Winning Post-1800m: Not much to report here, very even right across. Coverage is solid, walked a '4' with genuine give in it. Just after the crossing I thought lanes 1 and 2 were a little softer.
1800m-1200m: I thought lanes 1 and 2 were a little bit harder to push through here. It's not a section where the jockeys will be too creative but it wouldn't surprise me if horses with a three-wide trail through here maintained fresher legs for later in the race. Walks just in the '5' range close to the fence, coverage is still solid.
1200m-800m: Pretty even in this section, only very light wear. I don't think there will be too much to read into here but with a touch more rain I wouldn't be surprised if the inside becomes slightly slower ground. Walked on the cusp of a '5' rating but with more rain it will certainly sit in that range.
800m-400m: Much the same as the previous section. Hardly any wear to speak of but won't surprise me if they edge off the rail with a bit of racing. It's pretty even at time of walking but I get the feeling that it might chop out a little quicker than the wider lanes.
400m-Winning Post: Very even, only minor marking but perhaps slightly more discernible in lanes 3 and 4. I think they'll use a bit of the track but there won't be a heap of difference between the lanes. They often drift off the fence a touch here so that might be the pattern again. It walked on the softer side of a '4' but with rain it could slip into the '5' range very easily. Coverage is strong.
Verdict: Only very minimal wear to speak of and the coverage is largely very good right around the circuit. I thought it walked on the cusp of a '5' rating but certainly not a genuine soft track. There are light showers forecast over the next 24 hours so it won't surprise me to see the track in the '5' range for racing. I got the feeling that hard on the fence would ultimately be slower ground, though it was more evident in the sections before the home straight. I wouldn't be surprised if they started to edge off the rail from the 700m mark after a few races. I wouldn't be penalising horses drawn wide in any of the races but think the track will race very fairly.
Navy Blue, Pale Yellow Spots, Halved Sleeves, Quartered Cap
Owners
Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, A Kheir, D Ryan, Savvy Racing (Mgr: K McDonald), Steelers Racing (Mgr: K McDonald), P Magill, C Swadling, Miss G Workman, G Dando, J Harrison, B Spencer, J O'Neill, G Mitchell, S Lewin, V Kheir, M Allison, Carty Racing, Yes Bloodstock & Invictus Thoroughbreds
S W Wilde, Mrs L M Bryant, G M Bryant, Mrs C M Douglas, T J Wilson, Mrs S L Wilson, W D Douglas, G W O'Meara, S S O'Meara, G A Struth, Mrs C Hibbert, D O Moloney, Mrs S Moloney, A A Hibbert, Mrs J L Wilson, Central Rotary, Forty-One Fullbacks & Armsville
Pale Green, Purple Quarters, Hooped Sleeves, Checked Cap
Owners
S P Nichols, Hollymount Stud (Mgr: M B Sandblom, Mrs K L Lazare, D R Greene, B S Ong Tan, Mrs A M Ong Tan, Ms C L Vincent, Mrs L B Paligorov, Ms K Docherty, J Richmond, A J Richmond, Ms L J Park, M S McKenna & J & K (Mgr: Mrs K M Farrell)
K J Payne, M R Parker, Mrs K M Parker, D Rogers, S H Ferguson, S M Kelly, D Chrimes, D Digioacchino, M J Nicol, M Woodall, B Evans, M L Hargraves, A Pettiona, B P Carson, D Harland, J C Perkins, C J Cooke, Hyam Racing (Mgr: Mrs T S Hyam) & Power Strike (Mgr: D Arnel)
