Randwick meeting predicted to go ahead on Saturday despite dire weather forecast
Randwick’s course manager is confident the track will cope with this week’s predicted heavy rain and Saturday’s meeting is not in any doubt.
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Racing’s return to Royal Randwick on Saturday is set to go ahead despite a deluge of rain forecast for Sydney in coming days.
Randwick’s capable course manager Michael Wood is confident the track surface “will be fine” to host the 10-race program.
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“The water is moving off the track as well as it ever has,’’ Wood said.
“We are on the back of a track renovation after the autumn carnival which helps and there is no surface water on the track.
“Saturday’s meeting is in no doubt at this stage.’’
Wood confirmed he was factoring in the rain forecast to fall at Randwick over the next 48 hours and is also cognisant fine weather is likely on Saturday.
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“There is about 30mm forecast for Thursday and another 30mm on Friday,’’ Wood said.
“This will bring the total this week to about 70mm by Friday afternoon but then the weather is clearing for the weekend.
“I’m not too worried about rain during the week so if the forecast is right and we don’t get any rain on Saturday, then we will have no problem going ahead with the Randwick meeting.’’
The Randwick track surface was rated a Heavy 9 late on Wednesday but will almost certainly be downgraded for Saturday’s meeting, the first on the track for a month.
Despite the expectation of a heavy track surface there are a bumper 171 entries for the 10-race program.
With the rail out 10m from the 1600m to the winning post, this has meant field size restrictions with eight races having a capacity 13 starters and the other two races with a 12-horse maximum.
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But there are full fields all day with only one race, the Charity Challenge Handicap (1600m) not having emergencies although it has the maximum 13 starters.
The juvenile opener, the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap (1200m), features a possible clash between the talented Chris Waller-trained colt Regulated Affair and boom unbeaten filly Agarwood from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
Regulated Affair and Agarwood are being readied for the Group 2 $1m BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
The Waterhouse-Bott stable also has promising three-year-old filly Bella Montagna continuing her preparation for the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 either at Royal Randwick or Doomben on Saturday.
Bella Montagna, the former New Zealand filly who was so impressive at her debut for the stable at Kembla Grange earlier this month, is entered for the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m) at Randwick and also the Group 2 $300,000 Red Roses Stakes (2000m) at Doomben.
Originally published as Randwick meeting predicted to go ahead on Saturday despite dire weather forecast
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