Thumbs up for track
SENIOR jockeys have given an endorsement for the new Eagle Farm track surface after a series of trials and jump-outs.
Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club are expected to announce this morning if the track is in good enough condition to hold a full race meeting on Saturday week.
RQ’S chief executive Brendan Parnell said a decision would be made after a conference between stewards, club officials and track staff.
The Eagle Farm track has been virtually dormant for the majority of the past four years due to problems with a redevelopment of the surface.
However, after successful trackwork last week it was decided to run two official 1000m trials and two jumpouts on the course proper yesterday.
The Tony Gollan-trained My Girl Hayley won the first heat, for open handicap horses, running 57.60s, the last 600m in 33.49s.
The second heat, for restricted class horses, was won by the Chris Munce-trained Pony Power who ran 58.83s and got home the last 600m in 33.90s. Jockeys who rode in the trials were full of praise for the track and believed it was a near perfect racing surface.
Jim Byrne led the way by saying the surface was perfect.
“It was a pleasure to ride on it,” Jim Byrne said.
Ron Stewart agreed and said he was more than happy with it. “It feels good and there is no kickback,” he said.
Matt Mcgillivray said the surface was superb and had played well. “There was no kickback and it looks to have held up well,” he said.
Dale Smith was another who gave the track the thumbs-up. “We didn’t scuff it at all,” he said.
Trainer Robert Heathcote said there was a great atmosphere at the track and a sense of anticipation.
“There are more people here than a midweek meeting today. Just to be back here is a real buzz. People love Eagle Farm and everyone can hardly wait for a full meeting here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the “Aquanita eight” doping scandal will again play out in court as four trainers including Robert Smerdon fight their disqualifications. Smerdon, Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil and Queensland trainer Liam Birchley’s appeals began in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal yesterday.
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board declared the long-running systematic conspiracy to cheat using “top-ups” of sodium bicarbonate to be the biggest scandal and one of the darkest chapters in Australian racing history.
Smerdon was disqualified for life and fined $90,000, Webb was banned for four years, Vasil for three years and Birchley for one year.
Their appeals will be heard together, along with one by Racing Victoria over the leniency of Birchley’s disqualification.
It is unclear if the trainers will give evidence at the appeal.