Latest news with #DarrenFlindell
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie horse racing caller Darren Flindell opens up on how he got stuck in Middle East war zone: 'We were all sitting there quietly trembling'
Renowned Sydney racecaller Darren Flindell has spoken about being caught up in Iran's missile attack on a US military base in the Middle East. Flindell, who was in Qatar's capital city, Doha, a few weeks ago, captured dramatic footage of Iranian missiles streaking through the night sky. The racecaller, who was transiting through Doha on his way to Ireland, was at the Tropicana 360 rooftop bar when he noticed the attack. Flindell says the missiles were certainly too close for comfort. 'We were having a drink in a rooftop bar when at about 7.30pm we noticed the missiles. We had an incredible view of everything, too good actually,' Flindell told News Corp. 'At first, we weren't sure what was going on and I was filming it on my phone but we soon realised what was happening. 'The missiles came in three waves and the entire episode lasted about 15 minutes. 'But it was eerie because there were no sirens or announcements. We were all just sitting there quietly trembling, thinking how long will this go on for and hoping nothing hits our building.' The racecaller soon made the decision to leave the bar and take shelter in his hotel room. Flindell had planned to fly out the following day, but his flight was delayed because of the conflict. He described the whole experience to the Today Show in June as 'very unsettling'. 'I thought, well if this is it, I'm going out, I better record the moment so people know I'm here and this is what's happened, and it went on for about 10 to 15 minutes,' he said. Flindell explained that it seemed like missiles were 'coming from all directions' during the harrowing episode. 'I remained fairly calm,' he said. 'We knew in the back of our minds that if the unthinkable happened, the target was always going to be the Al Udeid Air Base, which is about 40 kilometres out of the CBD here at Doha. 'It seemed like it was coming from all directions. It was coming in front, then it was coming from the side, and then the interceptors were coming from over the back of the building and it was getting really crazy. 'It must've been quite intense for about six or seven minutes and then it calmed down, and then it flared up again.'
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Sydney race caller Darren Flindell opens up on Qatar missile terror, worst nightmare and favourite finishes
There's no comparison between the two but imagine being caught in the Middle East war zone or trying to call a race with zero visibility. For Sydney's premier race caller, Darren Flindell, he has experienced both unnerving extremes in recent weeks. Flindell got an unexpected, first-hand experience of the horrors of war while holidaying in Qatar's capital city, Doha, a few weeks ago when Iran launched a missile attack on a nearby US Air Force Base. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Then when he was back behind the microphone at Rosehill two weeks ago, he was confronted with every caller's worst nightmare when a race was run during heavy rain and he simply couldn't see the horses – but more about that later. The venerable voice of Sydney racing admitted he feared for his safety when he realised missiles were flying overhead during his Qatar stopover. 'We were having a drink in a rooftop bar when at about 7.30pm we noticed the missiles. We had an incredible view of everything, too good actually,'' Flindell said. 'At first, we weren't sure what was going on and I was filming it on my phone but we soon realised what was happening. The missiles came in three waves and the entire episode lasted about 15 minutes. 'But it was eerie because there were no sirens or announcements. We were all just sitting there quietly trembling, thinking how long will this go on for and hoping nothing hits our building.'' Flindell eventually decided to leave the bar and seek refuge in his hotel. He was due to leave for Ireland the next day but was delayed for hours in Doha before he eventually got out of the war zone. It was fear of a different kind when Flindell was calling at a mid-winter Rosehill meeting two weeks ago. In a Benchmark 78 handicap that was won by Elson Boy, the heavens opened just as the race started leaving Flindell to call the race 'blind'. 'The Elson Boy race was one of the most difficult tasks I've ever had as a caller,'' Flindell said. 'There was very heavy rain just as they jumped and I could see the red colours of Elson Boy up near the lead early but then I couldn't see anything. 'I switched to the TV next to me to call the race but it was just as bad. The vision was poor due to the rain and the camera was bouncing around because of the high winds. 'So, I decided to go back to my binoculars but then the big problem was I had no idea where the field was due to the zero visibility. 'All I could do was jibber away for 300m before they switched to a head-on shot on the big screen and that's when I could pick up some colours. 'From the 800m, I could see a bit and I was OK after that but for the first half of the race, I was panicking. It was a caller's worst nightmare.'' • Fruit market king eyes another Melbourne Cup Sydney racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday but fortunately the weather forecast is for some sunshine during the 10-race meeting which features the first stakes race of the new season, the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m). With the spring carnival just around the corner, The Rosebud is the first opportunity to see some of last season's quality two-year-olds make their three-year-old season debuts. 