Built more in the mould of Craig Parry than Craig Newitt, Richard Callander is one of the most recognisable figures in Sydney racing.
And like Parry, he is surprisingly handy with a golf club.
But the only shot he cares about making on Saturday is in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill when two horses he part-owns go head to head.
It will be the first time Callander has had multiple runners in a black-type race.
Both are at double-figure odds and while the Listed feature is a campaign starting point for Multilateral, Callander rates I’m Imposing a winning chance.
His tip comes with a word of caution.
“No-one thinks your kids are as beautiful as you do, and nothing improves a horse’s ability like ownership,” Callander said.
I’m Imposing has the statistics to support Callander’s confidence.
A luckless second to subsequent Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man over Saturday’s course and distance in August, the horse will also have the benefit of a 4.5kg weight turnaround on Festival rival Monton.
He didn’t get warm last start in an Emirates Stakes dominated by horses close to the speed but Callander says punters should disregard the run.
“It can happen at Flemington where if they go too hard then sprint, the backmarkers don’t get into the race and he just never got into the race,” he said.
“You’ve just got to put a line through it. And it was a Group One on one of the biggest days of the year.”
Callander has long been passionate about racing but the sport wasn’t always his career.
He spent four years as a golf pro – he still plays off a handicap of five – and was ground announcer for the St George Dragons NRL team at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval.
He dabbled in a real estate career – for a day – but has found his calling at thoroughbred channel TVN where he has been a presenter for almost a decade.
His experience of having two runners in a stakes race on Saturday is unlikely to be his last with both I’m Imposing and Multilateral slated to continue on to the Villiers Stakes and Summer Cup, the biggest races of the Sydney summer.
It’s a journey he is happiest sharing with his fellow owners, most of them close friends.
“The greatest thrill of owning a horse is having friends to celebrate it with you,” he said.
Article from justhorseracing.com.au
