Bush racecaller Josh Fleming to achieve his childhood dream at 3.40pm on Saturday afternoon

THE jockeys in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap can only hope they find a rails run similar to that which greeted a 14-year-old budding racecaller in Longreach.

Racecaller Josh Fleming achieve his childhood dream when he calls the Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday. Picture: Darren England

THE jockeys in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap can only hope they find a rails run similar to that which greeted a 14-year-old budding race caller in Longreach.

Boy from Barcaldine Josh Fleming would never have got to call his first Stradbroke without a leg-up from former steward, the late John Wallis, who ensured the youngster avoided any interference.

Wallis, who died last year, was the first to spot the young race caller’s ability after hearing Fleming do a phantom call out of the Sunday newspaper form guide.

He moved heaven and earth to ensure the youngster made a success of his first live race call at Longreach in 1998.

“Racecallers in the country were pretty thin on the ground so I got a call-up to Longreach when the local caller was taken ill,’’ Fleming remembers.

“My family and I were living in one of the hotels at Barcaldine at the time and I was pretty nervous when the race fields came out on the Thursday.

“When I arrived on track I found that Wallis had switched the order of the races for me, to make sure the first race only had four horses in it.

“It was a huge thing for me to build my confidence up a bit. As a young teenager, a field of 10 horses felt like a 20-horse field.”

Fleming grew up idolising the late and legendary racecaller Wayne Wilson, listening to his calls on radio and dreaming of one day calling Queensland’s biggest race.

Fleming, who last December took over from his mentor Alan Thomas as Sky Racing’s principal caller for Queensland, will achieve his childhood dream on Saturday.

The 31-year-old has followed his race calling passion to plenty of off-the-beaten-track locations, including calling the races at a nature reserve at Kooroorinya about 60km from the nearest town, Prairie, in north Queensland.

He will also call his 14th Birdsville Cup in September.

“I would never be where I am today without the support of plenty of bush race clubs,” Fleming says.

Racecaller Josh Fleming with now retired Alan Thomas last year. Picture: Jack Tran

“Wayne Wilson was my original inspiration and then Alan Thomas played a big part in my career.

“I owe so much to Al. Similar to John Wallis, I wouldn’t be where I am today without what they both did for me.

“As a dyed-in-the-wool Queenslander, I always wanted the opportunity to call a Stradbroke and I’m sure I will have a few butterflies before the race.’’

As for finding a Stradbroke winner, Fleming reckons punters should stick with the favourite Azkadellia.

“I tipped her when she ran second in the Doomben 10,000 and I don’t think punters should drop off her,’’ Fleming said.

“She will be suited to the bigger track at Eagle Farm and there should also be a bit of give (softness) in the track which she will like.’’

Josh Fleming took over from his mentor Alan Thomas as Sky Racing’s principal caller for Queensland in December. Picture: Darren England

Originally published as Bush racecaller Josh Fleming to achieve his childhood dream at 3.40pm on Saturday afternoon