First pictures: Gold Coast grass track gets trial tick from jockeys

The trouble-plagued Gold Coast track has been given a tick of approval by jockeys who rode at a set of trials ahead of the imminent return to racing of the course proper.

The first set of official Gold Coast course proper barrier trials on Wednesday morning received a tick from jockeys ahead of the imminent return to racing there. Picture: Grant Peters/ Trackside Photography

Jockeys who rode in the first set of Gold Coast course proper trials in an eternity have given their seal of approval to the track ahead of its imminent return to racing.

There were five trials conducted on the Gold Coast course proper on Wednesday morning as the Gold Coast grass track prepares to make a low-key comeback for a provincial (non metro) meeting on Saturday September 7.

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The Gold Coast grass track has been out of action since the controversial $2m QTIS Jewel day in March where there was widespread dismay over the performance of the track.

There was significant sand kickback, a pair of long-priced on-speed winners and champion trainer Tony Gollan said the track was not fit for racing on the day.

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook flagged last week that the track wouldn’t be 100 per cent for its return to racing and there would be improvement to come.

It was sentiment that was mirrored by Group 1-winning jockeys who rode in the Wednesday trials who gave it a tick.

“It has made significant improvements and it will continue to improve,” experienced hoop Michael Cahill said.

“Most of the kickback has gone and this is going to be a very good racetrack.

“It’s made a lot of progress in recent months and it’s going to keep getting better, it’s not the finished product yet.”

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Robbie Dolan said: “It felt good to me that track.

“There was a little bit of kickback but horses hadn’t really been on it for months.

“I think it now needs to be used for racing.

“It was pretty good this morning, considering what it had been like earlier this year.”

A return to racing on the Gold Coast grass track is a step closer after a successful morning of trials on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Queensland Jockeys’ Association boss Glenn Prentice said the feedback from the hoops was positive.

“There was a little bit of kickback, but nothing like there was on Jewel day,” Prentice said.

“Also, the trials were at 8am in morning when there was quite a heavy dew, so the track would be even better later in the day.

“It is just going to get better now with racing.”

Racing Queensland’s tracks team were at the Gold Coast trials on Wednesday morning to supervise proceedings and get feedback.

After the Gold Coast’s return to racing on September 7, things will ramp up for the annual Pink Ribbon race day, a metro-status race day, on Saturday September 21.

In April, Nevesh Ramdhani resigned from his post as Gold Coast Turf Club track manager to return to the Australian Turf Club in Sydney.

During the winter carnival, the Gold Coast track dramas caused the feature Hollindale Stakes meeting to be shifted and instead be raced at the Sunshine Coast.

Last week, Cook said the track should be in perfect shape for the riches of the Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival in summer.

Since March, racing on the Gold Coast has been on the poly (synthetic) track.

But the return to grass track racing will be a godsend for south-east Queensland racing given other tracks are tired and Eagle Farm has been out of action with jockeys refusing to ride there because they feel horses could be shying at a building on the point of the home turn.

Originally published as First pictures: Gold Coast grass track gets trial tick from jockeys