Early start to Flemington’s Super Saturday meeting due to extreme heat

Flemington’s Super Saturday meeting will be done and dusted by 2.35pm after officials made the decision to bring the eight-event card forward due to extreme heat in Melbourne.

Imperatriz is favourite to win the Newmarket Handicap.

Flemington’s Super Saturday meeting, headlined by the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), will commence at 10.45am due to the forecast of hot weather in Melbourne.

In light of the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast that the temperature will reach 39C at Flemington late on Saturday afternoon, the eight-event card - already shortened from 10 races - has been brought forward.

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The feature race is set to jump at 12.45pm, while the final event is scheduled for 2.30pm.

The new race times are as follows.

Race 1. 10.45am

Race 2. 11.15am

Race 3. 11.45am

Race 4. 12.15pm

Race 5. 12.45pm (Group 1 Newmarket Handicap)

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Race 6. 1.20pm

Race 7. 1.55pm

Race 8. 2.30pm

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The decision to start early has been made in the interests of horse and participant welfare, with RV’s Racing in Hot Weather Policy to be enacted.

The arrival time on-course has been reduced to 60 minutes for horses engaged in races one and two and 90 minutes for horses in races three to eight, down from two and three hours respectively.

Horses will also spend less time parading before their races.

Dress regulations for the members enclosure have also been revised for the day to cater for the weather conditions, with a jacket and tie optional in members’ areas.

With the revised times, the Flemington gates are set to open at the earlier time of 10.15am.

Public areas will be open until after the last race at 2.30pm, members’ areas until 3.30pm and the Club Stand Roof Garden, Terrace and Chairman’s Club until 4.45pm.