Winning Post-1500m: Expected to race evenly. There is some give in the ground following rain earlier in the week. Rated a Soft 5 as of Friday morning and walks in that range, with every indication of getting to Good 4 by race day, given favourable conditions.
1500-800m (back straight): As expected, a boost to the grass cover in recent days with rain. Some wear and tear is evident on the fence to two off from the previous meeting a fortnight go, however expected to race evenly. Expected to race consistently in its rating of a ‘5’ , but heading toward a Good 4.
1400m-800m (chute): Even and lush grass coverage during this section as expected and will race evenly on and away from the fence. Horses will not be disadvantaged racing slightly away from the fence in this section of the track.
800m-400m: With the rail back in the 4m position, there is some fill present closer to the rail and into the two and three wide line, where horses will commence to improve away from the fence to make their runs turning for home. There is significant wear out wider, where recovery is slower, but this area is improving and not expected to be a factor. It is expected to see fields start to fan into the straight, particularly after the first few races.
400m-Winning Post: With the rail out 4m and recent trials out wider, it will be no surprise to see most of the inside half of the track used in the straight. There is significant fill still evident on the outside half of the track, so it would be a case of riders assessing the best ground somewhere in between the rail and 6-8 metres out, when making their runs in the straight. The track walks close to a Good ‘4’ in the straight, with a significant headwind on Thursday afternoon.
Verdict: The track presents consistently for the most part for the amount of racing and trials in the latter part of Spring. Winners are expected to make their runs to the middle of the track, but unlikely to be coming any wider. With recent drying weather and strong winds, the track will race in the Good range by Saturday. Some amount of kickback will be evident still from the 800 metres, however the track is gradually improving from a tough Winter. It would not surprise to see most winners coming from the inside early then to the middle of the track, with any winds on the day also to be a factor as to how horses finish off. Horses with cover and able to peel off at the top of the straight, will likely to be advantaged.
Racing SA Stewards will provide an update to the track rating on Friday afternoon.
Black, Teal Lightning Bolt, White And Teal Stars Sleeves, Teal And Black Stars Cap
Owners
B W James, T M Heysen, B I Flood, P J Burchell, M E Gazzard, J E Kirby, D V Gray, T C Ellis, R J Hay, C R Hills, P J Telford, P M Wells, R Evans, J J Williamson, S H Whicker, C G Lynch, Dr R A Mackle & A G Altschwager
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Owners
P R Fielding, G W Fielding, N Frangoulis, G Hinton, M Heading, Mrs J M Smith, L A Smith, D R Prior, Mrs L M Sullivan, P P Griffin, Mrs E Griffin, J T Driscoll, M G & P Nunan, Major Racing (N Frangoulis), McAsh, Triton Lennox (B B Martin OAM), Flemington Bloodstock & Eating Banana's (D Prowse)
R J Searle, N G Holton, D R Ward, P J Ninnis, T Gonis, P Gonis, R M Warnock, A Searle, A Kilsby, D A Searle, C A Reynolds, T G Campbell, Miss J Heaney, Mrs P C Southern-Ninnis, M Holton, Mrs L A Warnock, Ms K L Arnold, Ms L Warwick & Island Dreaming (Ms J Heaney)
