Racing clubs on wet weather watch
Racing clubs around the country are keeping an eye on the weather.
The wintry blast that has struck over the last few days has already forced the postponement of Thursday night’s Forbury Park harness meeting to Saturday and the weather is being monitored ahead of racing over the next few days.
Heavy snow, rain, strong wind and road blockages have hit wide areas but Friday’s gallops at Timaru are expected to go ahead.
‘‘Timaru is all go for tomorrow [Friday],’’ NZTR spokesman Tim Aldridge said on Thursday afternoon. ‘‘It will obviously be a heavy track and there has been a concern that horses from Southland may not be able to make it through.
‘‘But I have spoken to Shane Anderton from Wingatui and he has said that he’s confident they will get to Timaru okay.’’
A track inspection scheduled for 10am on Friday will decide the fate of Saturday’s major jumps fixture at Trentham, where chief executive Stephen Berryman reported 45mm of rain had fallen by Thursday morning.
The greatest concern is surface water on the in-field figure-eight steeplechase course, while major road closures are currently in place across the central North Island.
‘‘The stipes will have an inspection in the morning which will give us a better idea,’’ Aldridge said. ‘‘The problem is ‘when do you make a call’?
‘‘You don’t want to make the call too early and on the other hand you don’t want to make it too late for people travelling.
‘‘We have to be responsible as we monitor the situation, and we feel that a track inspection and an overall update tomorrow morning is the best approach.’’
Rain continued to fall in Wellington on Thursday with strong winds and the forecast is for showers on Friday and clearing to fine for Saturday.
Aldridge said Saturday’s northern meeting at Te Rapa ‘‘will be okay’’. ● Meanwhile Wanganui trainer and dairy farmer Raymond Connors is taking two jumpers to Trentham on Saturday and while he has high expectations for one he is hoping to answer some questions with the other.
He will line-up talented jumper Wise Men Say in the Wellington Steeplechase over 5500 metres and rates the hardened stayer his best chance of the day.
"Hopefully the heavy track will slow them up a bit so he can cruise along where he’s not so much off the bit," Connors said.
The Yamanin Vital gelding has had a solid preparation this time in with two wins and a placing from three starts.
Connors is hoping his other runner Max will answer some questions when he lines up earlier in the day in the Wellington Hurdles over 3400 metres.
"There are some handy horses in the field," he said. "I think the wet track will help him, but whether he has the speed to keep up with them is a question. I think we’ll learn a lot on Saturday."