'It's always interesting to look at how the two-year-olds measure up when they turn three,'' Flindell said. 'Then, I think of the crop of three-year-old fillies we had last season, they were quite outstanding, and I'm looking forward to how they progress as four-year-olds mares.'' This writer interviewed Flindell earlier this week as the caller was juggling studying midweek form for the Kensington meeting and going over the entries for Saturday's Rosehill meeting. It's a labour of love for Flindell who starts his form study for Saturday when nominations are taken on Monday. 'The last few weeks I have been under the pump because I've been doing Formline for Sky Thoroughbred Central on Thursday nights so I've needed to do my tips by early Thursday morning,'' he said. 'But normally, I get into the form on Thursday and go over it again Friday.'' Darren Flindell had difficulty seeing what was happening when Elson Boy won in heavy rain at Rosehill earlier this month. Picture: Bradley Photos Race-calling is an art form only few can master. There are innate difficulties with remembering horse names and colours, describing the race as it unfolds, and accurately nailing those close finishes. With this in mind, Flindell achieved a lifelong ambition last year to call some NRL games where he was most proud of the way he called certain tries: 'One of my best traits is I'm a good 'finisher','' he said. It's an apt description because Flindell's race calls are renowned for his rare ability to capture the moment in tight finishes as well as his witty mid-race phrases and sense of theatre. One of his personal favourites was the day Veight won the George Ryder Stakes last year when he used the phrases 'revving up now' and 'vroom'. • O'Brien eyes Sydney spring riches as international raid swells 'I am the son of a motor mechanic who specialised in V8 Studebakers,'' Flindell revealed. Maybe, we should give Flindell the nickname of 'The Finisher' when you think of his memorable calls of champions like Winx and Chautauqua. But he's also renowned for the humour he brings into his calls like Democracy Manifest and 'succulent Chinese meals all round' after he won at Warwick Farm, or Tip Top winning at the midweeks which prompted him to say 'Tip Top's the one.'' 'Occasionally, in advance, I see the names of certain horses and I start thinking of a play on words with the horse's name,'' he said. 'With Democracy Manifest, it was well rehearsed as I had to remember all those lines.'' Democracy Manifest's name was inspired by an outburst from a viral clip featuring the late Cecil George Edwards when he was arrested outside a restaurant in 1990 and yelled out: 'Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest. What is the charge? Eating a meal. A succulent Chinese meal.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Darren Flindell's famous calls and his personal favourites 2017 TJ Smith Stakes (Chautauqua): 'Can he do it? Chautauqua, he's flying … Yes! There's history, Chautauqua makes it three in a row, that is unbelievable.'' 2016 Warwick Stakes (Winx): 'Winx is down the outside. It's going to get desperate. Winx is going to Foxplay, Winx dives … Yes, she got up! Winx got up to beat Foxplay, there's 18 in a row.'' 2023 7 Stakes (Think It Over): 'Zaaki in front, Think It Over being lifted by Nash (Rawiller) … Yes, got up! Think It Over nailed Zaaki right on the line.'' 2024 George Ryder Stakes (Veight): 'Veight revving up now, and Veight takes the lead at the 100m from Lady Laguna running on. It's Veight and Lady Laguna, Veight, Lady Laguna … Veight – vroom. Veight won the George Ryder narrowly.'' 2022 Warwick Farm (Democracy Manifest): 'But gentlemen, this is Democracy Manifest … succulent Chinese meals all round.'' 2018 Kensington (Tip Top): 'Tip Top's the one in the last.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Even before a race, Flindell will invariably say 'locked and loaded' when the field is in the barriers almost every race. It's like a default mechanism because the caller admitted: 'I don't even know I'm saying it.'' Flindell has learned to live with the pressure of being Sydney's No.1 race caller although there are no short cuts to being a success at his job. 'You have to do the form,'' he said. 'I watch replays of a trial or a recent run to get a horse's name in my head. 'With our benchmark races, when I call these horses once or twice you get to know them and their colours.'' • Lees predicts bigger things to come for promising Cantiamo But Flindell said his calls are made considerably more difficult when there is a blend of the same colours in a race. He cited the example of Happy Clapper, who raced in all-blue colours, and often clashed with Godolphin runners with their riders also wearing similar all-blue colours. 'When Happy Clapper was racing he was often up against Godolphin horses and it was horrible for the caller,'' he said. 'In a certain light, the colours could look identical from a distance. 'Sometimes, I would look at a jockey and that helps. Blake Shinn, for example, I could pick quite easily when he was riding Happy Clapper. 'When the colours are similar, then I look for the horse that may have blinkers or even the colour of their bridle to separate them.'' Sydney race caller Darren Flindell is renowned for his witty one-liners in tight finishes. Picture: Christian Gilles After studying the form for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, Flindell has landed on the Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton in The Rosebud. 