RAIN NO WORRY FOR IMPROVED TRACK
GEELONG track manager James Dalton says punters can expect a “perfect” track for the Geelong Cup and anticipates the surface to be graded as a good 4.
The racecourse received more than 25mm of rain over the weekend but Dalton said recent upgrades had allowed the track to recover better than expected. The club completed a sand-slit drainage project this year, which Dalton said would allow the surface to better absorb any downpours.
“It’s just allowed the water to get through the profile and off the profile so much quicker,” Dalton said.
“Even after 36mm, it didn’t even feel like we would have even got into the heavy range. The sand-slit drainage project has been enormous. It’s been fantastic.”
The Geelong Cup is the club’s biggest day of the year but the event will be held behind closed doors for a second consecutive year because of Covid restrictions.
Dalton said he took satisfaction from preparing a surface for the club’s showpiece event.
“It’s going to stop pretty shortly those showers and we’re looking at a fine day with full sun,” he said.
“It’s probably got enough moisture in it to stay in as a good 4 all day and not upgrade, I would have thought.
“Really happy with what we’ve presented and fingers crossed in a year’s time I can get to share it with the public.”
Dalton said the preparation, including nutrition and aeration programs, had been “perfect”.
“The rainfall and that sort of thing has definitely helped,” Dalton said.
“That’s taken having to take irrigation on out of my hands and it’s going to be a track that is perfect for the day.”