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.
Black And White Checks, Royal Blue Sleeves, Black And White Checked Cap
Owners
T J Doudle, Free Money Saturdays (Mgr: J W Butcher), Mrs M L Butcher, B W Lonergan, P J Thompson, R D O'Shea, B J O'Shea, D W Turnbull, S J Theodore, Paaratte (Mgr: E Dean), A J Brown & M L Rogers
Cross-over Nose Band FIRST TIME, Gelded, Synthetic Hoof Filler OFF FIRST TIME
Prize
$78,900
Racing colours
Navy Blue, Gold Hoops, White Sleeves And Cap
Owners
O T I Racing (Mgrs: T Henderson & S Driscoll), C Grace, R Menchise, J & Mrs J Spence, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, L Attrill, L Dyson, A Gemmell, R Hanmer, M Moss, L Deacon & Madica
White, Black Seams, Collar And Cuffs, Gold Sleeves, Black Cap, White Seams
Owners
D J McLeod, R B Mashford, G J Mcleod, Mrs R Richardson, C J Richardson, Mrs M T Kralj, J G O'Toole, W J Conlin, Ms N C Punton, B J Stubbs, Ms J Tracy, Ms J I Smith, S G Davison, W Hanlon, Mrs B Welsh, D M Linehan, P J Cox, Good 3 Racing (Mgr: S P Morris), Miss K A Wyatt & Grunters (Mgr: R D C Ward)
R R Jolly, P M Hodgens, D F Reynolds, P J Ninnis, Mrs P C Southern-Ninnis, J R Fitzgerald, J D Fitzgerald, G J Conron, Ms M L White, M R Kinnane, M D Kinnane, S B Masters, M V Kay, S B Thurnwald, P A Gregory, G Neo, D C Lewis, Bula Bula (Mgr: C M Fitzgerald) & Winning Ways (Mgr: R L Callisto)
Royal Blue, Red Cross, White Sleeves, Quartered Cap
Owners
Collins St Partners (Mgrs: B N Griffith & T J Storey), Cavalluccio (Mgr: D V Gangi), Fern Vale Farm (Mgr: A J Hardwick), J S Bahen, T J Horley, T J Storey & B N Griffith
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
