Winning Post-1800m: Some minor marking in lanes 1 and 2 but it's not a section that really impacts the results. Coverage is good, enough give in it. Walked a '4'.
1800m-1200m: Incredibly clean section here. Absolutely no marking to speak of. Coverage is very good, great pad of grass. Couldn't be in better condition.
1200m-800m: Slightly more fill in lane 1 but it's not only minor wear. I felt it was a little more consistent ground in lane 3 and just beyond but it's not drastically different and certainly not expecting them to race off the fence in this section. I'm predicting that sitting wide won't be the usual negative. Coverage is good, walked a '4'.
800m-400m: Similar to the previous section, I thought there was a little more wear against the fence than in those wider lanes. The surface is still in really good condition though and won't surprise me to see horses still win from those inside lanes.
400m-Winning Post: As they've fanned wider in previous meetings I think the wear I spoke of spreads out into lane 2 in the straight. It's not significant wear, the discrepancy is more a result of the wider lanes being in pristine condition. I thought out a few lanes walked like very nice and even ground and won't surprise me to see plenty of winners out there.
Verdict: The last time we raced on the course proper the rail was in the 3m position from the 1200m, true the remainder. So with the rail now in the 6m position everywhere the wear is only evident from the 1200m to the post, and even then only really exists across the inside lane or two and is minor. I'm predicting the track to race well but have a leaning to horses that will be sitting off the fence. That would ordinarily favour swoopers but given there's a stiff south-easterly forecast it might mean the on-pacers stick on well in the sprint races. I certainly wouldn't be penalising horses drawn wide. Coverage is good and I'm expecting it to be a Good 4.
A F Burke, D Viney, S L Burdock, S Argiris, S A Calagaz, M I Haslam, G R Harrison, E Eren, M J Salter, T A Say, J D Viney, K J Burke, J E Hickmott & J Newberry
Yellow, Royal Blue Knight, Royal Blue And Yellow Stripe Sleeves, Yellow And Royal Blue Star Cap
Owners
Spicer F O M O (Mgr: B J Spicer), M D Boyd, D L Portelli, K J Matthews, The Emerald Eighteen (Mgr: D Clohesy), D Parker, J B Cary, B W M Winkleman, J F Brady, N Cooke, P J Warburton, M Warburton, A J Rosano, J B Wilson, M D Stephenson, C M Hosie & B J Spicer
T J Wilson, Mrs S M Wilson, D A Lewis, Mrs J K Lewis, Ms J R Hughes, P S Bettens, M M Dixon, Mrs F M Dixon, Ms A J Scott, R G Layley, Mrs W J Higgins, Mrs S Legoe, N J Ross, Surf & Turf Racing (Mgr: P D Cawthorne), K Minuzzo, A Minuzzo & S M W Pope
R B R (Mgr: R W Balfour), Mrs M Powell, S B Powell, M J Kelly, Mrs R A Balfour, Mrs A M Baraiolo, E Baraiolo, Mrs J M R Crichton, J C S Crichton, D J Greenslade & J N Greenslade
Royal Blue, White Seams, Hooped Sleeves, White Cap
Owners
Ms J Heaney, C McLean, Mrs M Holton, R Warnock, N Holton, Mrs P Southern-Ninnis, P Ninnis, J Atkinson, R Holton, Ms C Holton, C Reynolds, S Rolls, Mrs S Reynolds, Mrs L Warnock, Ms M White, Ms R Atkinson, G Conron, G S Dankert