'I've really liked the barrier trials wins of Pallaton,'' Flindell said. 'He showed promise last season and he looks to have come back really well. 'Skyhook is the class horse of the field but all his form has been on good tracks. In saying that, he trialled nicely on a Soft 6 track the other day. 'The horse at odds I like in this race is Peleus. I think he has got something and he was buried when he ran seventh in his Warwick Farm trial. He could be a roughie for the quinella.'' In the Captivant At Kia Ora Spring Preview Handicap (1400m), Flindell is going for value with Our Gold Hope ($9). 'In the autumn, Our Gold Hope ran in a number of Group races and although she wasn't quite up to that level, she was only a length or two behind them,'' he said. 'Her trial behind Private Eye last week I thought was the best of the morning and I feel she can run really well on Saturday. 'Ang Pow has come up with a gate and I think they will use that to put him in the box seat. He can run a big race at $26. 'Birdman is flying in the trials but he is a 2400m horse and I think he is a false favourite on Saturday. 'I've got no doubt Birdman will be winning races this spring but at $4 he is more a lay than a bet.''
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Sydney racecaller Darren Flindell opens up on Qatar missile terror, worst nightmare and favourite finishes
There's no comparison between the two but imagine being caught in the Middle East war zone or trying to call a race with zero visibility. For Sydney's premier race caller, Darren Flindell, he has experienced both unnerving extremes in recent weeks. Flindell got an unexpected, first-hand experience of the horrors of war while holidaying in Qatar's capital city, Doha, a few weeks ago when Iran launched a missile attack on a nearby US Air Force Base. Then when he was back behind the microphone at Rosehill two weeks ago, he was confronted with every caller's worst nightmare when a race was run during heavy rain and he simply couldn't see the horses – but more about that later. The venerable voice of Sydney racing admitted he feared for his safety when he realised missiles were flying overhead during his Qatar stopover. 'We were having a drink in a rooftop bar when at about 7.30pm we noticed the missiles. We had an incredible view of everything, too good actually,'' Flindell said. 'At first, we weren't sure what was going on and I was filming it on my phone but we soon realised what was happening. The missiles came in three waves and the entire episode lasted about 15 minutes. 'But it was eerie because there were no sirens or announcements. We were all just sitting there quietly trembling, thinking how long will this go on for and hoping nothing hits our building.'' Flindell eventually decided to leave the bar and seek refuge in his hotel. He was due to leave for Ireland the next day but was delayed for hours in Doha before he eventually got out of the war zone. Doha under attack tonight from Iran. Very unsettling I have to say. This was filmed by me at 7.34pm local time from the rooftop bar at Tropicana — Darren Flindell (@hkdarren) June 23, 2025 It was fear of a different kind when Flindell was calling at a mid-winter Rosehill meeting two weeks ago. In a Benchmark 78 handicap that was won by Elson Boy, the heavens opened just as the race started leaving Flindell to call the race 'blind'. 'The Elson Boy race was one of the most difficult tasks I've ever had as a caller,'' Flindell said. 'There was very heavy rain just as they jumped and I could see the red colours of Elson Boy up near the lead early but then I couldn't see anything. 'I switched to the TV next to me to call the race but it was just as bad. The vision was poor due to the rain and the camera was bouncing around because of the high winds. 'So, I decided to go back to my binoculars but then the big problem was I had no idea where the field was due to the zero visibility. 'All I could do was jibber away for 300m before they switched to a head-on shot on the big screen and that's when I could pick up some colours. 'From the 800m, I could see a bit and I was OK after that but for the first half of the race, I was panicking. It was a caller's worst nightmare.'' Sydney racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday but fortunately the weather forecast is for some sunshine during the 10-race meeting which features the first stakes race of the new season, the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m). With the spring carnival just around the corner, The Rosebud is the first opportunity to see some of last season's quality two-year-olds make their three-year-old season debuts. 'It's always interesting to look at how the two-year-olds measure up when they turn three,'' Flindell said. 'Then, I think of the crop of three-year-old fillies we had last season, they were quite outstanding, and I'm looking forward to how they progress as four-year-olds mares.'' This writer interviewed Flindell earlier this week as the caller was juggling studying midweek form for the Kensington meeting and going over the entries for Saturday's Rosehill meeting. It's a labour of love for Flindell who starts his form study for Saturday when nominations are taken on Monday. 'The last few weeks I have been under the pump because I've been doing Formline for Sky Thoroughbred Central on Thursday nights so I've needed to do my tips by early Thursday morning,'' he said. 