Premier trainer Chris Waller says Sydney racing must continue to invest money in the maintenance of its tracks which he believes have struggled to cope with a heavy winter workload.
The closure of the embattled Kensington circuit for remedial work has put extra stress on Rosehill, Randwick, Warwick Farm and Canterbury to host metropolitan race meetings.
Coupled with a run of wet weather, the extra workload has almost pushed the remaining tracks to breaking point, according to Waller.
“We’re very spoilt in Sydney normally with tracks but the last four or five months I’ve started to scratch my head wondering if our tracks are up to it,” Waller said.
“It’s pretty easy to see the rainfall we’ve had which has made it very hard. I think the tracks are up to it, we just need a break in the weather and to continue to spend money to make sure they don’t go backwards.
“The Kensington track being out of action puts extra strain on Rosehill and Randwick and Warwick Farm and we’re only just coping.”
Wednesday’s Warwick Farm program went ahead on a heavy track and proved a breakthrough meeting for the Waller-trained Briefness which landed its first win in the opening race.
Hugh Bowman went to the front on the three-year-old and stuck to the inside in the straight to score narrowly.
Waller said Bowman’s decision to walk the track pre-race was crucial.
“Hugh’s not (usually) a trackwalker,” Waller said.
“So it’s good to see Hughie walk the track because its so important in the current circumstances we’re dealing with.”
