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.
White, Green Stars, Striped Sleeves, White And Green Star Cap
Owners
Mrs A Ogasawara-Stokes, Happy Trails Fan Club (Mgr: R Harmes), C T Palioca, Ms M G C Caliste, A M Lamshed, H J Allen, J W Armstrong, Dr S Dhupelia, S Dhupelia, P G N Glanville, R L Gudykunst, J S Levy, K J Pryke, J Tompkins, C Woodcock, J J Taylor & P D Buttery
Merricks Station (Mgr: B Cooper), J Docherty, D Rogers, L Papasavas, A J Alessi, G R Dawson, Mrs M L Kennewell, J P Marston, L Siebel, Group 1 Bloodstock (Mgr: M P Becker), Ms R Siomos & Ms S Siomos
Navy, White Southern Cross, Navy, Red And White Striped Sleeves, Red Cap
Owners
B H Perks, Ms A M Clough, J P Keen, G G Tully, N J Briggs, K R Harrison, R J Skipper, Mrs K A Skipper, W L Angove, Mrs V Angove, P J Seears, Mrs H S Seears, J L Klaebe, C Burgess, J M Gilbert & Mrs D E Gilbert
