Winning Post-1500m: coverage is good and the track feels slightly firmer in this section. Barely any wear to speak of.
1500m-800m (back straight): the kikuyu is starting to take over now which is a good sign. Hardly any marking to speak of and walks evenly. No lanes of advantage. Some give in it, walks a Good 4 with a nice pad of grass underneath them.
1300m-800m (chute): coverage is the best it’s been for a while. Only minor marking across the inside two lanes which won’t have an impact. Walks a 4, amount of rain dictates any upgrade.
800m-400m: coverage here also improving rapidly with the better weather of late. Not a lot of difference across the lanes. Walks a 4, expecting it to race well. A few spots of fill in lane 1 from the 600m mark but not drastic.
400m-Winning Post: quite even but with more wear here than prior to the 600m mark. Quite a lot of wear out wide but don’t expect them to come out that far. Some give in it the surface, walked a ‘4’ but will improve throughout the day.
Verdict:
The kikuyu has really started to come through and it means the base is a lot stronger. Particularly prior to the 600m mark where the wear and tear is minimal. The track walked a ‘4’ but by the late Friday it will probably be closer to a ‘3’. Depending on irrigation tonight and amount of rain tomorrow (80% chance 1-5mls) it will probably start a ‘4’ and remain there for at least the first few races. I can’t pick a pattern, I think it will race quite well. Last meeting they got off the fence but not convinced they’ll do that on Saturday.
W R Middleton, P B Jens, D J Martin, R H Smith, Miss K L Bourke, J L Batten, A R Buxton, R L Clifford, N A Collier, G R Dickson, S Lilley, D E Whiting & Mrs L Rowan
R R Jolly, P M Hodgens, D F Reynolds, P J Ninnis, Mrs P C Southern-Ninnis, J R Fitzgerald, J D Fitzgerald, G J Conron, Ms M L White, M R Kinnane, M D Kinnane, S B Masters, M V Kay, S B Thurnwald, P A Gregory, G Neo, D C Lewis, Bula Bula (Mgr: C M Fitzgerald) & Winning Ways (Mgr: R L Callisto)
Sky Blue, Red Star, Royal Blue And Red Stars Sleeves And Cap
Owners
Mrs L Dodgson, J Dodgson, P Stephenson, Miss A Dodgson, J Munro, G P Jantke, Mrs R A Pedersen, W D Pedersen, G J Garrod, J Sanderson, T R Criddle, Miss T Czislowski, G Criddle, G M Criddle, Ms J L Stewart, J S Criddle & Mrs H L Criddle
Navy Blue, White Band, White And Black Hooped Sleeves, Striped Cap, Black Pom Pom
Owners
T R Duke, J P Moss, P G Dibben, P A Rynne, K W Duke, K J O’Leary, C W Swan, Miss C A Cahill, Bernie Boy Bunch (Mgr: R Plumb) & Hornsdale (Mgr: D M Noonan)
Mrs M C Saxon, M L Healy, P W Triffett, Ms B Dane, Ms J Eltringham, P Kerian, O Hennessy, W J Roennfeldt, Dr S B Heinze, S A McCorkell, R T Wells, G L Summerhayes & Ms L Carey
