Tick for the track
Elwick given all clear after gallop on repaired course
THE Elwick track has been given the green light by jockeys and trainers for this Sunday’s meeting after a dozen horses galloped at the venue on Tuesday.
A meeting scheduled at Elwick on December 27 was abandoned after the track was declared unsafe by jockeys and stewards when grassed plugs used to fill damaged areas were deemed unstable. Remedial work has since been done and hailed a success.
Tasmanian jockey-trainer Siggy Carr rode four of the 12 horses that galloped on the circuit yesterday and she gave the track a glowing report.
“I thought the track rode beautifully and I sat behind one of my other horses in a gallop and I didn’t get any kickback,” Carr said.
“Other than the outside section of the track in the home straight, that was a bit softer than the rest, the track was very raceable and you couldn’t even see where the patches were that caused last month’s meeting to be abandoned,” Carr said.
Premier trainer Scott Brunton was convinced the remedial work done over the past two weeks has the track heading in the right direction.
“I’m happy with the track condition and the way that things are tracking with its recovery,” Brunton said.
“It is a new track and there are going to be teething issues but today the clods that were being thrown up showed
grass roots, whereas beforehand you could see mesh webbing, so the work being done proves the grass growth process is working and that’s a great sign.”
Flemington track manager Liam O’Keefe, who was recruited by Tasracing to inspect the damaged areas of the track two weeks ago, returned
to Hobart yesterday to oversee the gallops.
“The track surface has reacted to the gallops just as I expected and the work that has been done over the past fortnight has helped deliver that outcome,” O’Keefe said.
Tasracing CEO Paul Eriksson said trainers and jockeys would be invited to attend
another track walk at Elwick on Thursday.
This Sunday’s meeting boasts the $100,000 Elwick Stakes for two-year-olds and the weight-for-age Summer Cup.
The race offers the winner ballot-free entry into the Ladbrokes Group 3 $250,000 Hobart Cup on February 7.