Cairns’ Peter Rowe answers the call

By Jordan Gerrans

It has already been a big few days for Cairns’ Peter Rowe and he is hopeful to be able to cap it off with a strong showing with his duo of runners in Saturday's Pallarenda Stakes at Cluden Park.

Rowe was earlier this week announced as the race caller for the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede Finals at Doomben in late November.

The long-time FNQ participant wears a number of hats in racing – preparing a team of horses alongside his father and co-trainer Trevor as well as dabbling in calling races every now and again.

He will break new ground in a way when he calls at the city meeting in just over a month.

Regional broadcasters are often selected to come to town to call the regional race series deciders like the CCC, Stampede and Battle Of The Bush.

But, Rowe is in the unique scenario of not actually having a ‘home’ track or club he calls at, as he will just fill in around North Queensland when required.

He will have his co-trainers hat on this Saturday as he saddles up Battlekatt and Bravos Carlos in the feature juvenile race at Townsville.

The unraced pair did not set the world on fire in their only public appearance at Atherton earlier this month as they were well beaten in their trial.

But, Rowe has seen plenty of improvement since then.

He says Battlekatt was underdone for the trial and noted Bravos Carlos missed the kick badly and was not asked for a serious effort by hoop Nathan Day.

“They go a lot better than what that trial suggests, they were a bit inexperienced out of the barriers on that day,” Rowe said.

“We jumped them out on Tuesday morning and they pinged the lids.

“They have drawn well on Saturday and if they do everything right, we would be disappointed if they were not competitive.

“The benefit is that Jenna Edwards and Nathan Day ride them every day so that’s a plus going down there that they’ve done their barrier trials and recent track work.”

Battlekatt and Bravos Carlos are both raced by Cairns’ Brian Little.

Brian is the brother of fellow FNQ local Cliff Little who has enjoyed immense success with gallopers like Cifrado, Smart Image and Loud Noise in recent times.

The duo of debutants will race in Brian’s newly designed blue, white and blue checked quarters, pale blue sleeves with blue squares, white cap and blue squares colours.

“They are in individual names the horses, but it is a family thing that they all sort of race together,” Peter said.

Battlekatt – who cost around $20,000 - is a son of Starena who the Rowe team prepared until she retired in late 2020.

The stable have had a great association with the family over the years, including Bar Attack who won 13 races, and was from mare Attacks, like Starena.

“We saw him at the sales and obviously we have had great success with that family,” Rowe said of Battlekatt.

“He is beautiful, he is a well put together animal and with time, he will be very handy.

“Every day he is doing things better. He has improved the most of these two. He does something better every day, Battlekatt.”

Stable mate Bravos Carlos is likely to come back a better horse next preparation, according to the co-trainer.

“He showed a lot right from the get-go,” Rowe said.

“He will be a nice horse after a break but if he can hold it all together for Saturday and do everything right – he should still run a good race.”

While the Pallarenda Stakes is front of mind right now, the upcoming CCC and Stampede deciders will soon take focus for Rowe.

He will be in the unusual position of calling one of his own horses on the day as Loud Noise claimed the Stampede qualifier at Gordonvale earlier this month.

Rowe does not regularly call full race programs and will often fill-in for John 'Bluey' Forsyth across FNQ while he recently broadcast a few races over the Cairns Amateurs carnival under the watchful eye of David Fowler.

Bush race caller and former Longreach Jockey Club president Rob Luck noted Rowe’s growth behind the binoculars.

“It is a well-deserved honour,” Luck said.

“He is an up-and-coming young caller on the country circuit.

“It is great to see young generations coming through the calling.”

Former Program Director at RadioTAB Tony Clements back Luck’s comments.

“It is a well-deserved call-up and he is one of the best blokes you’ll ever meet on a race track,” Clements said.

The CCC and Stampede deciders will be run alongside the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes on the last Saturday in November.