving in his belief that The Everest was the greatest racing innovation in the post-modern era and said it from the start.

The doubters have reduced significantly in numbers but some bitter old opposers still exist. Pitifully, they hate everything though.

Yet for the fourth successive year, The Everest will host Australia’s best sprinters after months of conversation and lead-up races as the jigsaw pieces of the line-up were put together.

There has even been side-bar stories with slot runners falling by the wayside (Rothfire, Farnan), five minute to midnight decisions (Haut Brion Her) and the one time favourite losing that betting position (Nature Strip). Can he bounce back?

It’s presence went to another level this year with the miRunners syndication group purchasing a slot called “miEverest” and offering 1000 micro-shares at $800 a pop.

After suffering a blow with Rothfire’s exit through injury, they swiftly secured Eduardo who is a live hope.

What a wonderful opportunity for Mum and Dad investors!

As the last horse sweeps past the post in The Everest, it won’t be long before chatter starts about the 2021 version.

What time is the Caulfield Cup on Saturday?

David Fowler