Race caller has favourite in Magic Millions Tasmanian Derby

A casual chat at a racing luncheon has led to one of Australia’s leading race callers having a winning chance in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian Derby (2200m).

Queensland caller David Fowler is part-owner of Dad And Dave, who raced into Derby calculations with an impressive win in the Launceston Guineas (2000m) on 14 January.

On the strength of that win, Dad And Dave has been installed as the $3.10 favourite for the 3yo classic.

“Typical of ownership, it’s been a long ride. He was a slow learner; he had to be gelded, then blinkered. His first two starts were satisfactory, but then he won his maiden, and all of a sudden Ciaron (Maher) says we will try and win the Tasmanian Derby,” Fowler said.

“The further they go, the more he gives every indication that the better he will be, and he’s had perfect preparation. The distance will be right for him, and also, he’s been over there for several weeks, he’s at Seven Mile Beach and settled in well.”

“I think he’s improving with every run. Distance is right. The jockey likes the horse and knows him well, and he’s worked well. He had a gallop on the course proper on Monday and handled himself well, so he ticks most of the boxes. I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the race.”

If Dad And Dave is successful on Friday, he may follow the same path as Explosive Jack, who won the 2021 Tasmanian Derby and then went on to win the ATC Derby, South Australian Derby and was placed in the Queensland Derby.

A $55,000 NZ purchase, Dad And Dave has already won $100,000 in prizemoney and could almost double that with first prize on Friday, worth $90,000.

Fowler, who is Queensland’s number one caller, has dabbled in horse ownership over the years, his best being Another Award, who was trained in South Australia by Leon McDonald.

“She ran second in a Sangster and second in a Goodwood (both at Group 1 level). We sold her to Yulong for $1.5 million, and she was a multiple city winner; she’s the best one I’ve had,” Fowler said.

Commitments in Brisbane will prevent Fowler from attending on Friday, but he will be watching eagerly, hoping for his first Derby winner.

Interstate horses have dominated the Derby until last year when Likeakalix flew the flag for Tasmania. This year, just two of the 10 acceptors are Tasmanian trained, Wolf Junior (Barry Campbell) and Rousing Levi, trained by Leanne Gaffney, who won last year’s race.

It’s a twilight meeting on Friday. with the first of eight races at 14:52. The Derby is set down for 18:02.