Winning Post-1500m: Racing returns to the Parks track again tomorrow and with 24.5 mls of rain in the last week and 13 mls overnight, the track walked in the Soft 6 range, before a further shower on Friday morning. The rail is out 6 metres from the 100 metres to the winning post and 3 metres for the remainder. There is still a good winter grass cover, and the rail out means we are on a decent pad for the most part , even with a Winter look following a cool and wet week.
1500-800m (back straight): The back straight of this track walks well with a good cover of grass and with some marking on the fence and one off. With the rail out, it provides a consistent surface from the three wide line, although holding some moisture. A healthy cover of grass is evident coming off the 1400m chute joining onto this area and this section is in reasonably good order, although still affected by the Winter frosts.
1400m-800m (chute): Even and good grass coverage during this section remains and will race evenly away from the fence. Horses will not be disadvantaged racing slightly away from the fence in this section of the track, with new ground three wide and out wider. This is the best part of the track as expected and remains well knitted with a good winter thatch present for this time of the year, although it looks 'wintery.'
800m-400m:The coverage is even from the three wide line out where there are signs of damage on the fence and one off . It walks consistently away from the fence and as expected, fields will start to fan into the straight, with a consistent coverage of grass in this area. From the three wide line out, it is in good order. Horses should not be disadvantaged racing on the fence where there is slight wear and tear, or from fanning wider here.
400m-Winning Post:Entering the straight you can see marking is spread further across the track, however with little damage evident. There are some signs of wear early in the straight on the fence and further out, with runners a chance of drifting off the fence rounding the home turn as the day goes on. For the remainder of the straight it presents fairly evenly and makes it achievable for the backmarkers to finish off out wide in clear ground near the middle of the track. With the rail out three, every runner should have a chance in the straight. Recent track gallops on the outside of the track are showing the usual wear for this time of the year, but horses won’t be out this far to be affected tomorrow.
Verdict:With the Soft 7 rating being posted on Friday morning, the track will hopefully improve with clear skies on Friday and strong winds. The track looks similar to a fortnight ago, with a definite winter look as the over sown rye grass now starts to be more predominant. For the most part of it we are on a typical late Winter/early Spring surface for Saturday, with some damage evident closer to the fence. The pattern of racing in the first part of the program will be determined by pace and field sizes, as has been the case in the last two weeks. Wind may also play a factor if it stays like Friday, where a strong headwind prevailed in the home straight. This could mean that fields later in the day may be fanning more noticeably in the straight, with back markers able to peel off and make ground. Conditions are expected to improve, although still in the Soft range, which is where the track is likely to start and finish on Saturday.
*Track inspected Friday 9 September.
