Winning Post-1600m: Unmarked in this section. The coverage is exceptional and the lanes are consistent right across. Walked a '4'.
1600m-1000m: Coverage also very good here, it walked essentially like fresh ground apart from a couple of spots at the 1380m mark and the 1050m mark but those patches are very small and won't have any impact. Walked a '4' but plenty of cushion.
1000m-800m: This is the area where they exit the back straight. I felt it was marginally less consistent closer to the fence but I'd still rate it as good ground, just not as perfect as the previous couple of sections.
1200-800m (chute): This section is always close to perfection and it's no different at present. No wear, plenty of cushion under foot.
800m-400m: Found a couple of section where the fill is more noticeable close to the fence, mostly between the 700m and 600m marks. I thought the stick broke the surface with less pressure closer to the fence and particularly at the 600m mark.
400m-Winning Post: Good ground in the home straight, not much difference between the fence and wider lanes. I felt there was more give here than the back straight but that might be to do with the irrigation timing. Walked well into the '4' range and should race well.
Verdict: Overall the track is close to immaculate. The area of interest for me is the fence from the 800m to the 400m mark. I felt that the fence was a chance of chopping out around the home turn and that being in lanes 3 and beyond might become an advantage as the meeting progresses. The last two meetings with the rail in the True position were Jan 1 and Jan 15. On both occasions the inside was a no-go zone in this section. The two meetings since have been +7m but I'm not fully sold on the inside having repaired itself completely. It walked a '4' but not deep into the range, with irrigation applied on Friday night (assuming they will) and a mild day Saturday it probably stays in that rating.
Track walked at 5:30pm Thursday 3 March 2022.
