A softer finish for track
EUROPEAN-BRED runners such as Kellstorm and Gallante are set to appreciate the give in Geelong’s track today.
That’s according to track manager Mark Jennings, who described the track rating as “on the softer side of Good 4”.
Jennings said his team has hedged its bets in electing not to irrigate the track last night or the night before.
Rain is predicted to fall at some stage, but if it doesn’t come, Jennings said yesterday it was possible the track could receive an upgrade today. But he’s preparing for some showers.
“We’re going to get something, looking at the radar,” he said.
“I hope it’s not in the vicinity of 10mm-20mm that some are predicting. We’ll take 5mm OK and it will still race very true, but really it’s that time of the year where you could get something or may not get anything.
“If we don’t receive that rain we’ll stay Good 4 and possibly, as we did last year, upgrade to the Good 3 range.”
But unused grass is expected to give every horse its chance.
The rail moves back from the nine-metre mark on October 4 to the true today, meaning that grass — in particular inside six metres — is untouched.
“It’s got a great cover of grass on it, inside six metres especially and even out to the nine,” Jennings said.
“We haven’t raced in that true position for quite a while and it’s been racing very well.
“We had a gallop around this morning with Niall Phillips in the saddle . . . he’s very pleased with it, as we are.
“We’d just like a fair track where a horse can certainly get his toe in and not jar up.”