'But normally, I get into the form on Thursday and go over it again Friday.'' Race-calling is an art form only few can master. There are innate difficulties with remembering horse names and colours, describing the race as it unfolds, and accurately nailing those close finishes. With this in mind, Flindell achieved a lifelong ambition last year to call some NRL games where he was most proud of the way he called certain tries: 'One of my best traits is I'm a good 'finisher','' he said. It's an apt description because Flindell's race calls are renowned for his rare ability to capture the moment in tight finishes as well as his witty mid-race phrases and sense of theatre. One of his personal favourites was the day Veight won the George Ryder Stakes last year when he used the phrases 'revving up now' and 'vroom'. 'I am the son of a motor mechanic who specialised in V8 Studebakers,'' Flindell revealed. Maybe, we should give Flindell the nickname of 'The Finisher' when you think of his memorable calls of champions like Winx and Chautauqua. But he's also renowned for the humour he brings into his calls like Democracy Manifest and 'succulent Chinese meals all round' after he won at Warwick Farm, or Tip Top winning at the midweeks which prompted him to say 'Tip Top's the one.'' 'Occasionally, in advance, I see the names of certain horses and I start thinking of a play on words with the horse's name,'' he said. 'With Democracy Manifest, it was well rehearsed as I had to remember all those lines.'' Democracy Manifest's name was inspired by an outburst from a viral clip featuring the late Cecil George Edwards when he was arrested outside a restaurant in 1990 and yelled out: 'Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest. What is the charge? Eating a meal. A succulent Chinese meal.'' â– â– â– â– â– Darren Flindell's famous calls and his personal favourites 2017 TJ Smith Stakes (Chautauqua): 'Can he do it? Chautauqua, he's flying … Yes! There's history, Chautauqua makes it three in a row, that is unbelievable.'' 2016 Warwick Stakes (Winx): 'Winx is down the outside. It's going to get desperate. Winx is going to Foxplay, Winx dives … Yes, she got up! Winx got up to beat Foxplay, there's 18 in a row.'' 2023 7 Stakes (Think It Over): 'Zaaki in front, Think It Over being lifted by Nash (Rawiller) … Yes, got up! Think It Over nailed Zaaki right on the line.'' 2024 George Ryder Stakes (Veight): 'Veight revving up now, and Veight takes the lead at the 100m from Lady Laguna running on. It's Veight and Lady Laguna, Veight, Lady Laguna … Veight – vroom. Veight won the George Ryder narrowly.'' 2022 Warwick Farm (Democracy Manifest): 'But gentlemen, this is Democracy Manifest … succulent Chinese meals all round.'' 2018 Kensington (Tip Top): 'Tip Top's the one in the last.'' â– â– â– â– â– Even before a race, Flindell will invariably say 'locked and loaded' when the field is in the barriers almost every race. It's like a default mechanism because the caller admitted: 'I don't even know I'm saying it.'' Flindell has learned to live with the pressure of being Sydney's No.1 race caller although there are no short cuts to being a success at his job. 'You have to do the form,'' he said. 'I watch replays of a trial or a recent run to get a horse's name in my head. 'With our benchmark races, when I call these horses once or twice you get to know them and their colours.'' But Flindell said his calls are made considerably more difficult when there is a blend of the same colours in a race. He cited the example of Happy Clapper, who raced in all-blue colours, and often clashed with Godolphin runners with their riders also wearing similar all-blue colours. 'When Happy Clapper was racing he was often up against Godolphin horses and it was horrible for the caller,'' he said. 'In a certain light, the colours could look identical from a distance. 'Sometimes, I would look at a jockey and that helps. Blake Shinn, for example, I could pick quite easily when he was riding Happy Clapper. 'When the colours are similar, then I look for the horse that may have blinkers or even the colour of their bridle to separate them.'' After studying the form for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, Flindell has landed on the Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton in The Rosebud. 'I've really liked the barrier trials wins of Pallaton,'' Flindell said. 'He showed promise last season and he looks to have come back really well. 'Skyhook is the class horse of the field but all his form has been on good tracks. In saying that, he trialled nicely on a Soft 6 track the other day. 'The horse at odds I like in this race is Peleus. I think he has got something and he was buried when he ran seventh in his Warwick Farm trial. He could be a roughie for the quinella.'' In the Captivant At Kia Ora Spring Preview Handicap (1400m), Flindell is going for value with Our Gold Hope ($9). 'In the autumn, Our Gold Hope ran in a number of Group races and although she wasn't quite up to that level, she was only a length or two behind them,'' he said. 'Her trial behind Private Eye last week I thought was the best of the morning and I feel she can run really well on Saturday. 'Ang Pow has come up with a gate and I think they will use that to put him in the box seat. He can run a big race at $26. 'Birdman is flying in the trials but he is a 2400m horse and I think he is a false favourite on Saturday. 'I've got no doubt Birdman will be winning races this spring but at $4 he is more a lay than a bet.''
