Winning post-1800 metres: Having not been used since the last day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival, racing returns after a good break to the Main track on Saturday, albeit with a wet week ensuring that we will be returning on a Heavy surface. The rail is out 10 metres from the 1200 metres to the Winning Post and 6 metres for the remainder of the circumference, ensuring that we have some track to play with in the depths of Winter. The track has held up reasonably well after the carnival and the break from racing sees it return having recovered well, with a strong cover of grass for this time of the year. There is no damage up the Bray St side of the track, although there are some spots of surface water after the winning post that will ensure that the wettest part of the track, on pulling up. Rated in the Heavy 10 range on Thursday afternoon with rain falling and cool conditions prevailing, resulting in the track well and truly in the Heavy range heading into Saturday.
1800m-1200m: There is still good grass coverage all the way around to the 1200 metres and the track walks with little evidence of wear with the rail out. There is no evidence of fill here but there will be kickback in wet conditions and would not surprise to see horses travel a horse off the fence in the back straight. There will be no disadvantage to be away from the fence in this position, even to the three and even four wide line, particularly with cover. Walks in the Heavy 8 range, however more rain on Thursday afternoon will have this closer to Heavy 10.
1200m-800m: This part of the track also presents well and walked in the Heavy 9 range on Thursday. With the rail out, there is a fresh pad and this should not disadvantage runners close to the fence or in the one off line. There is no evidence of any wear and tear close to the fence.
800m-400m: There is good recovery from the fence out to the three wide line, with little evidence of wear from the last meeting. Again, the rail shift gets away from most of the raced on section from the carnival and leaders should not be disadvantaged early in the day. With increased moisture levels due to rain, expect this section to cut up and runners to come away from the fence from the 800 metre mark as the day goes on. With this wear on the fence to three out, riders will be looking to get away from this section, as it will kick out early in the day.
400m-Winning post: The track walked consistently and was in the Heavy 9 on Thursday morning, heading towards a Heavy 10. The track raced evenly over the carnival, 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 signs of damage from the last few meetings over a month ago. It is expected that runners will be looking to make ground out wide, as jockeys will look to come to the middle of the track again. Most of the straight will again be used, as we have seen in recent months, although close to the fence to the three wide line will be no disadvantage. Expect to see most of the field straighten away from the rail in the last half of the card if wet weather continues.
Verdict: The track walks consistently Heavy, although has a good coverage for this time of the year. Continuing rain will ensure that there is significant damage however and the track will favour genuine wet track performers, with little chance of improving from Heavy for Saturday.
The first few races will give an indication of the state of the surface, which will chop out on race day. Look for horses fanning from the 600 metres towards the middle of the track, spreading out in the straight. This will also give the opportunity for horses to improve closer to the rails in the straight and it is expected to see most of the straight in use. With the rail out, winners could potentially come from everywhere, be it in the first few horses off the fence, or towards the middle of the track later in the day.
Ms J Heaney, GT Watts, Mrs R M Watts, C W Falting, Mrs S L Falting, D W Jury, D R Ward, R S Holton, Ms C H Holton, N G Holton, Mrs M T Holton, D M Underwood, Ms M B Smith, Ms M Clarke, Mrs J M Ryan, Mrs K L Ryan & Island Gold Diggers (Mgr: K Heaney)
O T I Racing (Mgr: T Henderson), P Carter, R Menchise, A Fong, J Spence, Mrs J Spence, P McPherson, C Kelly, R Raw, Mrs R Raw, D Boyd, K Benger, One Two Eight Racing No.2, W'Bool Bowls Club 3, Thinking High, Time To Win, Bushfield Pub, Famous Ten & Dejablue Racing.
