Winning Post-1600m: Really clean ground here, no real marking to speak of. Long length of grass at the time of walking but the track staff are planning on mowing it on Friday. Very good pad under foot with plenty of give in it courtesy of recent rain fall. Walked into the 5 range.
1600m-1200m: Spotless in this section, again with a long length of grass that was yet to be mowed. Good give in it and no lanes of advantage. Walked in the '5' range also.
1200m-800m: Walks very close to a '6' but that might change over the next 48 hours after the grass is cut and with warmer weather. Only very minimal wear, expecting it to race very well.
800m-400m: As above. No noticeable chance in this section other than maybe a touch more moisture against the fence. Won't surprise me to see a few horses fanning out and no real advantage to cornering close to the rail.
400m-Winning Post: Very minor wear in lane 3, which looks like a recent gallop otherwise much the same as previous sections. Plenty of give in it with a lush covering of grass. Walked a genuine '5'.
Verdict: Very impressed with the condition of the track. It has clearly benefitted from having had a month off. The grass was very long at the time of walking but track manager Ian Ricardo told me they plan to mow it on Friday. The recent rain and warm weather has ensured solid growth and there's a strong pad of grass the whole way around. It walked a genuine '5' and without strong drying conditions it could be that for the start of racing on Saturday. I thought the inside around the turn may be marginally softer than out wider but if the moisture dries out that advantage could also evaporate. I'm working on a fair surface but not against backing horses peeling out on the turn.
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)
