Winning post-1800 metres: Racing returns to the Course Proper for the first time since Adelaide Cup Day and sees the rail pushed out 5 metres from the true position for the circumference. This gives an excellent pad heading up the Bray St side of the track, with virtually a fresh pad out here.
The inside pad with the rail out presents very well and walks consistently, with excellent cover as we head into a solid 7 weeks of Carnival racing. At the time of walking on Thursday afternoon, it walked in the ‘Soft 5’ range in this area, with no difference between the fence and several horses away from it. The track was rated ‘Good 4’ on Friday morning and remains at this rating on an overcast day with some shower activity. With some showers around earlier, blue skies should see the track stay in the ‘Good 4’ rating for tomorrow. An excellent grass coverage is present all around the circumference.
1800m-1200m: There is good grass coverage all the way around to the 1200 metres and the track walks consistently, following showers during the week. There will be no disadvantage to be away from the fence, in the two and three wide line, particularly with cover. This is a fresh pad of grass, so every horse gets its chance to race on even ground, despite being on the fence or wide.
1200m-800m: This part of the track also presents extremely well and walked in the Soft 5 range yesterday. The track continues to present well, although the start of April sees a slight downturn in the soil temperature and growing conditions start to level out from herein. There is no sign of damage from racing on Cup Day as we are on a fresh pad.
800m-400m: As horses commence their runs away from the fence, there is consistent ground from the fence out to the three and four wide line. Good moisture levels remain on this part, right through to the finish. There is minimal wear on the fence and no horses should be disadvantaged on the fence.
400m-Winning Post: The track walked consistently in the Soft 5 range on Thursday. The track has raced evenly leading into Christmas and New Year and since, with horses winning on the pace and from back in the field in recent meetings. The straight walks consistently from the fence out, with no evidence that any particular pattern should emerge here. It is expected that runners will also be able to make ground out wide, as well as up near the lead or on the pace, with minimal wear from Cup day on 13 March.
Verdict: With some good Black Type racing with the Clare Lindop and the Manihi Stakes, we should see an even and Good track, with the track still near its peak at the start of our feature time of the year. It will present in excellent order, following 19 mm of rain for the week and 13mm of irrigation, providing a lush, good cover of kikuyu. The track walks consistently throughout, including in the straight. Look for horses winning from both up near the lead or on pace near the fence, but also coming from further back and fanning from the turn out towards the middle of the track. The track has played consistently this year and Saturday should be no different, with all horses getting their respective chances.
Black, Red And White Horse Head And Flames, Red Flames On Sleeves, Red Cap
Owners
T J Doudle, Mrs J K Noble, M L Noble, Mrs C Walker, S Walker, S J Theodore, J E Manning, S D Thomason, S R Aylett, Emu Golf (Mgr: S A Manuel), M I Ferguson, A B Burridge, A Lawson, On Fire Racing (Mgr: N L Kersten) & S D Bland
Black And Royal Blue Diagonal Halves, White Fern And Red Stars
Owners
J D Frew, M D McCann, M R Payne, Miss G M Payne, R J Hamilton, R N Miller, V M Kroon, T Rankine, A Fitzgerald, M P Dee, M D Dee, P McDonald, D J Pope, C A Lallard, D G Wyatt & L R Dare
C A Reynolds, R M Warnock, Mrs L A Warnock, N G Holton, Mrs M T Holton, R S Holton, Ms C H Holton, J M Baker, D R Ward, Mrs P C Southern-Ninnis, P J Ninnis, Ms S C Markwick, Ms J A Marr, G R Sterrey, G W Guest, P M Ryan, S T McKirdy, Ms J Heaney & Free Money Saturdays (J W Butcher)
White With Desert Flower, Black Sleeves, White Stars, Tangerine Cap
Owners
R R Jolly, D A Loy, Ms D N Jolly, M Roach, M I Patterson, Ms A Burns, W J Butterfield, C S Clarke, D Cooper, J R Ferrett, R L Mullarvey, T C Ferrett, Beer O'Clock (Mgr: P J Sweet), Hellbent Racing (Mgr: D A Hurrell) & G P Racing (Mgr: P D Shelly)