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Horse racing caller Darren Flindell caught in terrifying real life hotspot as Iran launches strike near US base
Horse racing caller Darren Flindell caught in terrifying real life war zone as Iran launches strike near US base (Image via Getty) On June 23, 2025 (Monday) in Doha, Qatar, Darren Flindell, a horse racing caller from Sydney, experienced a frightening experience having 'seen' a missile attack while he was at the Tropicana 360 rooftop bar, while having an evening drink. Darren Flindell stated that while he was at the Tropicana he saw bright lights and explosions high in the sky. Initially, he thought he was watching some fireworks. But as the flashes became more significant, he realized they were missiles aimed at a US military base near where he was. Darren Flindell recorded the situation on video, and his recording is now going around news agencies and social media all over the world. Darren Flindell describes missiles and interceptors lighting up Doha night sky amid Iran US attack Darren Flindell was at the Tropicana 360 rooftop bar while transiting through Doha on his way to Ireland. He told the Today show he saw lights coming from a distance. At first, he thought they were fireworks. Then he realized these were missiles. He said: 'At first it felt like dull fireworks… and then the sky was really starting to light up with the interceptors coming through.' Darren Flindell said the scene lasted ten to fifteen minutes and was quite powerful. He sought to be calm and record the moment so others could observe what was happening. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brazilian Bikinis 2025 Expertinspector Click Here Undo Darren Flindell explains where missiles were headed and how he felt The missiles targeted the Al Udeid Air Base, which is about 40 km from Doha city centre. Darren Flindell said the missiles seemed to come from different directions—front, side, and even behind the bar. Then interceptor missiles lit up the sky as they tried to stop the attack. Darren Flindell described the whole event as 'very unsettling'. He said he and others knew the base was the target, and they stayed aware in case things got worse. He estimated the flare-ups lasted about six or seven minutes, then paused, then flared again for another period. Darren Flindell's video now offers a rare first-person view of the Iran-US conflict reaching Qatar. His calm but vivid account brings this tense moment closer for viewers everywhere. Also Read: Donald Trump Pulls Off An India-Pakistan On Israel-Iran, Forcing Ceasefire For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie horse racing caller Darren Flindell reveals how he got caught up in Iran's missile attack on a US military base as he shares shocking video
Renowned Sydney racecaller Darren Flindell has found himself caught up in Iran's missile attack on a US military base in the Middle East. Flindell, who is in Qatar's capital city, Doha, captured dramatic footage of missiles streaking through the night sky on Monday as the conflict in the region intensifies. The racecaller, who is transiting through Doha on his way to Ireland, was at the Tropicana 360 rooftop bar when he noticed the missiles. 'You could see the lights coming in from the distance,' he told the Today show on Tuesday morning. 'At first it felt like sort of dull fireworks there, with a bit of rumblings going off and then it became very apparent that these were missiles are coming in.' 'And then the sky was really starting to light up with the interceptors coming through.' Flindell described the whole experience as 'very unsettling'. 'I thought, well if this is it, I'm going out, I better record the moment so people know I'm here and this is what's happened, and it went on for about 10 to 15 minutes,' he said. Flindell explained that it seemed like missiles were 'coming from all directions' during the harrowing episode. 'I remained fairly calm,' he said. 'We knew in the back of our minds that if the unthinkable happened, the target was always going to be the Al Udeid Air Base, which is about 40 kilometres out of the CBD here at Doha. 'It seemed like it was coming from all directions. It was coming in front, then it was coming from the side, and then the interceptors were coming from over the back of the building and it was getting really crazy. 'It must've been quite intense for about six or seven minutes and then it calmed down, and then it flared up again.
