Winning Post-1600m: Solid coverage overall. Minor wear but not concentrated to any specific lanes. Walked a Good 3 at the time, but was in the vicinity of thirty degrees and hadn't yet been watered so it's likely to be a bit softer if well irrigated. There was a bare patch in lane 1 and 2 at the 1800m mark but that's unlikely to cause any issues.
1600m-1200m: Coverage is very good and barely any wear to speak of in this section. The stick goes in with slightly less force than previous section so probably sits in the Good 4 range. It’s a lovely surface here.
1200m-800m: Good length of grass, some minor wear closer to the fence from the 1000m mark as the horses start to turn the bend. The rail in this section remains in the True position so wear is more evident towards the fence here.
1200m-800m (chute): Thicker pad of grass under foot in this chute. There’s an enormous amount of cushion under foot, the horses will feel like they’re wearing a fresh pair of Reebok Pumps. Walks a Good 4 but is in top condition.
800m-400m: Significantly more fill across the inside two lanes from the 700m mark to the 400m mark. I’d say much slower going towards the fence here. Some marking from lane 9 and beyond due to trackwork but I’d say lanes 3-9 will be better ground. Good 4, no softer at time of walking.
400m-Winning Post: The fence isn’t as worn as the previous section but still a walks slower. Also marking out beyond lane 9 so think those lanes between 3-9 will still be the best ground. Still a solid pad under foot and walks between a ‘3’ and a ‘4’ with irrigation to come.
Verdict: The wind is as big a factor as anything else at the track but I’d be pretty comfortable to bet on the inside being inferior ground from the 800m to the winning post. I didn’t walk it at the most recent meeting on January 1 but from the vision it was evident the inside was inferior ground. The rail remains in the same spot turning and I’m confident it will race like that again. I thought lanes 3-9 would be the target lanes for jockeys, cover also a bonus. At the time of walking I would have rated the track a Good 3, but I’m guessing they’ll be irrigating a couple of times before raceday.
First Light Racing, Redbank North, Vionneto, FMLM Racing, SJV, P & D Harbinson, D Dowden, A Webster, N Edwards, R Free, S Canning, D Blackmore, A Mountier, W Oxford, Circus, Norman the Parlour Car, D O'Callaghan, A M Kerr & Mrs D R Smith
G & C Pastoral Co Pty Ltd (Mgr: V C Oldfield), R I Chapman, A G Sheppard, M R Basheer, Terrace No 3 (Mgr: Dr W J Marmion), W M Muller, S Fosdike, W J Wright, F Vizzari, B M H Racing (Mgr: J O Gill) & J L Schapel
N M Gibbins, J D Fiddler, G C W Dubois, T D Mullan, G J Fitzgerald, A D Macleod, G S Gifford, S A Hurrey, M V Kay, M J Kimball, M D Kinnane, M R Kinnane, Mrs L J Manuel, S B Masters, Miss C M Fry, I M Perryman & Marloc Racing (Mgr: D J March)
