Gold Coast Turf Club boss Steve Lines says the repaired patch of grass on the track is ’performing its socks off

Gold Coast Turf Club boss Steve Lines says there has only been positive feedback on the track’s repaired patch of grass heading into the $2 million QTIS Jewel Day on Saturday week.

Feedback on the performance on the repaired Gold Coast track has been excellent, the club's boss Steve Lines (left) says. Pictures: File, Magic Millions

Gold Coast Turf Club boss Steve Lines says the repaired patch of grass on the track is “performing its socks off” heading into the $2 million QTIS Jewel Day on Saturday week.

Track officials were stunned early last month when they arrived at the venue to find a large patch of the grass had been poisoned leading up the gala Magic Millions Carnival.

Police were called in to investigate but so far no-one has been charged.

NSW-based turf specialists Evergreen Turf arrived at the Gold Coast to rectify the issue ahead of the Magic Millions meeting which was ultimately rescheduled to a Friday night when wet weather put paid to the meeting after just a few races.

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“That patch of grass that got vandalised, it’s performing its socks off,” Lines said.

“We’re very happy with it all. If you want to talk about the track, all the feedback we’re getting at the moment is positive.

“I don’t ride the horses but the jockeys do and they tell me it’s unreal.”

Lines said he was delighted with the state of the track last Saturday, saying it played fair for the eight-race card.

“In the first race the winner went up the rails and won and in the last race the horse came from stone motherless last and won down the middle,” he said.

“The last couple of meetings it’s been very fair, which is just how we want it.”

In the countdown to the Queensland Jewel Raceday on Saturday, March 8, GCTC Racecaller Mitch Manners identifies some of the key contenders for the $500k Aquis QTIS 2YO Jewel and $500k QTIS 3YO Jewel 💎 @RaceQLD@tonygollan@vandykeracing13@geranracing

🔗 https://t.co/S6YW1I9Zhspic.twitter.com/xRyh4lxio2

— Gold Coast Turf Club (@GCTurfClub) February 19, 2025

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Lines said track staff were “gutted” at the chain of events which had them scrambling to get the surface ready in time for the Magic Millions.

“Those sort of things you can’t control,” he said. “We’ve got 43 hectares to keep secure, it’s a big job.

“But we’re looking forward to the Jewel, it should be a great day.”

Now in its eighth year, the Jewel will feature $500,000 races for the two-year-olds and three-year-olds, plus the Military Rose Plate and Gold Coast Stakes.

Meanwhile, trainer Kelly Schweida confirmed champion jockey Craig Williams would ride his star grey filly El Morzillo in the 1200m Inglis Sprint at Flemington on Saturday.

“She’s run in some pretty decent races and Craig Williams on board is a good sign,” Schweida said.

El Morzillo has won just one of her 11 races but has collected $421,000 in prizemoney and finished fourth in last year’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm.