Eagle Farm win hoodoo

Straddie, Atkins fancies have to buck track trend

As the surface declined in recent months, Eagle Farm has been very much a specialist’s track.

Saturday’s Doomben flop Black Mink is the latest example of a horse that has looked good at Eagle Farm, only to come up short at another venue.

Longer term, the aren’t as exaggerated.

Since Eagle Farm came back into operation in June last year, there have been 167 winners have their next start at another track for 33 winners (20 per cent), while those who results 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOST CITY have started favourite next time out have struck at a healthy 40 per cent (16 from 40).

UBET’s Gerard Daffy doubts the Eagle Farm reference will have any bearing on the way punters bet this weekend.

“The rank-and-file punters don’t worry about stats,” Daffy said.

“They are cashed up after the weekend and chock-full of confidence after the bookies had a couple of stripouts.

“I’m expecting they will be happy to take the short prices this week and any reference to Eagle Farm won’t deter them.”

Speculation continues on what direction Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club will take on the future of Eagle Farm but the odds of it remaining a 100 per cent sand track are lengthening.

If the same profile were to be retained, that would result in the quickest return to racing, with the track cut right back and the thatch later removed.

Track constructor Evergreen has outlined a plan to do that in two stages, using the 28m width of the track to continue racing.

But as BRC Chairman Neville Bell outlined on Friday, there are a lot of reservations about sand tracks given recent events.

The more likely outcome would see a substance like loam mixed in with the sand to provide a more rigid profile, before new grass is planted.

A leading southern track manager said last week under that scenario, a likely return to racing would be in February if work started now.