Champion trainer Chris Waller delivers his verdict on controversial Gold Coast track ahead of Magic Millions
Chris Waller inspected the under-siege Gold Coast track after new turf was laid as officials scramble to salvage the Magic Millions meeting.
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Master trainer Chris Waller has given the under siege Gold Coast track his seal of approval, saying the new section of grass has “no movement at all” and is ready to race on come Saturday.
Waller, who has stables at the Gold Coast, said he inspected the controversial section of the track which saw last Saturday’s meeting called off at the last minute, and said turf guru Graeme Colless from Evergreen turf had pulled off a masterstroke.
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Colless and his team cut out the damaged section of the track earlier this week and replaced it with existing turf from the track on Tuesday afternoon, with six jockeys set to gallop horses over it on Thursday morning in what shapes as D-Day for the $14.5m race day.
“I had a good look at the track this morning, and I was very impressed,” Waller said.
“The 500m mark is a critical part of the track, and it is an area that tends to wear down badly by the end of most carnivals.
“However, heading into this meeting, we’re working with essentially fresh ground at that section, which means horses will have good traction and the surface is very safe.
“There’s no movement at all, and I was particularly impressed with how well it has come together.
“The layout of the new track is fantastic – it has a slight uphill run into the bend, which I think will give both horses and jockeys full confidence.”
Jockeys Vlad Duric, Jimmy Orman, Chad Schofield, Andrew Mallyon, Martin Harley and Michael Cahill will be the riders going over the new turf on Thursday morning.
Originally published as Champion trainer Chris Waller delivers his verdict on controversial Gold Coast track ahead of Magic Millions
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